Eliminate stress while you Christmas shop: Feature Article
Christmas shopping can be a lot of fun, but it can also be one of the most stressful activities. Finding that perfect gift for everyone on your list can be a bit of a hassle especially if that gift is quite popular and is sold out at practically every store you visit. The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping days of the year because retailers drastically slash prices and offer discounts on hard-to-get items. If you are planning on Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, here are a few pointers to help you eliminate stress.
You need to plan for an all day adventure. Most stores open their doors early, around 5 or 6 am. If you really want to get a good deal, you need to "camp out" at the store in a tent or with a sleeping bag. There will be a big line of customers who are waiting to get in, so be prepared to stand in line for a long time. Even when you do get to the store early, you still need to watch out for lines of people waiting to check out and lines of people in each aisle. Stores generally don't have a limit on how many people they will allow in the store at one time, so as long as you have money to spend, they will let you in.
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Make a list of the items you want and which stores have them. Since most sales end by 9am, you need to get in, get out, and move on to the next store before the item is sold out. If you find yourself browsing, you will become stressed quickly because so many people are pushing and shoving to get through the aisle. Avoid the urge to spend a lot of time in the store and stick to your list. You should eat a large breakfast of keep snacks in your purse or pockets. A hearty breakfast has been shown to help people handle stress better and helps you maintain stamina.
Helpful Resources: 6 Tips to Avoid Stress This web site provide 6 tips on how to avoid stress when you are Christmas shopping. It discusses why shopping early or shopping online can save you a lot of time, energy, money, and patience. Eliminate Stress While Christmas Shopping Avoiding Christmas Shopping Stress Shopping on a Budget Online Shopping Saving Money When Christmas Shopping Great Christmas Presents Hot Ticket Items |
If you see a great deal on an item in the store that is not on your list, ask yourself if you really need it. Quite often items are purchased because they were a "great deal" and they are never used. If the item is for yourself, think hard about it and make sure you will really use it. If the item is for someone on your list, take you time and review the items you wrote down before you just buy it on impulse.
The best way to help eliminate stress when you are Christmas shopping is to work as a team. Call up your friends and go together or shop with family members. Give each person 5 items to find and fan out over the store. This will help you find all the items you need without bumping into people on a bunch of aisles. Working as a team will also help you save time since the driver can unload everyone else while they look for a parking spot.
One of the biggest ways to reduce stress when you are Christmas shopping is to leave the kids at home. If you can find a babysitter or someone else to watch them, you will save yourself time, money, and patience. For those who cannot find someone to watch their children, work out a reward with your child for behaving properly in the store. If possible, shop at a store that has daycare services. Since children often will add to the stress, you should do everything you can to avoid Christmas shopping with them.
One of the best ways to eliminate stress when you are Christmas shopping is to shop early. When you shop early, you generally get the best selection and a more organized selection. Shopping early will reduce the crowd size and you will get better customer service. Try and have all your Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving, this way you won't need to brave the crowds.
A great way to eliminate stress is to plan out your Christmas shopping list and have it ready by December 1. Then, try and complete all of your Christmas shopping within the first week of December. If you can get all of your Christmas shopping done by the 10th, you will find it much easier to have an enjoyable holiday.
If you are buying gifts for co-workers, purchase the same item for everyone. There are often sales on items that can be used for multiple occasions. Purchase enough for your coworkers and buy a couple extras for random occasions throughout the year. If you do family gifts, purchase the same gift for the entire family. It makes it much easier to purchase one bulk item for 6 people than to purchase 6 individual items.
One stress you may encounter when you are Christmas shopping is trying to manage all the other activities you have happening in your life. If you make dinner for your family each night, prepare dinner the night before so it can be reheated when you get home. Consider making meals that take 15 minutes or less to prepare. Meals like Sloppy Joes, Stir-Fry, and Crock-pot dinners can be prepared quickly. Crock-pot meals allow you to set them to cook 6-7 hours ahead of dinnertime, allowing you adequate time to complete your errands.
Instead of shopping in the retail stores, shop online. Internet shopping is quick and easy and you can easily find whatever item you are searching for. Many companies will offer free shipping if you spend above a certain limit. If you choose to shop online, check the shipping time. During the holiday season, shipping speed can take 3 times as long as you normally would wait. Do all your online shopping before December 12 in order to get your presents on time for Christmas. The closer it gets to Christmas, the more you will pay in shipping costs to get the items on time.
A big hassle that causes stress to most everyone is returning the gifts. If you have to return an item, avoid doing it on the day after Christmas. The 26th of December is the largest return day of the year, so if you must return your items this day, be prepared to stand in line for a long time. Have your items as neatly packed as possible and have your gift receipts or register receipts ready. Most stores will not give you cash if you do not have a receipt, instead you will be given a gift card to the store. Do not waste this money on new items that are impulse buys. Many impulse buys are never used and end up being thrown away or donated in a couple years.
Finding the perfect gift can be a stressful event for anyone. Online merchants like Amazon.com have gift lists for every age range. Consider looking at online suggestions before you decide to browse through the stores. If all else fails, you can always purchase a gift certificate. Gift certificates eliminate stress from Christmas shopping because you don't have to wander up and down aisles searching for the perfect gift. Instead, you can allow the gift recipient to wander through the store and find something they really want. Gift certificates are available to practically every store. Some merchants, like Wal-Mart, even sell gift certificates to other companies in their store.
An easy present is to give someone cash. Cash works great for teenagers, as they can use it for anything they like. While some may think cash is impersonal, it does eliminate any stress you may have about the other person liking their present. Giving cash also eliminates your need to read reviews to find out what is "in style" or what the "hot item" is for this year.
Buying Christmas gifts for everyone you work with can become stressful do instead of buying everyone a gift; purchase a food of the month club membership or a magazine subscription. Food of the month gifts and magazine subscriptions are great since they will receive the gift every month for the following year.
The most important thing to remember is that Christmas shopping should be fun. Christmas is one of the best times of the year to show people how much you appreciate them in your life. Don't become overwhelmed with finding the perfect gift and focus on what the true meaning of Christmas really is. Take some time for yourself and just relax so you don't get bogged down by all the hustling and bustling of the Christmas season. If you can afford it, attend the spa for a day or at least schedule a massage. Having a relaxing massage in the middle of December will allow you to eliminate stress. Taking time to relax will also prepare your body and mind for when you do have to go out shopping amongst the holiday crowds. Remember to relax and enjoy the Christmas season because it only comes around once a year!
