Having a guide will save some of your time and money, while also making your holiday joyful. Holidays can be stressful enough and this is a great way to keep your mind up and help you out.
First, start early and create a timeline aiming to start shopping at least 6 to 8 weeks before Christmas. Set a budget to accumulate for friends, coworkers, families and extra stocking stuffers that can be added to your gift. Make a list of their names and potential gift ideas that you have. A way to do this is having a digital spreadsheet or a Google sheet keeping your list organized and keeping track of the spending.
Yes, the person you’re shopping for means personalization matters a lot. Think about the person’s hobbies, favorite colors, brands, things that you have talked about in the past that they wanted or needed. Having the little things really makes your gift more special and more heartfelt. Having a simple wish list can also help out by asking your family and friends to make a quick list of things that they want within a budget, knowing that you can afford that budget that was set makes gift-giving less stressful and more heartfelt.
Having a shopping strategy is good for shopping online or in-stores. It can be more convenient. You have more selection and it’s easier to shop at your price going into a store where sometimes you don’t know the prices or it can be much higher in the store than online. There is a pick up and avoid shipping delays and shipping fee so you should look at the items beforehand, knowing if you can pick it up in store then shipping it to your house. Gift cards are a great way for picky friends or someone who you don’t know that well.
Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be stressful if you plan ahead, budget and focus on meaningful gifts. Making fun of the process and having a little organization goes a long way towards a wonderful holiday season.