It’s the season to start your holiday shopping and this can be a stressful time of year as you try to figure out the best gifts for everyone. We’ve got some Christmas shopping tips to kick off your holiday season.
Stick to A Budget
Christmas is a time when money seems to fly out the window, and stress follows. Fix this by making your budget before you hit the store. Make a list of the things you want and the people you love. Don’t forget to add the most wanted toys for Christmas this year to the list, so all kids are set. It’s so easy to overspend on the kids when they keep adding to the list.
Support Companies That Give Back
It’s fun when you buy a gift knowing it will give to a good cause and make your loved one smile. Buy from companies that provide a portion of their profits to special causes. There are places like Hand in Hand that donate soap to children in developing countries or BoxLunch that provides food to the hungry. Choose a charity that your friend loves and contribute in their name.
Update Your Apps
The secret to shopping could be found on your phone. Use apps to scan the barcode of items then find the best possible price for that item. Get digital coupons for food and gifts on apps. You can even download apps that find discount codes throughout the entire internet scouring for coupons and cashback. Use technology to your advantage.
Shop Small
You don’t need to go with the biggest retailers to get the best deals. Go for small businesses to support them as well as find unique gifts. Participate in Small Business Saturday to support local independently owned shops. This means you keep the money in your own neighborhood and get cool gifts.
Stay Loyal
Promotional e-mails sometimes annoy us, but during the holidays, they can be a huge help. If you’re loyal to individual stores, it’s worth signing up for these e-mails. You’ll be thankful when you save money during the gift-giving season. Most loyalty programs are free, too. You get extra benefits and exclusive sales on many of these programs.
Go for Free Shipping
One of the most dreaded things about online shopping is the significant shipping charge. Figure out when the companies you love are doing free shipping. December 14 is Free Shipping Day. This means many retailers give free shipping and a guarantee you’ll get the gift by Christmas Eve. This is perfect if you’ve been waiting to get that perfect gift, but didn’t want to spend extra on shipping.
Shop Early
Shopping early doesn’t mean you need to start Christmas shopping in July, but you can save time and effort if you don’t wait until the last minute. You won’t have to shell out all your cash and break your budget, either. Shop at vintage stores, garage sales, and souvenir shops.
