Now we all know many people are notorious for leaving shopping until the last minute and end up going out Christmas Eve in the mad hope they’ll grab something before the big day…
But that isn’t the case for some of us. We plan ahead, think of the perfect gifts for our other halves, our family and friends, etc and don’t have to deal with the stress of buying last minute! Here are some tips to help those of you who struggle at this time of year:
DO’S:
- Remember what you bought last year: This is a key tip – remembering what you bought people last year is essential. There’s nothing worse than opening a present on Christmas Day, to find out you’ve got practically the same thing as last year. This will definitely help with shopping, it’ll give you a sense of direction of which shops not to go in and hopefully, help you shop a little quicker.
- Make a list: Make yourself a list of who you need to buy for this year and write down a few ideas for each person. This ideally needs to be done as soon as possible, so you can keep referring to it and ticking off names as you go along. Whether you physically put pen to paper or make a few notes on your phone, it’ll help more than ever.
- Give yourself a budget: Now I always make this mistake – seeing a great gift for someone, buying it even though it’s insanely expensive and then remember I still need to buy for everyone else! It’s so easy to do it, why do it to yourself? Along with your list, write down a budget you’d like to spend either in total or per person, so you can keep track without breaking the bank.
- Do your research: A good way of starting early and keeping within your budget is to online shop. This way, if you find a gift you know someone will love, you can research where sells it cheapest! Ordering online takes away a lot of the stress shopping can have, plus you don’t have to worry about them not having the correct size/item in the store. It’s the same product, but at an even better price.
DON’TS:
- DON’T LEAVE ALL YOUR SHOPPING UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE: Trust me, not only will it stress you out, risk your loved ones getting awful presents and annoy those around you, it’ll also take away part of you and your family’s Christmas. Christmas Eve and the days leading up to it are essential for you to spend with friends and family – you don’t want to miss out because you’ve left your shopping until the last minute.
- DON’T RISK SPENDING TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE: A good tip I have for this, especially when it comes to girlfriends/boyfriends, is to both make a budget. Speak to each other about how much you should spend. This way it takes the weight off your shoulders when you’re worried whether you’ve spent enough on your loved one or whether you’ve spent too much, and you won’t get as much back (yes, I did just say that.) Also, it’ll take away any awkwardness when you open your presents.
- DON’T RELY ON OTHERS: Don’t rely on your mum to buy all your gifts for you or to decide what everyone is getting this year. Come on, we’re all adults now, do your own research.
- START TOO LATE: Don’t leave it until December to get all your gifts! It’s fine to grab a couple in the first few weeks of December, but make sure you aim to have everything done at least the week before Christmas, if not sooner.
So, there’s my do’s and don’ts from past experiences. I hope that helps keep you more in check and good luck!
By Chloe Gibb