It's That Time of Year Again

By Preston Young

“It’s the most wonderful time… of the year”

Yes, I am that person. I love the Holidays; I love shopping for loved ones, and I love giving gifts. Santa Claus is coming to town-which means we all need to get shopping! Christmas shopping can be overwhelming and stressful when the month of December is supposed to be beautiful and cozy. Christmas music, cold weather, fire in the fireplace (or on the TV), hot chocolate, Christmas trees and Christmas lights. The list can go on forever and the last thing I want to do is worry about Christmas shopping. 

I think the hardest thing about Christmas shopping isn’t the shopping itself but the brainstorming of gifts to buy for people. Let’s face it, the shopping itself is as easy as a click of a button and it’s at your door the next day. When buying gifts, I want to buy meaningful gifts that they wouldn’t normally buy themselves but also practical things. But when I procrastinate until the week before Christmas, I find myself buying them something that has no meaning, something random or something that just wont show up in time. 

So, I put together a few tips that I tend to find help me during this time to help ease the stress of Christmas shopping that I hope you can utilize this season!

1.    This one, especially this year may be too late to start but it is start asking your kids, grandkids, parents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or whoever you’re shopping for what they want for Christmas in October and November! Many people may not even be thinking about Christmas in October and November but often they have that something that they want! I can almost guarantee most family members will have that one thing that “just broke” or “just wore out”. The key here is that you’re asking before they are expecting to be asked “What do you want for Christmas?” and the answer most of the time in December is “I have no clue”.

2.    Secondly, I recommend making a list of every person you need to buy for on paper or in your notes somewhere. Unfortunately, especially this year and last, Christmas may be the only time during the year when you will see this family member or friend. So, it is easy to forget to put them on your shopping list. Show this list to your spouse or another family member to see if you’re forgetting anyone!

3.    Lastly, spend money and get money back! There are plenty of cash back offers out there and some you don’t even have to do extra work for! Of course there is the credit card offers where you receive cash back at certain places but there are also online cash back offers like Rakuten, Retailmenot, and Honey. Most are a free cash back button extension that automatically finds cash back, coupons and deals with any Google search!

And there you have it! Go grab your list, get shopping and save some money while doing so. If you have already taken care of your Christmas shopping, it’s time to relax! December is the time to wind down, watch holiday movies, have delicious treats and have get-togethers. Make the most of the holiday season knowing you have checked off your list and make the most spending time with family and friends if you can. Santa Claus is comin’ to Town!

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