THIS IS THE 3rd POST IN A NEW SERIES, “KEEPING THE JOY IN YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON”
The holidays are a time of joy, reflection, and spending time with loved ones. However, for many of us, it can also be a time of stress. With so much to do and so little time, it can be hard to know where to start.
We want to get the perfect Christmas gifts for our loved ones, but we don’t want to spend a fortune or go crazy shopping. And who said that retirement gives you endless time to spend doing whatever you want? For some of us, our schedule is full of activities, responsibilities, health-related appointments, and more.
When it comes to stress free holiday shopping, that concept can seem like it’s not gonna happen. No way.
But don’t worry – I’ve got you covered! In this post, you’ll find 5 tips to help you plan early, plan well, keep the stress levels under control, and work through the gift-giving list without breaking a sweat. While none of us can control the long lines, out of stock items, weather, or other events that can trip us up, these helpful suggestions will keep you on track.
So read on and get ready to enjoy the holidays!
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Enjoy (Almost) Stress Free Holiday Shopping with These 5 Tips
tip #1: plan early and plan specifically
The holiday season is a hectic time for everyone, and it can be hard to find the perfect gift for each person on your list. One way to make the process easier and minimize the holiday shopping stress is to plan ahead and be specific about what you want to buy.
Make a list of the people you need to shop for, and brainstorm a few gift ideas for each one. Not only will this make it easier to find the right gifts, but you’ll also be less likely to overspend on impulse buys.
Another benefit of planning ahead is that you can take advantage of sales and discounts. Many stores offer early bird specials and other promotions leading up to the holidays, so by shopping early you can save money and still get the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
So this year, make things easier on yourself by taking some time to plan ahead before starting your holiday shopping.
Be sure to check out my free printables for keeping track of your holiday shopping. You’ll find more info below!
tip #2: organize, organize
When it comes to holiday shopping, being organized can make a big difference.
First of all, it’s important to know where to shop. This means doing some research ahead of time to find the stores that are likely to have what you’re looking for.
Once you’ve found a few good options, it’s time to start planning your shopping trip. Make a list of the people you need to buy gifts for on this excursion, and then map out which store you’ll go to for each person. This will help you stay focused and avoid wasting time wandering around aimlessly.
Finally, don’t forget to budget for holiday shopping.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and spend more than you intended. But if you’re thoughtful about your spending, you can stay on track and avoid going into debt.
tip #3: set the budget and stick to it
If you’re like most people, you probably have a long list of people to buy for, and it can be tempting to just start spending without thinking about it. However, this can can come back to haunt you down the road.
That’s why it’s so important to make a holiday spending budget and stick to it, no matter how big or small your budget may be. It doesn’t matter if your budget is $100 or $1,000 – what matters is that you are mindful of your spending.
When you’re making your budget, start by listing out all the people you need to buy gifts for. Then, set a spending limit for each person. Once you’ve done that, add up all the limits to get your total holiday shopping budget.
Now, it’s time to start shopping! But don’t forget, just because you have a budget doesn’t mean you have to spend every last penny. If you find a great deal on a gift that’s under your limit, go ahead and snag it!
And if you end up going over your budget for one person, try to make up for it by staying under budget for someone else. The most important thing is to stick to your overall budget as much as possible.
Keeping the Joy in Your Holiday Season – A Series
- 10 Tips for a (Mostly) Stress-Free Holiday Season
- Self Care During the Holidays: 5 Tips for Managing Stress
- Top 5 Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Shopping
- Wellness During the Holidays: 10 Gifts to Give Yourself
- How to Avoid People-Pleasing During the Holidays
- Holidays and Elderly Parents: A Labor of Love
- How to Relax During the Holidays: 10 Tips for Keep You Healthy and Happy
- Staying on Track During the Holidays: 5 Simple Tips for Success
tip #4: get creative (who needs more stuff?)
The holiday season is a time when we celebrate with our loved ones and express our appreciation for one another. For many of us, this means exchanging gifts.
However, with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be easy to default to buying generic items that are easy to find and wrap. While there’s nothing wrong with giving someone a thoughtful present that they can use, consider taking the time to be creative and give a gift that is more meaningful.
This could be something handmade, like a scarf or a mug with a personal message. Alternatively, you could give an experience gift, such as tickets to a show or a voucher for a day at a spa.
If the budget doesn’t have flexibility, consider what you could give to a loved one that doesn’t much, or cost anything, except maybe some of your time. You could offer to care for a family member or grandchild (create a little coupon) for a period of time, chauffeur someone on a shopping trip, or
Whatever you choose, take the time to think about what would truly make the recipient feel loved and appreciated.
tip #5: let your fingers do the shopping
When it comes to shopping for the holidays, many people find the process to be stressful and time-consuming. However, there are some definite benefits to doing your shopping online – especially if you’re looking for unique, personalized gifts.
One of the best things about choosing to shop online is that you can often find items that you wouldn’t be able to find in a brick-and-mortar store. And thanks to sites like Etsy, it’s easy to find handmade gifts that are truly one-of-a-kind. I shopped for my grandkids one year and it worked out really well.
You’ll save time by not having to hop in the car and drive from place to place. That is extremely appealing to me, as stepping into a store is the last thing I want to do over and over again!
Another benefit of online shopping is that you can sometimes get better deals than you would in a store. But timing is important – start early so you don’t get caught up in the last-minute rush and add to the holiday stress!
FREE Printables to Help You Plan Your Gift Giving!
Grab these free printables from the Resource Library and stay organized as you plan for holiday gift-giving!
You’ll find them in the Lifestyle section of the library
Conclusion: Stress Free Holiday Shopping
The holidays can be a time of great stress for many people, when in fact this time of year should bring joy, happiness, and create lasting memories with those we care about the most.
For me, it’s about the reason we celebrate the holidays, and not who’s giving what to whom. It’s just stuff, after all.
When you take the time to plan ahead and use some creativity, it’s possible to have an (almost) stress-free holiday season. Follow these top five holiday shopping tips and you’re sure to be on your way!
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