With New Year done and dusted, many of us have started thinking about our 2017 resolutions.

No doubt it’s made up of the usual determinations; save money, travel more, get fit and healthy and do more of what you love. But what about staying on top of big events too?

Struggling to remember key dates, birthdays and special occasions is something a lot of people can relate too. And every single year you promise yourself you’re going to be better. Get a new diary, write those dates now and buy presents early – but it’s a plan that sometimes seems impossible to put into action. This New Year, make sure you you’re organised. Here’s some important gift events you shouldn’t forget!

Australia Day: January 26th

Whilst you wouldn’t usually buy a friend an Australia Day present, there’s usually Aussie Day citizenship ceremonies at this time. If you have a friend or family member that’s come to Australia from overseas, they may apply to become an Australian citizen. The ceremonies that are put in place once citizenship has been obtained are an important part of Australia Day celebrations.

It’s a good opportunity to congratulate your friend or family member by purchasing a suitable gift.  Think something that’s unique to Australia; from little souvenir keepsakes to gift boxes. Congratulation hampers are also a great option or consider a graduation gift and alter it slightly to suit the occasion.

Valentine’s Day: February 14th

One of the most romantic days of the year – Valentine’s Day. And whilst we should be showing loved ones how much they mean to us every day of the year, V-Day provides the perfect excuse to do something nice for someone special in your life. Whilst the day is typically reserved for couples, it’s not uncommon to buy a gift for any loved one – whether they be a friend, family member or partner.

Flowers, hampers and giving the gift of an experience are popular choices for present ideas on Valentine’s Day. If you have a creative streak in you, Pinterest is loaded with ideas to make something fun too.  You can alter generic V-day presents to suit who you’re giving them too. For example; if you’re giving roses to a friend or family member, opt for yellow or white roses instead of red. Keep red roses and tulips reserved for your partner.

Easter: April 16th

The month loaded with chocolate. If you have children, this is a tough date to forget to buy presents for! Chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs are the usual presents to give out for Easter. But if you want something a little different or don’t want the family loaded up with too much chocolate, you can opt for other ideas too. Create an Easter basket loaded with different goodies or find some Easter-themed kid’s toys like snuggly bunnies, rabbit puzzles, Easter clothing or activity books. Encourage the family to paint or dye some hard-boiled eggs to give out as fun presents too.

Mother’s Day: May 14th

Forgetting Mother’s Day will no doubt put you in the bad books so make sure you add this one to the diary. Flowers will never go amiss for Mother’s Day and are a great way to show love and admiration. Fresh blooms in reds and pinks are perfect colour wise, or bright yellows and blues for something cheerful. Pink roses or tulips, white daisies or pink gerbera daisies will all impress, or consider jasmine or exotic pink orchids for something different.

Father’s Day: September 3rd

Another date you definitely don’t want to miss, Father’s Day gift ideas should be loaded with something more creative than the regular tie and socks! Like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is a reminder to show dad just how much his hard work means to you. It’s an opportunity to treat him to a special outing or a present that expresses your love and gratitude. Think a quirky addition to the man cave, something for the BBQ if he loves his outdoor cooking, a drinks and goodies hamper or the latest gadget for the collection.

Christmas Day: December 25th

The festive season! It’s a date that comes around oh so quickly, especially when you have a big family to buy for and everything to organise. Christmas gift buying should start as early on in the year as possible. This will eliminate a huge amount of stress and be better for the bank account rather than a spending overload in one hit. Make a list of who you need to buy for; mum, dad, kids, partner and anyone else who hasn’t made it to the naughty list. It can be a good idea to arrange a Secret Santa with work crew, groups of friends or family to eliminate the need to buy multiple gifts. Set a target everyone can work with and start hunting for something soon! Buying Christmas gifts online can save a lot of hassle too.

School and University Graduations

When a friend or family member is graduating, it’s nice to surprise them with a congratulations hamper or celebration gift to wish them well on their new journey. Graduation bears that can be signed by team mates make a great present idea – especially for the school years. Special photo or scrapbooks and other memorabilia are popular too or find something practical they can use in the New Year. School graduations tend to happen around the October/November mark and University graduations is usually December.

Make remembering special occasions a New Year resolution! For 2017, make sure you’re organised and start shopping for presents early. Your wallet and sanity will thank you!

What other gifting events do you have coming up this year? Share with us in the comments.