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It’s never too early to start creating a Christmas shopping plan: taking time in advance to think about your gift-giving (and gift purchasing) strategy can be a big help in reducing holiday stress. Read on for a look at six simple tips that can help make it happen:
Start early.
While it’s an obvious tip, it’s one that’s definitely worth repeating: so much of the stress usually associated with Christmas shopping can be avoided if you don’t leave things till the last minute. If you get started early, shops are less busy, and there is less of a chance that a store might be out of something you want. In addition, you’ll have time to make a backup plan if you can’t find what you’re looking for, and there’s no need to panic if an online order is held up. This Christmas, consider giving yourself a gift by getting as much of your shopping done in advance as you can.
Make a list.
Figure out in advance who you need to shop for and what you plan to get them: browsing in shops and looking for the perfect gift can be fun, but it can also be time-consuming and frustrating if you can’t find anything. Furthermore, leaving things to chance like this does make it more likely that you’ll either forget someone, or that you’ll end up wasting money on gifts that aren’t really wanted. Also, don’t forget to make a list of seasonal items that you’ll need that aren’t specifically gifts, such as decorations, wrapping paper and tags, cards, and food or beverage items for parties.
Make a shopping plan.
Planning out where and when you’ll do your Christmas shopping can help you to make the most efficient use of your time; and let’s face it, time is something we could all use more of during the holiday season. Look at your list and figure out which items come from where. If you can limit the number of different stores or shops you need to visit, so much the better. Then, take a look at your schedule, and block off time to go shopping. Depending on how large your list is, trying to do everything in a single day might be a bit too much.
Think about themes.
If it’s difficult to choose unique, personal gifts for everyone on your list. Why not consider organizing your gift-giving around a theme? For example, this year you could choose to make books your gifts of choice (or clothing, kitchen items, or whatever else you’d like). This can enable you to feel less pressure to choose the “perfect” gift, and it can also make shopping easier, as you can get all your gifts from the same place.
Shop online when you can.
If you really want to make your Christmas shopping easier, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of online shopping. Buying gifts online removes all the hassle of shopping (no driving to crowded stores, spending ages waiting in line, etc.), and enables you to get what you need in just a few clicks. In addition, most retailers have a much larger selection online than they would normally stock in a physical store. Of course, if you’re planning to shop online for gifts, it’s best to do it early. Depending on your location, shipping can take a significant amount of time (or can be costly to rush), and you definitely don’t want to run the risk that your carefully chosen gifts won’t have arrived by the time Christmas Day has.
Don’t forget about gifts that aren’t stuff.
It’s worth remembering that some of the best gifts don’t come from a store or an online retailer. For truly stress-free Christmas shopping experience, you should try to avoid shopping altogether, and instead give alternative gifts like experiences or things you can make or do. Do you love to bake? Batches of pretty Christmas cookies make excellent gifts for colleagues and casual acquaintances. Does a close friend have a very busy family life? A gift of babysitting would probably be greatly appreciated. Thinking outside the box (or the store) when it comes to Christmas presents can help to make the holiday season less stressful for you and more meaningful for the people receiving your gifts.