While the holidays are a fun time of the year, holiday shopping can be stressful! But don’t fret because, with a few great tips to get you the best deals and help you stay on budget; you can cruise right through this holiday season humming your favorite Christmas tune without breaking the bank.
Preparing for Holiday Shopping
With gift-giving season quickly approaching, it is smart to do a little planning to ensure your holiday shopping offers the most bang for your buck with the least amount of stress possible. Deck the halls with these holiday shopping tips for easy-breezy gift-giving this season.
Budgeting Smartly
While it’s easy to go overboard buying all of your favorite people's Christmas gifts; it isn’t a very budget-savvy thing to do. To keep your finances in check throughout the year, setting a budget for holiday shopping is important. The key is to set a spending limit, keep track of all purchases, and have your budget list handy while holiday shopping.
Planning Ahead
Planning ahead for holiday shopping is a smart way to get everything on your list…and at a good price. Early planning allows you to seek out sales, take advantage of holiday shopping deals, and know exactly what you are looking for when sale items pop up. It’s also helpful to use holiday shopping list apps like GiftList and Santa’s Bag to help you stay organized and streamline the process by offering gift ideas and keeping track of spending.
Shopping Tips for a Happy Experience
Holiday shopping should be fun and can be if you are well-prepared for the experience. Here are some pointers to keep the jingle in your step this season.
Research and Compare
A little research goes a long way when it comes to saving big on holiday shopping. Comparing prices online and taking advantage of browser extensions and apps that help with price comparisons and deals is a smart move. Using popular browser extensions like Honey, Rakuten, and Ibotta can help, as well as apps like Groupon and Living Social can save money on your holiday shopping list.
Timing Your Purchases
Take advantage of holiday shopping deals like Black Friday and Cyber Monday to stay on budget. There are major deals to be had on a lot of the items on your gift lists. Also, plan your in-person shopping ventures during off-peak store hours to avoid stressful crowds and tons of traffic for a worry-free holiday shopping excursion.
Embracing Online Shopping
Online holiday shopping is definitely one of the perks of modern technology, so take full advantage of it this season. Not only can you shop for Christmas jammies while wearing yours with no competition for the last parking space, but there are great online deals to be had, too. Be sure to shop at trusted online stores and utilize online price comparison shopping apps like Price.com and Flipp for the best deals.
Creative and Alternative Shopping Ideas
Get creative and thrifty with your holiday shopping this year with fun and alternative gift ideas that are not only cost-effective but will be well-received by your friends and family, too.
Handmade Gifts
Some of the best gifts are those that you make for others. Handmade gifts are personal, thoughtful, and help keep the holiday shopping budget balanced. Great handmade gifts include a personalized photo album, homemade jellies, jams, and vanilla, knitted scarf and gloves, and Christmas cookie mix in a jar.
Gift Cards and Experiences
Sometimes, sharing gift cards or experiences versus a specific gift is the best choice for holiday gift-giving. Gift cards are fun, especially if the recipient has their eye on a high ticket item, just bought a new home, or is planning a vacation getaway where they can use it. Experiences are also very thoughtful and can help create good memories. Fun gift-giving experiences include a cooking class, an afternoon driving a racecar around the track, tickets to a movie, play or concert, and more.
Supporting Local and Small Businesses
Some of the most unique gifts can be found at local gift stores and small businesses in your community. Not only can you find interesting gifts that your friends and family will love, but holiday shopping at locally owned and small businesses is a great way to support your hometown community and help the local economy thrive.
Staying Mindful and Stress-Free
Staying aware of your holiday shopping list and budget will ensure you have a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Here’s a few pointers to help you cruise through this season stress-free and on budget.
Mindful Shopping Habits
The worst way to wreck a budget is impulse buying! Mindful shopping is the key to staying within your gift budget. Sticking to your shopping list and the amount allocated for gift-giving will enable you to enjoy the holiday without the bother of having to worry about bill-paying later.
Managing Shopping Stress
Whether you are holiday shopping online or at your favorite stores this season, don’t let the stress of finding the perfect gift or staying on budget get to you. The first tip is not to feel obligated to buy for everyone. Make a list of those you will buy for it and how much you will spend - and stick to it. This will relieve stressful decisions and anxiety about pleasing everyone. Also, be sure to give yourself a physical and mental break. Whether you are holiday shopping online or in stores, stop for lunch, rest your eyes, have a holiday treat, or even dip in for a quick yoga class to relax and decompress this holiday season.