Some people love to go to Christmas shops. They love everything like the decorations, the crowds, and selecting the perfect gift for everyone on their list. Christmas is the season of giving gifts.But it can be stressful sometime. Whether you dread holiday shopping or it’s your favorite pastime, the Christmas shopping tips below will make your experience more streamlined and enjoyable.

Buying everything you need around Christmas – love it or hate it – it has to be done! To make it as stress free as possible – here are some simple Christmas shopping tips that will help.

Make a List

Decide who you are buying gifts for. Some people only shop for close family and friends. Other people give Christmas presents to co-workers, hairdressers, plumbers, teachers, and more. Whether your list is long or short, write down everyone you intend to buy gifts for. Next to each person’s name, add some additional details to help you start shopping. Your list should include:

 

• Specific gift ideas, such as a particular doll or a specific color of sweater or tie
• General gift ideas, such as a toy or an article of clothing
• Clothing and shoe sizes
• Notes about your recipients’ favorite colors, food items, or favorite stores, in case you decide to buy a gift card
• A general Christmas gift or two that can be given to anyone who unexpectedly gives you a gift, or to someone you might have forgotten to add to your initial list

Make a Budget and Stick to It

One of the biggest stressors of holiday shopping is overspending, so be sure to create a budget before you hit the stores. First, figure out the total you can afford to spend on gifts. Then, make a list of the people you’d like to give to and allocate portions of your budget toward each person. Apps like Christmas Gift List Tracker and Santa’s Bag do the math and organize purchases for you (though a pen and paper work just fine, too!). If you’re planning to DIY gifts, be sure to factor the cost of materials into your budget.

Go Online

Major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Amazon are leaning into the holiday season earlier than ever, which means deals will start well before Black Friday. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping and pick up major appliances, electronics, and buzzed-about toys in October and early November to avoid potential shipping delays.

Make Use of Curbside Pickup

With coronavirus making social distancing essential, many retailers are offering curbside pickup for merchandise purchased via their website or app. Lots of shoppers have been taking advantage already (according to Adobe Analytics, purchases made online then picked up at a store have increased 62% from last year), and it’s one easy way to streamline your holiday shopping and avoid long lines.

Use sales if you can

Make the most of what sales there are in the run up to Christmas – the earlier you start shopping the better really.

If you are REALLY organised, you may have shopped in last years new year sales for Christmas items for this year, or you may have done a little shopping throughout the year when things have been marked down.

And there are still some great sales on in the run up to Christmas as well. Days like Black Friday (usually the last Friday in November) have fantastic shopping deals available – if you can grab them!

 

Factor in Shipping and Delivery Times

Since many people will be relying on online shopping to cross items off their loved ones’ Christmas lists, make sure you take into account that there may be unexpected shipping delays when you place your order. That means, it’s best to order gifts as soon as you think of them, rather than waiting until the last minute. But if a gift doesn’t arrive in time, just print out a picture to stick in their card to let them know that it’s in transit.

Support Companies That Give Back (or Make a Direct Donation)

Check people off your gift list—and do some good—by buying from companies that give a portion of their profits to important causes. For book lovers, check Out of Print, which supports literacy programs; Hand in Hand donates soap to children in developing countries for every bar sold while the toys and apparel at BoxLunch help get food to the hungry via Feed America. Another great way to make a difference: Choose a charity based on a friend or family member’s passions and make a donation in his or her name (one of our favorites for kids: the adorable stuffed animal and certificate that come with a symbolic species adoption benefitting the World Wildlife Fund).

Shop Early

Keeping your eyes open for holiday presents year-round not only prevents you from having to pay for all your gifts within a few weeks, but it also adds a thrill to the hunt through flea markets, vintage stores, and souvenir shops, all great sources for affordable gifts. Shopping early is a good idea for online purchases, too. You’ll be able to take advantage of sales events like Cyber Monday when gifts are discounted, and will also ensure presents have plenty of time to arrive.

 

Update Your Apps

The secret to savings may be as easy as pulling out your phone thanks to apps designed to find discounts. ShopSavvy lets users scan the barcode of an item, then reports back on the best prices for it both online and locally. For holiday food shopping, Coupons.com organizes free digital coupons from your local grocery stores and lets you upload paper ones (for some stores, you can also upload your paper receipt and receive cash back to your Paypal account). Before you make a purchase, check Retail Me Not, which provides access to discount codes, coupons, and cash back offers for clothes, tech, restaurants, and more.

Determine the Perfect Gift

What sort of gift matches each person on your list? Have a rough idea of what presents would delight your recipients. Write the ideas down. Listen to the people on your list for any hints they drop about gift wishes for inspiration, and write those down as well. Remember:

• The best gifts come from a thoughtful heart.
• Buy what they would like, not necessarily what you like and want.
• For the person who has everything and wants nothing, consider making a donation in their name to a special cause.
• Have a designated area in your home for presents, such as a section of a closet or the attic.

Map Out Your Shopping Trip

Make a strategic plan as to which stores you want to visit. Gather store catalogs together and circle the items you want to purchase. Investing time to look through catalogs to compare prices will help save a lot of leg work. It will also save money. Some stores will price match and honor the price of an advertised item from a competing store. This might keep you from having to go from one store to the next. Put catalogs, your list, and any coupons you might have together in a small zippered folder that will fit into a purse or be easy to carry.

Utilize Online Christmas Shopping

If you don’t have time or can’t bear shopping at the local stores, there are countless online stores full of Christmas treasures. Taking your shopping spree online is safer and easier than ever. All major department stores and specialty stores have easy-to-use websites. Thanks to the amazing power and reach of the internet, you can sit back, relax, and buy your Christmas gifts from the comfort of your own home.

However, you should still plan ahead and have a gift list when Christmas shopping online. Additionally, it’s more important than ever to shop early. Try to place all your orders just after Thanksgiving, or even earlier in the year. If you wait too long to order a popular toy, you might be dealing with a very disappointed child on Christmas morning.

 

Plan with the Internet

Instead of going on a long and exhausting tour of the stores, do some screen shopping! Almost all stores have a website, some of them even allowing you to check an item’s availability in a store near you. It’s a very practical way to save some time and avoid going across town to find a specific gift. And you can shop whenever you want, night and day! Every woman’s dream!

 

Visit many websites, take notes, compare and add pages to your “Favourites” bookmark to give yourself some time to think about it. Your purchase will be well thought-over and even more appreciated, especially since you’ll probably have saved time and money!

If you live far from larger shopping centres or simply don’t like the Christmas shopping craziness, buy online! Stick with well-known brands, such as Target, Sears, Future Shop, Chapters, Amazon, ToysRus, etc. and get information about their delivery fees, deadlines for the holiday season, return policies, etc.