Holiday shopping stress is nothing new for Americans. In fact, 69% of people say they are stressed about their finances and 51% are stressed about pressure to give or get gifts during the holiday season. However, holiday shopping doesn’t need to be as stressful as it feels! There are tips that you can keep in mind that can help you handle holiday shopping from start to finish.

How to Prepare for Shopping

Before you start holiday shopping, you will want to make sure that you are prepared. Some ways that you can prepare include:

• Looking for Deals
• Setting a Budget
• Checking for a Price Match Guarantee
• Getting a Plan Together

Looking for Deals

You will want to keep an eye out for deals during the holiday season. There are plenty of different times during this period where retailers will offer deals. Some of the most popular days are Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, there may be special deals in between these times!

Sometimes retailers may even provide exclusive offers through special platforms like email, social media, or their app. That is why it is important to check these places out too. You may only need to subscribe or create an account and then you can access special offers. Not every retailer provides exclusive offers but it is definitely worth checking out.

Setting a Budget

It is important to make sure that you have a budget to follow when it comes to holiday shopping. An easy way to budget is by writing out who you plan on buying gifts for and the most amount you will spend. For example, your list would say $50 for your mom, $20 for your spouse, etc. This will show you how much you will spend at most in order to get everyone something.

Checking for a Price Match Guarantee

A great way to research some stores you will visit is by seeing if they offer a price match guarantee. These price matches can help you make sure that you get a low price on an item you want. Not every store may offer a price match guarantee and if they do there may be some special rules in place around it.

Getting a Plan Together

Now that you know how much you plan on spending, you should figure out where and when you want to go. Some people choose to handle their holiday shopping entirely online. Others take advantage of times like Black Friday to get some “doorbuster” deals in-person. Regardless, you want to figure out where you plan on going and when. There may be some stores you want to visit that give special offers to the first customers in their store. If that’s the case, you want to make sure you go to these places first!

Tips for Holiday Shopping

Now that you know some tips to prepare for holiday shopping, you can learn some tips to better handle it! Tips that can help you save when holiday shopping include:

• Consider Refurbished Products
• Don’t Get the Newest Model
• Benefit from a Subscription Box
• Look for Dupes
• Choose to Pickup in Store
• Make a DIY Present

Consider Refurbished Products

Electronics are popular to buy during the holiday season. However, getting a brand new product can be pricey. That is why you may benefit from getting a refurbished electronic. Pre-owned items aren’t faulty and go through an extensive inspection to help show they are in good shape. In fact, these products may even come with a warranty depending on where you go to buy!

Don’t Get the Newest Model

Even if you do choose to get a brand new item, you don’t need to get the newest model. For example, let’s say you want to get a new IPhone. Instead of getting the newest model, you can opt for an older yet still current model. Instead of the IPhone 13, you can get an IPhone 12!

Benefit from a Subscription Box

Regifting isn’t bad. If you already subscribe to a subscription box, then you may benefit from the items you receive. Let’s say you receive a spice subscription box that sends you a variety of spices every month. Instead of buying someone who loves cooking something, you can just give them one or two items from your box! This can help you save money on the amount of gifts you have to buy.

Look for Dupes

A lot of people love luxury items. However, these items can be costly. Instead of trying to get the real thing, you may be able to get a knockoff that is still good quality for a more affordable price. For example, if you love a pair of shoes for $3,000 you may be able to find a very similar pair for just $125.

Choose to Pickup in Store

If you decide to shop online, you will need to keep shipping costs in mind. Instead of shipping the items directly to your house or the recipient, you could save money by choosing to pick up the items in store. Shipping costs add up, but so do gas costs if you plan on driving to a store that’s super far away. This may not be the best option for you but if it’s doable it could definitely save some money!

Make a DIY Present

If you have any talents, then you should work with them! Some people (oftentimes parents and grandparents) like receiving handmade gifts from the heart. Knitting a sweater, making a blanket, and more are items you can make for a loved one. The cost of supplies will likely be less than the cost of buying the item brand new.

Commonly Asked Questions

Many people have questions when the holiday shopping season comes around! If you have questions, you aren’t alone.

Is it Good to Use Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping?

As long as you use your credit card responsibly then there should be no issues using it for holiday shopping. The reason people say to avoid credit cards is because oftentimes consumers will max out their credit to the limit and not pay it back quickly. Having high credit card usage can lead to a negative impact on your credit score and interest can rack up quickly.

What are Popular Retailers to Shop at During the Holidays?

The best retailer to shop at depends on the gifts you are trying to get. If you want power tools, then shopping at Sephora would not be a great option. However, there are popular retailers that people shop at which are:

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Target
• Etsy
• Ulta
• Kohl’s
• Forever 21

When is a Good Time for Holiday Shopping?

The National Retail Federation (NRF) defines the holiday shopping season as being between November 1st to December 31st. Great times to shop during this timeframe would be on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Super Saturday, and New Year’s Eve. However, there are other times of the year where holidays can mean sales! Other popular holidays where consumers can see some sales include:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• President’s Day
• St.Patrick’s Day
• Easter
• Mother’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Father’s Day
• Fourth of July
• Amazon Prime Day (Not a Holiday but Great for Savings!)
• Labor Day
• Halloween

Overall

Holiday shopping doesn’t need to be as stressful as it may feel. There are ways that you can better handle your holiday shopping to not only be less stressful but to save money as well. You can prep for holiday shopping by:

• Looking for Deals
• Setting a Budget
• Checking for a Price Match Guarantee
• Getting a Plan Together

Once you prepare, you can also use tips to better handle holiday shopping like:

• Consider Refurbished Products
• Don’t Get the Newest Model
• Benefit from a Subscription Box
• Look for Dupes
• Choose to Pickup in Store
• Make a DIY Present

Holiday shopping is more manageable than it may seem. That is why making sure you take the time to check out ways to make it easier can be worth your time!