Christmas Shopping
Christmas shopping.
Crowds.
Pushing.
Shoving.
Lines.
How is it that the holiday season becomes less about family and fun and more about racing the crowded aisles for gifts every year?
This year why not make a conscious decision to not be part of the problem.
The solution? Simply start your shopping earlier - much earlier.
Take advantage of the model year.
It’s 2016, but already the 2017 models of just about everything are arriving on the market. That means retailers are looking to clear out the old merchandise to make room for the latest and greatest versions - even if there is no real difference between the two.
For a savvy shopper, that means you can grab a brand new 2016 anything for far less than you’d be paying just a few months from now for that 2017 version.
Avoid “special” holiday items.
Unfortunately the holiday door busters aren’t always the great deals you’d like to think they are. Some big box stores bring in low quality versions of popular items to offer up as door busters and on sale.
That means the big ticket item you just bought for less was actually worth less than you’d expect. In some cases this isn’t a big deal, but in others it can be an expensive mistake to make.
Skip shipping delays.
The closer we get to Christmas, the slower the shipping seems to be. If you shop now you can avoid even the hint of a shipping delay, and even if you do stumble into a delay of some sort it won’t be a big deal.
You have months to work with, after all. This is especially true if you are looking at international shipping options, although a packaging service like MYUKMailBox may make that option simpler.
Help stores clear merchandise.
Model year close-out or not, stores need to move out summer and fall items to make room for the winter goods. Why not help the stores out by taking advantage of those big clearance sales and grab up a few things that are good year round or to help round out your list? This is especially helpful for toys and household goods.
Double-down on deals.
Those clearances also tend to be occurring right about the same time coupons appear. If you’re savvy, you can double-down and use a coupon on a clearance item and pay virtually nothing for at least a few stocking stuffers.
Buy emergency gifts for the whole year.
One more perk of the stores shifting out model year items is that they aren’t marked as holiday goods. So many holiday items show up with snowflakes and candy canes on the packaging. That’s fine for Christmas, but for the wise shopper, those decals mean you’re limited to a season of giving.
Instead, shop now for the summer and fall items like toys and small gifts and then stash them away in the closet. Those items are good to have on hand for a full year’s worth of birthday parties and hostess gifts.
Take time to plan.
Buying ahead of time also offers you a chance to think carefully about what you’re going to buy. Too often when we wait until closer to the holidays, the selection is narrow and we wind up making quick substitutions or emergency purchases without much planning.
Being able to carefully consider what winds up under your Christmas tree is a great way to be sure you have the right items at the right prices as well.
Look for bulk specials.
Sometimes big box retailers will clear out the storerooms about this time of year and sell things in bulk. Buy ten of these or five of these and get some freebies as well. These bulk specials are great for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, hostess items and just emergency gifts to have on hand at home for impromptu gift giving.
The best selection all year.
Strangely this season between the fall and the true holiday shopping provides you with an unparalleled selection of items.
The hottest holiday toys are still on the shelf because they haven’t been advertised as hot yet. There are multiple colors of all the good things and you can have your choice now instead of fighting for the remainders of the shelf a month or two from now.
Balance the budget and spread spending.
If you like to keep a careful eye on the budget, spreading out your spending is the way to go. Shopping over the course of months helps to draw down your spending in one month and gives you a more balanced approach for the rest of the season. Just be careful that you don’t buy more things simply because you’ll be shopping for a longer period of time.
Enjoy time for other traditions.
Having your shopping out of the way offers you more time to create and enjoy other holiday traditions. Get your presents purchased and then you can sit with your coffee in front of the fireplace wrapping those presents and enjoying the lights of the season without stressing about crowds and drama in the shopping malls.
Get the big stuff out of the way.
Even if you don’t buy all of your items now, you can at least buy the biggest items on your list. This allows you to cross of the big present for each of your family members and then you can enjoy buying stocking stuffers and other small items at your leisure.
Skip the lines.
Finally, why would you want to go out in the crowds of November and December when you can shop in relative peace in September and October? Sure you’ll need to think ahead, but at the very least you won’t be cooling your heels while you wait in a long line of irritated holidays shoppers.
Imagine your holiday season this year with a focus on relaxation and family fun. Crackling fires and tree decorating should be what you’re thinking about, not dread over long lines and back ordered toys. Make this holiday season the best one yet, simply by planning ahead.