After having a rollercoaster year this year thanks to the pandemic, it’s not surprising if you simply want it all to end. Make shopping a bit less overwhelming this holiday season so that you can get a well-deserved break. Try the five tips below to take the stress out of holiday shopping, and you will be happy when you’re kicking back with your loved ones.
Write a Budget and Stick to It
With the current state of people’s finances in general, it’s important to decide from the start how much you would like to spend. Do this by writing down a list of everyone you need to buy a gift for and the amount you want to spend on them, and use this as a guide while you shop. To avoid getting into financial straits, do everything you can to stick to this budget and limit going overboard as much as you can. Avoid impulse buying and only get meaningful and important things, and you won’t spend the holidays in regret of overspending.
Shop Online
Long queues and traffic jams are nobody’s favorite part of the holidays, so avoid them the most you can by doing most of your shopping online. Ask your family about the items they need and find out if you can get them online and have them delivered to you. If there are items you cannot find online, save these for physical shopping so that you have a shorter list of things to get physically. Make sure to check the delivery dates so that you don’t end up with your items being delivered long after the date you need them. With 51% of shoppers in a survey saying that they research purchases they plan to make online using Google, you can do the same and you will find it a lot easier and faster to check items in your checklist.
Start Early
To make sure you finish your shopping in good time and have enough time with your loved ones, start shopping early. This will give you enough time to shop for discounts and find the exact items you need. You won’t have to make purchases under pressure and so you will be a lot more likely to stick to your budget and find the exact gifts you need. You will also avoid endless queues in crowded malls by shopping earlier than other people will be shopping, so get your family ready and hit the stores as soon as you can.
Manage Everyone’s Expectations
Disappointing gifts can make anyone’s holidays a drab affair, and you don’t want to have this happen. Right from the start, let your family know that there will be fewer gifts and less-grand celebrations if finances are a bit tight in your household, as they are in many. Setting reasonable expectations will help keep everyone happy despite having a smaller scale of celebrations, and you will manage to keep some savings as well to see you through to the new year and beyond. With the sales tax in Florida at 6%, you can use all the savings while getting gifts for your loved ones.
Set Aside Days to Shop
Finally, check your calendar and set aside the days on which you have a flexible schedule, and mark these ones as days to do your shopping. You will have more peace of mind when you know in advance the days on which you need to go shopping as you can plan well in advance. You can do other things like cleaning up and getting in touch with friends and family in your free time and maximize on getting the holiday mood rolling.
Holiday shopping does not have to overwhelm you this season. Use the tips above to make this experience hassle-free and effective, and get ready to enjoy good times with those closest to you.