A question I get asked with some regularity every holiday season is how, even at the height of stressful situations (and this season has been right up there in terms of stress!), I still manage to not only get my gift shopping done timely but also succeed in getting gifts that go over well each and every year. While the days leading up to Christmas Eve can be spent racing from store to store, or frantically checking delivery times for online orders- I’m usually kicking back in my cozy pajamas, drinking cocoa, and watching holiday movies without a care in the world. Or at least not many cares, depending on how my year is going.
It’s taken a long time to get it down right, and many years of observation to learn some “Holiday Hacks” (including watching what NOT to do when it came to some of my friends & family’s last minute shopping chaotic energy!) but I I’ve developed a pretty good system that has worked well for me year after year, and I thought I’d share a few tips for those of you who are in the midst of holiday stress and/or looking to get a jump start on next year’s holiday season!
Know Your Audience – And Start Early. Like, *EARLY* Early…
At the beginning of every year, I make a list of all the people I regularly buy gifts for during the holidays and keep it somewhere that I know I can find it and access/edit it with ease. Keeping a notepad on my desktop computer, or my phone, or handwritten in a planner/organizer have been methods I’ve used in the past that have worked well for me and keeps me from forgetting anyone crucial.
And if anyone comes into my life, like a new friend/acquaintance or co-worker, I can add them on my gift shopping list so they don’t get excluded down the line!
As the year progresses, and I spend more time with my loved ones, I listen and pay attention to their needs/interests and make notes in and around my shopping list. So-And-So mentioned they were loving their new air fryer and were looking for new recipes? Jot that down. So-And-So has been getting super into pottery and ceramics or they’re looking for a coat that will keep them warm this season? Noting that as we speak. That way, when it comes time to pull the trigger and start buying/ordering things- I’ve already got some ideas behind me and can seek out some truly thoughtful or helpful gifts nice and early on in the season.
Of course, other people like my older brother and my friend/podcast co-host Stef are easy to shop for because we have a history of gifting each other super silly, unique, or nostalgic things, which brings me to my next point…
Utilize Small Businesses & Convenient Personalization Avenues…
When it comes time to start shopping and if I’m looking for any of those aforementioned unique, nostalgic gifts- I absolutely love turning to places like Etsy or Shutterfly to find just the right thing. There are so many gifted artists out there who have similar interests or niches as some of my friends, so finding things on Etsy like an accurately sized and carved wooden replica of the Raccoon City limits sign from ‘Resident Evil’ for my friend Sean or candles/wax melts that look like realistic food and snacks for my Aunt Robin is super convenient and ships fast- especially with Etsy’s customer service and ability to track orders as they make their way to your door.
And when I’m thinking of something more sentimental- like a blanket with photos of Oliver for my mom or a scrapbook with school photos for some of my childhood friends- Shutterfly makes the personalization process super easy, super quick, and affordable. You can’t go wrong with gifts from the heart, after all.
But depending on where you live, and I definitely live somewhere that is filled with unique shops/gift stores and one-of-a-kind items- simply exploring your neighborhood and visiting some of the independently owned businesses in a community can lead to some amazing finds you may not see anywhere else. Some of my gifts this year were just that- and I’m so grateful to have that resource here in the Pioneer Valley.
Know When to ‘Add To Cart…‘
Not including the things I may pick up during my travels or around the small shops in my community throughout the year for my friends/family to put away until Christmas, I typically start ordering my gifts right after Halloween. This ensures I’m giving myself enough time for any products to be made, packaged and shipped to me with plenty of time left over in case there’s an error or defect that needs to be corrected/fixed. It also gives me the opportunity to seek out other options if something is out of stock or on back order for any considerable amount of time without that sense of looming dread that both the holidays and shipping deadlines are coming up quickly.
Also? Prices tend to go up closer to the holidays as demands rise and shipping becomes more chaotic. Starting early pretty much guarantees you’re getting things at a fair cost!
And depending on what shop or business I order from, the earlier the purchase is made- I may also have more options to have things gift wrapped prior to being shipped to me- which saves me an extra step down the line!
Just remember- the earlier you get it done/taken care of- the more time you have to actually enjoy your holiday season!
Don’t Scoff at Gift Cards…
And finally, there are some people out there who are just downright impossible to shop for. They either already have everything a person could possibly need/want, are very, very picky- or simply don’t give much insight into their interests or hobbies. And while gift cards/certificates have unfairly been deemed a “thoughtless” present over the years- I find that giving someone the option and the ability to purchase something for themselves or to have an experience that you know they’ll actually like or use is just as loving and special as finding something for them to unwrap.
Find a sentimental, funny or custom-made card to put the gift card/certificate in- and you’ve got a stress-free gift for what can otherwise be a stressful situation, and I can promise you it will be appreciated by the recipient.
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Those are some of my more helpful and “must-do/remember” tips/tricks this holiday season. I only have a couple of gifts left to wrap this week before I can kick back this coming weekend and just enjoy a relaxing few days with my family- so I think it’s been another shopping success that I hope to replicate next year!
Of course, if you have some holiday shopping tips/tricks that have worked well for you and you’d like to share- feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line! I think we can all use as much help as we can get this time of year.
Good luck out there!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 