Gifts on short notice can be a total budget buster, and it’s something that happens frequently around here. Last minute birthday party invites, dinner invitations and baby showers seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times, but with a little planning, unexpected gifting no longer needs to be a source of anxiety.

Okay, so you might be wondering how exactly you can plan for the unexpected… Well, my friends, that’s the beauty of a gift closet!

How To Start A Gift Closet

By creating a stockpile of gifts, you can simply “shop at home” when you need a gift at a moment’s notice — or even when you have adequate notice. A well-stocked gift closet will save you both time and money.

Do I really need a whole closet?
First things first, a gift closet doesn’t necessarily have to be a closet dedicated only to gifts. It’s anywhere in your home where you can store pre-purchased gifts while still being easily accessible. Get creative — you can store them under a bed, in the front of the basement crawl space, or a high shelf in a bedroom closet. We’ve even been known to tuck gifts away in our suitcases when we know we won’t be traveling anytime soon to keep them away from little eyes and hands.

How do I remember what I have on hand?
You’ll definite want to keep a running list of gift items you’ve purchased. For those of you that are digitally-minded (like myself), keeping a list on your smartphone is ideal. You can add and delete items as necessary. However, a spreadsheet on your computer, or even a simple pencil and paper work just as well, so go with whatever you’re most comfortable with.

What kind of items should I keep in my gift closet?
The items you stockpile in your gift closet will look a bit different for each of us. It greatly depends on the stage of life we’re in. If you have little ones that are constantly getting birthday party invites, then you’ll want to keep an eye out for age appropriate toys, games, puzzles and/or art supplies. If you get invited to a lot of dinner parties, you may want to keep a few bottles of red and white wine, pretty towels, and/or scented candles on hand. If you know a lot of expectant moms, you might keep your eyes peeled for baby toys and layettes in gender neutral colors.

How do I save money with a gift closet?
As I’ve already mentioned, a gift closet will save you both time and money. By picking up a few items each month, you can stockpile gifts without crimping your budget, especially when you shop the clearance aisles. After holiday and end of season events are also ideal times to find gifts. When you find a really great item, don’t be afraid to buy multiples! And while you’re at it, be sure to stock up on wrapping paper, gift bags, and blank cards so you have everything you need for the perfect last-minute gift on hand.

What are your thoughts on regifting?
My oldest daughter is the queen of regifting. Shortly before Christmas a few years back, I thought I was losing my mind, as I kept losing small items around the house. So imagine my surprise on Christmas Eve when my daughter presented me with an array of carefully wrapped gifts. As I opened each box, I “found” all of those missing items. It’s one of my favorite memories, but while I adore her giving spirit and ingenuity, I don’t typically recommend regifting used items. But unused or unopened items? I say they’re totally fair game as long as you don’t accidentally gift them back to the original giver — and that’s where a little note on your tracking list comes in really handy.

Using a gift closet strategy has saved me SO many headaches over the years. While I won’t say that I always have the perfect occasion-appropriate gift on hand, most of the time I do, and that makes it more than worth the minimal time I’ve invested.

Do you have a gift closet, and if so, what are some of the items in it right now? Share in the comments and you could win a GoodNites prize package valued at $50!

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This post is brought to you by Kimberly-Clark. All opinions are 100% mine.