Holiday shopping can be the highlight of a person’s year or the bane of their existence. Even comedian Tom Lehrer expresses some dissatisfaction with the exercise when he sings, “Listen! The Herald-Tribune sings, advertises wonderful things… Angels we’ve heard above, tell us to go out and buy…” However, Christmas shopping is generally thought to be a necessary act and, with a little planning, can be fun.
One problem with holiday shopping is that people often walk out without a list or any idea what they will be buying and for whom. Making a list of the ones to buy and jotting down thoughts about what they might like is a good way to prepare for holiday shopping. It helps speed up the process and helps the buyer stay focused.
Another way to prepare for holiday shopping is to set a budget. This may be the most important step of all. A contributing factor to the post-holiday depression is, undoubtedly, the arrival of high credit card bills in January. People realize how much they’ve overspent when it stares at them from the statement. A budget is essential to help a shopper not overspend and ruin the next few months after the holidays.
Some people do their Christmas shopping in malls, while others prefer to go online. Mall shoppers should ensure they have comfortable shoes and should go to the mall when reasonably rested. If the stores are filled with shoppers, having a good night’s sleep will go a long way in keeping a shopper cheerful and reasonable.
Moms should ideally hire a babysitter. Grocery shopping, Christmas or otherwise, is much easier when the kids are at home. The buyer should have the list of her and decide which credit cards she will use and carry only those with her. If you have decided not to use credit cards, you should leave them at home to avoid temptation.
Buyers should also drive vehicles that have locked trunks or hidden storage space for packages. Every year there are reports of people having every single Christmas package stolen because they left their presents in the back seat, where they were easily visible. Their windows were broken and the packages were gone when they returned. Thieves rarely steal what they can’t see, so a shopper should always store purchases where they aren’t visible, even if someone is peeking in the car window.
In recent years, online Christmas shopping has grown exponentially. The attraction of not battling the mall crowds is irresistible to some people. However, budget compliance remains in effect, and shoppers should ensure they order their goods early enough to receive them well before the big day. They should also ensure that their computers have 128-bit encryption and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which will help protect their account numbers.
Some people travel out of town, perhaps to the nearest major city, to do their Christmas shopping. These shoppers should also take their own lists and only essential credit cards. They should also plan to spend at least one night in the city so they can rest from travel and shopping. Shoppers taking this route should prepare by booking their hotel in advance and factoring the cost of travel, food, and lodging into their shopping budget. Car travelers should have their vehicle checked, as you would for any road trip.
When a Christmas shopper commits to budget and organizes a list, it makes life instantly easier. Holiday shopping can be enjoyable when the shopper makes an effort to be reasonable in their purchases and doesn’t try too hard to perpetuate an idealized tradition.
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