If you are like me you dislike shopping during
the holiday season. I hate the crowds, the long lines and
spending money! Below are some tips I put together to help
alleviate the stress associated with Christmas shopping. If you
are short on cash for your shopping, utilize
Christmas Loans.
Create a
Christmas Budget
First things first, put a
budget together prior to doing any Christmas shopping. And
it is very important that you abide to this budget. You don't
want to be one of those people that are paying for their
Christmas gift purchases all throughout the year.
Create a List
Put a list together with specific gift ideas and for whom. This
way, you are prepared when you go to the stores and know exactly
what to get. Not only will you not forget anyone but you won't
buy things unnecessarily.
Avoid Waiting Until the
Last Minute
I don't know why, but I used to find myself waiting until
the last minute every year to do my Christmas shopping. The
lines were always ridiculous and I was always scrounging through
the leftovers for gifts. I learned my lesson. Now I start my
Christmas shopping right before Thanksgiving and do it little by
little.
Do Your Shopping During Off-Peak Times
Stores have the lightest traffic in the morning and late at
night. These are the best times to do your shopping. During the
holiday season, many stores even stay open 24 hours. You can bet
you will likely be the sole store shopper at 2am!
Hunt for Sales
Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for shopping for a
reason...the sales are AMAZING! Every store is likely is going
to have a sale on every item in stock. You may have to do some
battling with crowds, but the amount of money you save will (may
:) ) be worth it.
Another good idea would be to utilize 'After Christmas Sales'
for the following year's Christmas gifts. You will likely find
even more amazing deals. The crowds will probably be even
crazier. At the very least, buy your wrapping supplies for the
following year during 'After Christmas Sales' times.
Purchase Some Extra Gifts
Buy some additional generic type gifts. This way you will be
prepared to reciprocate any gift giver, man or woman, you
receive a gift from un-expectantly.
Do Your Shopping Online
Nothing better than being able to do all of your shopping from
the comfort of your home. You will be able to take advantage of
all the sales offered in stores and not have to deal with the
crowds and long lines. You may even be able to receive 'online
only sales'. In addition you may be able to reap the benefits of
no sales tax in the event the merchant does not have a store in
your area. The only down side to shopping online is not being
able to touch and feel what you are buying beforehand.
Always
Save Receipts
You will not be able to return any items that are broken,
the wrong size, not liked, etc. without a receipt. Stores
typical will offer a full refund with 30 days of purchase.
Christmas Coupons
- Get some really good savings!