Jennifer Carota is The Gift Therapist

Every time I have to get a gift for someone close to me I go on a huge treasure hunt to find that perfect gift, but, I struggle greatly. I’m so bad that I thought I would seek out a therapist and was lucky enough to find one without the $200/hr price tag. Jennifer Carota, also known as The Gift Thereapist, provides all the help any of you need when it comes to gifts (she can even narrow it down to specific months). She’s so good  I am featuring a two part interview with the second part following tomorrow. Check it out, you’ll never struggle with gift giving again.

A short background of how you became the “Gift Therapist” and about what your website offers.

What do you get when you get when you cross a mental health counselor with a reformed shopaholic? The Gift Therapist embodies my struggles and triumphs as I dug myself out of serious credit card debt 15 years ago. Although the website and persona is only a little over two years old, I am now proud to share money saving and gift giving tips so that others will hopefully learn from my mistakes and be inspired to take control of their family budget before it’s too late!

What are some of your shopping sanity saver tips?

Shopping, especially for gifts, can be very stressful. The three most important things that you can do to keep yourself sane in the process is to budget, plan, and execute your shopping excursion as soon as possible. The earlier you start the better! I recommend making an annual gift list on a one page calendar that you can print out from your computer. Be sure to write in all the birthdays and special occasions for each month. Next figure out your annual gift budget. How much can you afford to spend in cash this year? Now break that figure down by month and you now you have a monthly, no guilt, amount of gift giving CASH you can spend starting now. And finally, hit up the clearance racks at your favorite department stores now for the best deals on off-season merchandise. Stash them away for giving later! Make this process fun by challenging yourself to come in under budget. That means either more money in your pocket or more money toward your favorite cause. Make the shopping fun!

What are the best affordable gifts to get in the month of August?

August is a great time to stock up on summer seasonal gifts that will soon be hitting the clearance racks. Larger items like grills, lawnmowers, sporting equipment, travel essentials and patio décor can be found at bargain basement prices. All of these items would make fabulous gifts for the right person and occasion if you are able to plan ahead!

I know your a therapist but you’re still human…what is your favorite TV show?

I am a total “LOST” junkie. I am counting down the days until the season premier in February and can’t bear to think of this series ending. Even with all of the answers, a piece of me will forever remain on that island….Namaste!

Check out part 2 tomorrow for the best tip; The Gift of Three.  Plus using all these tips allows you to tell that bully you have been dealing with that you’re so crazy your seeing a therapist.  That’s how I scared Romi off.

Just kidding, but seriously.

Makes Cents (7)

This entry was posted on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 11:00 am and is filed under Fashion, Living, Money. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tags: Gift Giving, gifts, Jennifer Carota, Presents, Recession, Screw You Recession, Shopping Sanity Saver Tips, Thaddeus Bolton, The Gift Therapist