Tips for Keeping a “Gift Drawer”

If you’ve followed my advice in the past and you’re shopping when and where you are, you probably have a good stash of gifts piling up. The question is, what to with them?

I have a large drawer in my craft area that I call “The Gift Drawer.” Throughout the year I pick up little stocking stuffers, hostess gifts and holiday gifts and put them in the drawer. If the item is for a specific person, I put a self-adhesive note with the recipient’s name and occasion on the item so as not to forget. Last year around December 1st I pulled out the drawer contents and found that I was much farther ahead in my holiday gift buying than I previously thought.

If you don’t have an empty drawer, think of other containers for your gift storage. A covered box on a closet shelf would do the trick, as would an empty, infrequently used suitcase. The important thing is to designate a space to store gifts that you acquire during the year. You can locate it anywhere, but it should be easily accessible so that purchases can be put away right away and not piled up as clutter. In other words, the attic may not be the best location. If you have curious children or a curious spouse, then consider putting their gifts in a more secret location and keep the “gift drawer” for other people’s gifts.

Of course, one of the basic tenets of organizing is to contain items, so designate a space and stick to it. If you stock up on hostess and housewarming gifts, such as candles and handmade soaps, just remember that like duplicates in your pantry, too much of a good thing costs you valuable space.