Christmas Shopping Tips

I received my Christmas bonus from work (which is going entirely toward Christmas presents) and my daughter will be with her aunt, uncle and cousins visiting Santa Claus tomorrow. The setting is perfect for some serious Christmas shopping.

I do have goals in this endeavor, the main one being that I’d like to get my Christmas shopping done and my daughter’s presents wrapped before I pick her up. I also don’t want to make my sister keep her the entire day, so I need to have a plan. Here are my tips for making the most of a shopping day.

1. Know Who You Are Buying For.  This doesn’t mean anything really deep and emotional. It literally means have a list of the people you need to find something for and ideas of things you’d like to buy for them. Don’t forget to add things to the list like wrapping paper and tape if you need those materials also.

2.  Know Where You Need to Go.  Having an idea and a plan of the stores and shopping centers you need to visit will save you from wandering random stores for nothing and just plain driving around aimlessly.

3.  Research the Sales in Advance. I plan on visiting the stores online tonight so I know where to find what tomorrow. Depending on the sale or discount, this could also change the list of what I’m getting for whom.

4.  Have Checkbook and Credit Cards Ready. This just means to double check that you have a book of blank checks, and if you’re using a credit card make sure it isn’t expired or maxed out. It is also a good idea to carry a couple dollars cash for any quick emergency buys or if you need to load up on stocking stuffers at the dollar store.

5.  Clean Out Your Purse.  Maybe this only applies to me, but I have a mess of papers, notes, gum wrappers, coffee member cards, credit cards and checkbooks in my purse.  When I’m asked for my driver’s license, it could take 10 minutes to find it and that’s on a good day. I, personally, will be much more comfortable and efficient with a cleaned and organized purse.

To some readers, these tips will seem obvious but for me, it’s taken years to figure out a lot of the basics. I highly suggest written lists or even putting the lists and notes on your cell phone. Having a tangible list makes all of the difference. Trust me, I was once one of those people that figured I could carry everything in my brain until I realized that the brain crashes more than a cheap computer.

I’ll let you know how it goes. Until then, happy shopping!