Ugh, not another year of this already... (Tips For Hassle-Free Christmas Shopping)

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	Tips For Hassle-Free Christmas Shopping
Date:	16/09/08 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's lovely to buy/make thoughtful gifts for others and put a smile on their faces

Disadvantages: Shops are too busy, overall spend is very high, people can be impossible to buy for

It's the middle of September right now and already Christmas chocolate treats and novelties have started occupying supermarket shelves. It annoys me that the 'jolly' time of the year comes around all too quickly, so why induce the stress and annoyance even earlier? I'm not a huge fan of Christmas because it always seem to cause problems in one way or another and end up being a let down. You spent all that time doing your shopping and making sure everything is perfect, only for it to be over in the blink of an eye. Here are just a few things I try to do to avoid poking my eyes out each year:

1. Lists. I love making lists, I wouldn't be able to live without them sometimes. Get yourself a pen & paper and a cuppa tea, sit down and sketch out what you need to buy. Take into account presents, food, cards, wrapping paper, decorations, crackers etc. Then budget roughly how much you want to spend on each section. When it comes to what presents to buy people, I tend to have a page for each main person in my life that I want to buy good presents for, ie. parents and boyfriend. Then I note down ideas for them. If you want to save on pennies (I'm not being mean, just practical!) think about whether just a card will suffice. I used to buy token gifts for all of my friends, so I'd be buying 10 presents at £10 each. Gradually, the gift-giving process faded out and it was only me buying gifts so I now only send cards. It's good to get an idea of what people want in advance. I think it's better to have a thoughtful gift that's wanted or needed, or a 'I saw this and thoght of you' present, rather than just buying for the sake of it. Google present ideas and there are hundreds of websites offering ideas for all ages. If you have some thoughts early on about what to buy you wont get too stressed when it's left until the last minute and you can't find anything or have to order from the internet and risk if not being delivered in time.

2. Food Shopping: Whether you're planning on having a party or a quiet christmas at home, food always seems to be very important. There's a lot of offers on sweet and savoury snacks and nibbles so shop around. It may be a good idea to get the big chocolate tins in a couple of months in advance if you can grab a bargain because these wont date. Make sure you know how many people you are catering for; although you may always end up with left overs day after christmas, a bit of excess is better than not having enough and not being able to go out to get more because the shops will be shut. Make sure you have enough staples and necessities in to last over a couple of days too because even if the local shop is open, it's likely to have rather bare shelves.
Getting a good roast prepared takes time so ensure you leave yourself enough time to shop for that perfect turkey. Leave it until the last minute and you could find yourself fighting with an equally stressed shopper over the smallest bird known to man.

3. Shopping Trips. It can be a nightmare going around a crowded shopping centre at christmas time. Last year I went to the BullRing and I got so flustered and frustrated by the hundreds of people who push you over, the queues in shops and the general hustle & bustle that I gave up and went home in a bad mood. Have an idea of what you want to buy and what sort of shops you could look in. If you're going to the BullRing, go on their website and check out the shops that are there to give yourself a bit more structure for when you get there. It can be quite overwhelming to make sure to take plenty of breaks - stop for food, a nice cuppa tea or some fresh air.

4. Internet Shopping. What a great invention! Price comparisson sites can be useful if you're looking for something in particular to make sure you get the best deal. Most supermarkets and high street shops will have their own websites so you can check out their ranges and get some ideas. Hmv.co.uk and play.com offer a good range of well-priced books/cds/games/dvds and provide free delivery so that will save you some hassle in shops trying to find what you're looking for. Ebay is another site I would highly recommend because you can get cheaper branded gifts, or unique presents that are hard to come across in stores. Just make sure you leave enough time for delivery as the christmas period can be very busy.

5. Gift Ideas. Like I've already said, google is a great way to find hundreds of websites offering ideas. Flicking through catalogues, like Argos, may inspire you too. Some shops and supermarkets will have christmas brochures with lots of present ideas-woolworths always produce a good xmas book full of ideas. Buying gifts for the sake of buying something can be quite hard to avoid sometimes, but it's better to get something meaningful and with thought. Gift experiences are a good alternative to a physical gift you can wrap. Things like a massage, day trip passes or a day at a race track make brilliant gifts, along with tickets for shows, stand up comics or theatre productions, make brilliant gifts. If you're really stuck, you may know someone that would appreciate a gift voucher, so choose somewhere they're likely to want to spend it. They're available at lots of outlets now, not just shops like Boots, Argos and WHSmith, but the cinema too! :) If you're trying to save on the pennies and want something 'from the heart', you could try a handmade gift. Google for a variety of ideas, from making your own cards to jewellery and trinket boxes. It shows that time, effort and thought has been put into it.

6. If all else fails and you get too stressed and annoyed to do your christmas shopping, put a note on your front door to say that Santa has retired due to the credit crunch.


p.s
- Keep hold of receipts just incase somethig isn't suitable for whoever you bought it for or if you change your mind.
- Check boxed items when you get them home. Ensure everything is working, in one piece, and things are included that should be.
- When purchasing off the internet, make sure it's a safe and trusted site.

Summary: Scribble down some lists, be prepared slightly earlier & you may just survive!