How to Avoid Christmas Shopping Stress
Ways to Manage and Reduce Holiday Shopping Stress and Hassle
Nov 11, 2008
Christmas shopping is an expensive and stressful proposition for many people. In fact, holiday shopping can be a primary source of stress during the weeks leading up to the holidays.
But long-time personal assistant Alexis DeLory says that Christmas shopping trips don't necessarily need to be stressful, and she should know - DeLory has been serving as a personal shopper and professional errand-runner for a handful of Boston executives for more than 15 years. And each holiday season, DeLory does not only her own Christmas shopping, but she also does much of the holiday shopping for her busy clients.
In a November 2008 interview with Suite101, DeLory offered the following tips to make Christmas shopping easier, less expensive and more stress-free.
Create an Organized Christmas Shopping List
Start by jotting down all those holiday gift ideas in list form. Then, holidays shoppers should make a list of all the stores that they need to visit. Under each store's name, write down what items need to be purchased and cross gifts off the list as they're purchased.
Keeping an organized holiday shopping list will save time and prevent holiday shoppers from forgetting gift ideas or having to return to a store to buy an item that was forgotten during the first shopping trip.
Take Advantage of Gift Wrapping Services, Especially Free Gift Wrapping
During the holiday season, many stores and malls offer gift wrapping services. Usually, the price is very reasonable – about the same as what one would pay for all the wrapping paper and other gift wrapping supplies. So on that next holiday shopping trip, consider taking advantage of the store's or mall's gift wrapping service, especially in cases where the gift wrapping is a free service (as is the case in many boutiques and many more pricey stores).
Don't Go Christmas Shopping at Peak Times
Avoid the malls and stores during lunch hour and on the weekends, as this is when most holiday shoppers are at the stores. Instead, try to visit the mall on the weekdays, either during the mid-morning or mid to late evening hours.
Do Holiday Shopping a Little Bit at a Time
Eight straight hours of Christmas shopping is apt to be a stressful proposition. So instead of taking long holiday shopping trips, do that Christmas shopping bit by bit.
"There's no rule that says you need to do all of your Christmas shopping in one day. Instead of visiting ten stores in the mall, just visit two or three at a time. And when possible, squeeze in some holiday shopping if your travels take you to a store that you needed to visit. Stop by a store on your way home from work or en route to another appointment. Stressful activities like Christmas shopping are much easier to tolerate in small doses," DeLory explained, adding, "I also recommend that you keep a copy of your holiday shopping list in your purse."
Leave Young Children at Home or Bring a Friend to Help With the Kids
If possible, leave young children at home when embarking upon a Christmas shopping trip. Children will distract the parent while he/she tries to Christmas shop, and often, young children will start to get antsy and disruptive when they're bored or over-tired.
If it is not possible to leave the children at home on that next holiday shopping trip, consider bringing along a friend, family member or older child to help tend a young child's needs while the parent focuses on shopping for gifts.
Another tip? Start Christmas shopping as early in the season as possible and consider purchasing Holiday gifts online. During the holidays, many websites offer free shipping or special lower shipping rates, making the extra money spent on shipping well worth the reduction in holiday season stress.
Visit the Christmast Shopping Tips Page for more holiday shopping tips and Christmas gift ideas for children, like Great Gift Ideas for Kids Age 3 and Under and Christmas Shopping Tips and Gift Ideas for Young Children.
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