The holidays are a crazy busy time. Between the baking and cooking, the holiday parties, the pageants, the traveling, the decorating, and the corresponding, you have to somehow find and wrap a heartfelt gift for your kids, spouse, parents, relatives and friends.
Even if you have made a commitment to spend less on gifts this year, you still want to give something meaningful. The worst part is, you want to enjoy the holidays, but you worry that it’s going to whiz by while you were feeling frazzled and desperate.
If this describes you, here are a few tips to help you take some of the stress out of your holiday shopping so you can once again enjoy this magical time of year.
1. Start early. Like now. When you shop for your holiday gifts early, you have more time to look at the options, plus the stores will have a larger selection of those hot toys. You’ll also be spreading out the expense over a longer period of time. And you’re likely to save some money because you’ll have time to check out the deals, both online and off – and to wait for a coupon code, if necessary. If you are shipping any of your presents, you’ll be able to relax if the buying is already finished by Thanksgiving time. Then, when everyone is frantically rushing to the mall and throwing elbows for the last cashmere sweater, you can sit back, sip a hot peppermint mocha and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
2. Do whatever you need to do to make your shopping trips more fun. Take along a good friend or two, and you might have so much fun you’ll want to make a ritual of going holiday shopping together every year. To really cut the stress, take a day off in the middle of the week together and hit your favorite shopping centers then, where you won’t have to compete with so many crowds (especially if you skipped Tip 1, and it’s December already.)
3. Keep a list, throughout the year, of gift ideas for your friends and family. Jot down cute little things you see that relate to their interests. It’s so much easier if you don’t have to start from scratch in the mall, while you stare at the stack of George Foreman grills and waffle makers.
4. Change your scenery. If big malls bum you out with their over-emphasis on the commercialization of Christmas, plan a weekend getaway to a small town, where they celebrate the holidays in old-fashioned style. Is there a small village or ski town in your area where they have carolers strolling the street in the evenings? Where they light the outdoor trees and where they always wrap the gifts for you, while you chat leisurely with the shop owners? Find such a place and you’ll be whistling carols yourself as you weave your way in and out of boutiques, sipping cider or hot cocoa. Being part of an old-fashioned Christmas can really help you get in the holiday spirit. You might have so much fun that you’ll make it an annual tradition.
5. Think unique – not big ticket. Instead of trying to bowl someone over with the enormity of your gift, find something that is unique and just right for them. It is often these small and thoughtful gifts that are the most memorable. Of course, you’ll need to start early to have any chance of finding this just-right gift, but gift-giving will be so much more enjoyable when you make a game of finding just the right item for each recipient, rather than just another thing to cross off your crowded to-do list.
6. Shop online. The internet has an array of interesting gift stores and catalogs that feature items you’d be hard-pressed to find in stores. Arbonne has a wide selection of gifts which are perfect for that special someone. Call or email me to take advantage of “Black Friday with Arbonne”. When you order $125 retail, you get $125 in FREE products (shipping and tax on total retail value). This offer is valid through November 28th, 2011. We have gifts for everyone and you, too…now is a good time to stock up on all your favorites!!!
