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Holiday gift buying does not have to be a chore and take forever. There are many simple ways to get to the bottom of your shopping list in record time and have plenty of time left over to enjoy the season." Here are some tips for busy holiday shoppers:
1. Shop early. Start with a list of who you will be buying for and let your imagination soar!
2. Keep a holiday shopping file on family and friends. Instead of a piece of paper, use index cards and write one person’s name on each card, and keep them all together with a rubberband. Avoid the post-holiday “credit card blues,” by staying within a realistic budget by referring to this file often.
3. Call ahead before you shop offline. Instead of a paper list, use index cards and one person’s name on each card and keep them all together with a rubberband. Why go 6 places looking for that one holiday gift when you could just make a few phone calls, go to one place and pick it up?
4. Make a list and check it twice. Combine catalog and in-store shopping. It works for Santa, and it will work for you. Store hours are extended during the holidays and major catalogs allow you to place orders around the clock.
5. Get help. Use the gift wrapping services that many businesses provide this time of year. Delegate and assign some tasks to other family members.
6. You can wrap your gifts when you bring them home. Who says that you personally have to wrap all the holiday gifts, do all the baking, and/or do all the holiday season decorating? This year, give yourself the gift of holiday stress relief by patronizing a local bakery, hiring a cleaning service to clean your home, or even having your holiday season party or festive dinner catered.
7. Avoid rushing around in a holiday frenzy. Preplan and coordinate your journeys. You can easily combine running errands with Christmas shopping, for example, so why make separate trips?
8. Avoid crowds by shopping during off hours. If possible, take a day off from work and plan to shop when the stores open for widest selection and most courteous service--shorter lines, less time and more time to spend with family and friends.
9. Take advantage of services offered by malls. Also, more and more stores are offering special rebates and free gifts.
10. Limit your shopping trips to under 4 hours at a time. “Shop-until-you-drop” sprees usually lead to impulse buying, exhaustion and frustration. This is one time of the year that people make time to spend with each other than any other time of year. Take advantage by slowing down a bit. Take a friend along and you both get your shopping done and have fun at the same time! What a novel idea.
11. Dress smart and wear comfortable walking shoes. Opt for a fanny pack or backpack instead of a purse for hands-free shopping.
12. Newsletters brings friends closer together. . Instead of spending hours writing and sending Christmas cards, enjoy the holiday activities by creating a 1 or 2-page Christmas letter and copy it onto pretty designed Christmas paper. (Actually, I put a little humor into the newsletter, and exaggerate a little bit just to give a bit of entertainment).
13. Slow down and build time to relax and enjoy the festive season into your schedule. Take some time for yourself. I call this the 3 R’s (refresh, regroup, and rejuvenate). Step out of the holiday rush and spend some time for yourself, even if it’s just a lunch with a friend.
14. Take the time to drive around. Enjoy the incredible displays of Christmas lights, attend a special holiday event, make snow angels with the kids, or just take a long hot bath.
15. Plan ahead for the next holiday season. Christmas supplies, such as decorations and gift wrap, are often available at discounted prices in the week after Christmas, and they don't go bad! It's easy enough to buy holiday gifts any time of year--all it takes is some planning.
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