20 tips to make holiday shopping easier this year

Few things are as stressful as last-minute holiday shopping. This year, don’t wait until December to start thinking about your list of gifts. Start in September. It may seem premature, but you’ll be glad you got an early start when the busy season approaches. 

Holiday shopping can be an afterthought, but it’s a huge expense that needs to be planned for. Set a budget to avoid thoughtless spending, and plan when you’re going to make certain purchases, especially for major gifts. 

It may be obvious, but it’s worth saying: Make a list of who you’re shopping for and what you need to get them. A list is especially helpful when you have multiple people for whom you’re buying gifts. 

To keep spending at a minimum, scout deals for certain gifts. This can only be done if you plan what you’re going to buy in advance, so make sure you get started on your holiday shopping early. 

We ask kids to make us a list of what they want for Christmas. Why not ask adults, too? While it may not be necessary for an adult to make a list, asking for suggestions can make the gift-buying process a lot easier, and it ensures you’re getting people something they actually want. 

When planning your holiday gift giving, decide which gifts to buy online and which to buy in-store. Having an idea of what you’re getting online will make in-store buying easier. 

Having a plan for in-store shopping days will make the process much smoother. Schedule your route and stops to make the trip to the store and back home as easy as possible. 

For some, homemade gifts might sound far more stressful than buying gifts, but for others, they’re the secret to easy gift-giving. A homemade gift can be budget-friendly, and making it can relieve stress. 

If you’re running out of gift ideas for the person in your life who has everything, give them an experience instead. It’s one less item you have to wrap. 

Don’t re-gift something you’ve been given, but if you’ve given someone a gift in the past that they really loved, especially if it was consumable, give them that same gift again. You know they’ll like it, and it makes holiday shopping less stressful. 

If you’re stuck buying a gift for everyone in your family or group of friends, suggest a gift-giving system, such as Secret Santa or a gift swap. It reduces the number of gifts you need to buy, freeing up space in your wallet and brain for other holiday shopping. 

There may be people in your life you don’t need to buy a gift for. Have a conversation with these people ahead of the holidays and see if they’re okay with foregoing a gift exchange this year. 

Having a gift stash can make shopping easier throughout the entire year, not just during the holidays. Start a habit of buying small items you like or think others will like when you see them, and keep them in a gift stash. Then, when you need a last-minute gift, you can shop your own stash instead of a store. 

Shopping in-store can be a headache, but it’s often necessary. Get those in-store shopping days taken care of on a weekday, if possible, as stores won’t be as busy. If you can, take a day off work to take care of your in-store shopping.

Shopping with another person is fun when you’re just browsing, but it can be difficult if you have several stops to make. Go shopping in-store by yourself so you can make all your purchases on your own time. 

If you struggle to stay on budget, pay in cash. Don’t let yourself use any of your cards. This will preclude you from shopping online, but it’ll keep you from overspending. 

If you’re shopping for a couple, a group of siblings, or anyone else who lives in the same household, consider giving a combined gift. This greatly reduces the number of gifts you have to buy, and you can splurge a little on one item rather than being frugal on multiple items. 

Two heads are better than one. If you and another person, like a sibling or a parent, have a lot of the same people to buy for, see if they want to go in on a gift with you. It makes budgeting easier, and you can divide and conquer in your purchasing and wrapping. 

If you’re struggling to find a good gift idea for the person in your life who has everything, shop local. Buying a local artisan product will almost guarantee the person you’re buying for is getting something they don’t already have. 

Holiday gift giving can be very stressful, but giving it some forethought makes it a lot easier. Be intentional about who you’re going to buy for, what you’re going to buy, and when you’re going to buy it.