Published: November 02, 2009 10:24 am      

Monica Green: Get ready to start shopping

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? If not, you better get after it!

Almost half of 8,000 shoppers polled said they had already begun Christmas shopping in September.

Man, am I behind the game on that one.

Why is it important to start Christmas shopping early? There are several reasons.

The first and most obvious reason is that it’s easier on your checkbook to spread the gifts out than buying them all in December.

Not only are you spreading out the costs, you are also avoiding the Christmas rush at the stores. The massive crowds that hit the stores the last week or two before the holiday. Weekdays are the best days to go, so if you have to take a day off work to get some shopping done, go for it. If you can’t take a day off, try hitting some local stores during your lunch break.

If you don’t want to go to the store at all, try shopping online. Beware of the deadlines for shipping online gifts, however, and take heed of the extra costs associated with expedited shipping.

Besides, if you wait until a few days before Christmas, all the best gifts will be gone. Then you’ll be stuck at Walgreen’s or CVS stocking up on gift cards ... if they even have any left.

Shopping early is most important for those who will be shipping presents out of the country and to military bases. The deadline for sending cards to military bases is usually the first week of December and the second week of November for packages.

Of course, if you’re not into shopping early or at stores, Free Shipping Day is made for you. On Dec. 17, hundreds of stores will participate in the event, offering free shipping for online purchases. For a list of participating retailers, visit www.freeshippingday.com.