Holiday shopping is going to look very different this year.
Record numbers of people are going to be shopping online due to the pandemic.
Companies are rolling out new holiday deals over a longer time, with big brands like Walmart, Target, and Amazon rolling out Black Friday deals starting in October.
Consumers are being given more choice in sales than ever. The onslaught of deals can be paralyzing and stressful, especially if you haven’t started to think about shopping yet.
All the early sales and pressure can make you forget why you’re shopping for gifts in the first place — to show your loved ones you care.
Christmas shopping shouldn’t be yet another stressor in your life. That’s why I’ve put together these smart holiday shopping tips and hacks so that you feel prepared and enjoy shopping for your loved ones this year!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
1. MAKE A HOLIDAY SHOPPING BUDGET
The holiday deals are coming in hot this year, with many companies starting their Black Friday holiday deals beginning in October.
It can leave many of us feeling hilariously unprepared, especially since most of us are guilty of shopping last minute. Or at least waiting until the actual Black Friday at the end of November!
To help alleviate some of the pressure to miss a good deal, you can start to put together your shopping list early. You’ll want to create a list of who you need to buy gifts for, how much you’re willing to spend on them, and then total up everything to get your overall gift budget.
Creating a list helps you map out how much you’re likely to spend on gifts this year so that you’re not shocked looking at your bank account in January.
Knowing your budget for each person will also be clutch as you start to see deals rollout! For example, maybe something went on sale that would be perfect for your friend but was originally out of their gift budget 🙂
Again, do this early (maybe even now!) so that you can head into the holiday shopping season feeling confident.
2. BRAINSTORM GIFT IDEAS BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE
If you choose to go in-stores, it can be really easy to wander around and buy whatever. I recommend brainstorming gift ideas for each person before you leave the house.
Doing so will give you an idea of what stores you’ll need to go to or what deals to look out for online.
Having an idea of what gifts to buy will make your shopping trip more pointed, which can save you time and money in the end!
3. GET STARTED EARLY
Friends, this is NOT the year to procrastinate on gifts. The holidays will look very different this year, thanks to COVID, with lots of people shipping gifts to friends and family instead.
You need to make sure you’re considering shipping times – both for your online order to arrive and for your gift to be sent to the person.
Shopping early will give you the time to do your research and allow you the opportunity to capitalize on more deals.
4. SHOP ONLINE USING CASHBACK SITES
If you’re going to be shopping online, why not get cash back for buying things you were already planning on buying? I’ve been using Rakuten since the start of COVID and have loved getting money back on my online purchases.
Rakuten is a cashback site that gets a commission for sending their members to stores’ websites, and then they share the commission back to us!
I use the Rakuten Google Chrome browser extension because I’ll get a pop up whenever the store I’m looking at has a special promo offer or a Rakuten cashback deal. All you have to do is click to activate the cashback offer to get money back on your online order.
I’m ordering so much more online now that I’m working from home. And it feels good to get money back on items, like beauty supplies and clothes, that I would’ve had to buy anyways.
Rakuten is free to sign up, but if you use my link, you’ll automatically get $20 cashback after spending your first $20.
So, go check them out to ensure you’re maximizing your saving potential while shopping this year!
5. RESEARCH ITEMS (ESPECIALLY EXPENSIVE ONES)
Online shopping doesn’t allow us the luxury of always trying out an item or seeing the quality before purchase. Because of this, it is so important that we do our research before making purchases. Remember, cheaper or more quantity doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Make sure you do your research on the items that you’re buying. Read through the product review, compare the product on other sites, look at competitors. Quality > Quantity.
6. DON’T BUY JUST TO BUY
Money is money. If an item is on sale, you are still spending money to purchase it. Seeing an item on sale can be exciting, especially if it’s something you’ve wanted for a while!
But before purchasing, ask yourself if it’s something you really need? Is it work the space it’s going to take up in your home?
Take the time to consider the item’s value in your life and be intentional with your shopping. Don’t just shop to shop for deals.
7. MONITOR YOUR SPENDING
Remember that budget sheet you made at the beginning of the holiday season? Use that sheet and update it as you shop this season! Especially since the holiday deals are lasting longer than ever, it will be vital for you to keep track of how you’re spending.
There will undoubtedly be fluctuations, but monitoring where your money goes will help you feel in control of your spending, so you’re not surprised down the line.
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