Stress-Free Gifting: Pre-Holiday Gift Shopping Tips

The holiday season is just around the corner. It's the time of giving, surprises, and showing appreciation to our loved ones through gift-giving.

You'll be listing items you think your friends and family will love, visiting your local stores to check gifts, and finding the best deals to make the most of the holiday sale. It can be overwhelming, and that's when gift guides come in handy. Here we listed 10 pre-holiday gift shopping tips to help you.

Spending During the Holiday Season

Holidays are the festive season both for retailers and customers. The tradition of gift-giving and generosity continues to power up the spending activity of the average American. According to Adobe Analytics, people spent $222.1 billion on online shopping from November 1 to December 31 last year.

Christmas is the most expensive holiday. Average spending is at $875 per person. Next in line is Mother's Day for having an average spend of $274 per person.

Of all the most sought-after gifts during the holiday season, electronics took the 1st place. People spent $50.8 billion on this category. Next in line is apparel with $41.5 billion. Furniture items at $27.3 billion. Groceries with $19.1 billion. And toys with $7.7 billion.

Why People Spend More on Holidays

Emotions and nostalgic traditions are a few reasons why we spend so much during the holiday season.

Emotions

According to Harvard Professor Gerald Zaltman, 95% of our buying decisions are influenced by our emotions. We are emotionally connected to our friends and loved ones. We are also emotionally connected to the festivity that holidays bring.

This leads us to want to show appreciation to the special people in our lives. Whether small or big gifts, we want to give them something that comes from us.

Nostalgic Traditions

When weighted together, people tend to value nostalgia more than their hold on money. Holidays are filled with special memories that people want to go back to and experience again. And adults are willing to spend so that kids can participate in the nostalgic celebration practiced on these special days. 

Shopping Preferences: In-store and Online

According to Statistica’s study last 2023, 37% of shoppers go to both online and brick-and-mortar stores. 31% prefer online stores with a bit of in-store shopping. While 17% prefer going to physical stores with a little online shopping. 

In-store

Customers like product security during in-store shopping. They can see the item themselves, check for quality, and avoid shipping costs and delays. Not just that, shoppers also want to experience the holiday feel of shopping in-store, whether solo shopping or with others to help with the gifts.

Online

A common reason why customers prefer to shop online is because they can skip the long line in stores. The availability of almost all items online is also a big factor. There are shipping services too, giving customers the benefit of not needing to travel a lot just to go and buy the perfect gift for loved ones.

10 Pre-Holiday Shopping Tips for Stress-Free Gifting

1. Make a Gift List

Holiday shopping lists do not just give off the joy of the festive season, it is also a way to organize your ideas. 

First, create a list of the people you plan to give gifts to, and next to them is the perfect gift idea that you have for them. What would make the kids happy on Christmas? What item is your partner eyeing this year? What do your parents need? List them down.

You can write it on paper or save it in your phone notes. By doing so, you can prepare for the next step.

2. Set your Budget

You wouldn't want the holidays to cost you more than what you can afford. This is why budgeting, budgeting, and budgeting is a must. Next to the list of your recipients, indicate the amount that you will be spending for each of them. And make sure you stick with it.

Use Envelopes

Don't let overspending surprise you, especially if that was your problem in previous years. Look for used envelopes or create one for every person on your holiday gift list. Write their name outside so you know which money is for which. The perfect present is when the recipient loves the gift and the price doesn't hurt your wallet.

Have a back-up budget

On a special note, just to be safe, make sure you have a backup budget. Spending does get overboard when on a shopping spree. There are hidden costs too that come out of nowhere. So it's better to be prepared.

3. Canvas Items Before the Season

You already have your holiday shopping list. Now it's time to check the items in retail stores or online. Check their prices and list them down to get an average of how much you need to spend. This also gives you a real view of how much items cost because some stores do a “mark down” but actually put higher price tags as the holiday rush rolls in!

4. Shop Early 

Set a Day of Shopping

Check your schedule, and see the best day when you can shop for gifts. It's better to have a fixed day than a random burst of energy shopping. Decide whether you’re shopping alone or with someone so you can budget your money on travel and gas.

Bring Your List While You Shop

Hold onto your holiday gifts list. Track your budget as you shop. Stick to your gift ideas. Don't let the pretty items in the store sway you. Keep your head in the game!

No Last-minute Shopping

Last-minute shopping will cost you more than you expect. You'll experience traffic, out-of-budget spending, long lines, and fatigue. Can you imagine how many people are in malls and stores doing last-minute shopping? Like sardines in a can.

5. Check out Different Stores

If there are items on your list that can be found in any store, don't just stick to one. Check out different retailers. Some even offer the same product with freebies at a lower price.

Plan Store Visits During Off-peak Hours

Often, there are fewer shoppers during early morning or near closing. You can take advantage of this and shop for presents during these less crowded hours.

6. Shop Online

Today, it is easy to find presents online. Just one search query and you will get tons of results for that product and the stores that offer them. So search online and remember to be safe with the links you open.

Check if Online Stores are Legit 

You wouldn't want your hard-earned money to be lost on scams and counterfeit products. Always double-check the online stores you visit. Check customer reviews and ratings. Check the padlock in their address bar. Ask your trusted people if they are familiar with the store and if it's legit.

Set Price Alerts

You can set price alerts for the items on your gift lists. Google allows you to do this for products you search for. There are also extensions you can use that can give you alerts when prices go down.

Sign up for Store Email Updates

These emails often have a timer in them telling you when the deal is available. You can also subscribe to your favorite brands' promotional emails. This way, you get updated about their product sales and great deals.

7. Collect Coupons

One of the best shopping tips out there is to never underestimate the power of coupons. To get them, you can sign up for store rewards programs, visit retailer websites, or search for an app that offers them. Have you seen that one clip from 2 Broke Girls? Caroline’s bill started at $70 but after giving Max’s coupons it’s down to $12! The coupons are the main character in that episode.

8. Use Credit Card Benefits

Credit Cards Offer Extended Warranty

If you have a credit card, this is one of the best times to use it. Aside from warranties, you can also get a lot of rewards by using your credit card for your holiday purchases. There’s cashback, points, rewards, miles, and so on. Credit cards used in-store or online in platforms like Paypal, Apple Pay, or Stripe, give you fraud protection. Always keep in mind to use your card wisely. 

9. Buy Gift Wraps in Bulk

Every Christmas gift list is filled with wonderful gift ideas. But you can't just give them as is, you need them wrapped beautifully. Don’t forget that you spend money on wrappings too. ONE big roll saves you time and money! And wrapped with the same wrapper, your gifts can be easily identified when you bring them to parties. 

You can even stray from the traditional way and use reusable eco bags, burlap sacks, or sans wrapping! Paper gift wrappings are less likely to be recycled compared to these. What’s more? These options, matching wrappers, burlap, and even pillowcases as gift sacks, can look great under the Christmas tree. 

10. Keep receipts 

This is your protection for defective items. The general rule is if you return to the store within a week of the purchase, you can get a refund for the product. Either a product exchange within the price or they give you the same item of better quality. Keeping receipts is also a way to track how much you spend on gifts, letting you know if you followed the budget or not.

Gift Recommendations for Pre-Holiday Shopping

Mom's the Best

Show Mom how much you appreciate her with this gift box. It has a ceramic ring dish, personalized vacuum water bottle, cookies, and a sterling silver necklace and bracelet. Carefully packed in a beautiful gift box or basket of your choice, this gift is ready to warm your mom's holiday season.

Dad's Cup o' Joe

Invite Dad for a good catch-up on your visit with this coffee gift box. It comes with a coffee mug, two flavors of coffee, flavored coffee syrups, and caramel stroopwafels. Dad can get creative with his coffee brews and enjoy their aroma as you two sit at home or in the backyard.

You’re a Gift

The holiday season brings people together. It sparks joy and laughter while reminiscing wonderful memories. Share the Christmas spirit with your friends with this snowy gift box. It has a pair of glass mugs, microwavable slippers, hot chocolate, cookies, and a cute snowy pinecone. This gift box is ready to warm their hearts no matter where they are. 

Spa Day

The holidays are the time for gift ideas for our friends and loved ones. So on the list, don't forget to gift yourself too!  With all that shopping for gift-giving, it's normal to feel tired. So why not treat yourself to a spa day? Have a massage or go to a sauna. You deserve it.

Fizz the Season to be Jolly

Are you planning to visit your family or friends this holiday? Carry a gift all of you can enjoy over a Christmas or New Year’s Eve meal. This champagne gift box has four personalized champagne flutes and a box of sugar cubes. It has two variations, Bubblies or Citrus sugar sets. Bring your favorite champagne to share with your loved ones as you celebrate the day.

DIY gifts

Gift-giving can get more exciting when you make it yourself! This can also save you money while you add your personal touch to every gift. Make some art, include some photos of you and your loved one, or make personalized accessories. You can also personalize a gift box for them!

You can browse our gift items to find the perfect gift. You can curate your own box with three easy steps: choosing your packaging, choosing the gift items, and picking your card with your message in it.

We ship items on the same day. You can check our shipping information to see how long it takes to reach the recipient on business days. Customers have given us positive feedback and reviews about our service, so you're in good hands!

Pre-Holiday Gift Shopping With Shadow Breeze

Finding the perfect gift and listing gift ideas can take a lot of time and preparation. You need to think of unique ideas, track your purchases, and make sure every gift is ready and wrapped before Christmas, both for the loved ones near you and for those far away.

For your family or friends far from you, you can surprise them with a gift box if you can't see them for the holidays. You may browse our gifts to see which one you prefer or think fits best for your loved ones. 

Though a lot of work, it is a fulfilling feeling to give gifts to the special people in your life. It is a way to show your appreciation and love, something that we understand. So, be it personalized or ready-curated gift boxes, just contact us and we can help you prepare the perfect present for the holidays. 

Still looking for more gift ideas? You can check out some of our other gifting blogs. Happy Holidays! 

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