Tips for Stress Free Holiday Shopping

Holiday shopping sounds like a lot of fun. But once you really get down to it, it can get really stressful. From what to buy for whom to buy to how much to buy and how much to spend, the trials of holiday shopping can boggle the calmest mind. Here are some quick tips to make your holiday shopping less stressful and more fun.

• Lists are your friends. Before you venture out into the malls and marketplaces, make sure you’re armed with a list of things you intend to buy. After you have a list of things you want to buy, take some time to rethink. Sit down and make out different lists of what you absolutely have to buy, what you might be able to do without.
• Make a budget. Not just an approximate ‘I won’t spend more than ‘X’ amount of money this year’ sort of budget. Break it down to individual things. And keep an overflow contingency fund. If you know exactly how much you’re willing to spend on individual items, it’s easier to resist the temptation at the mall, when you see the price tag on those oh-so-gorgeous shoes.
• Start early. The early bird definitely catches the fattest worms. So, start thinking about your festival season shopping before the last minute. This way, you’ll be able to keep yourself free from stress as the festive season approaches. Aim to finish as much as possible before the shopping rush begins. You may be able to find some better quality stuff at better prices.
• Look out for sales and bargains. Once you know what you want, keep your eyes peeled for sales and bargains. And here it pays to start early. Before the rush begins, you may be able to find some good discounts that will help you keep to your budget and maybe help you squeeze in some of the non-essentials into your shopping.

 
And when you’re out shopping (in a mall or market place or online), keep a firm check on your temptations. Even if those pumps are delectable, if they’re out of your price range, turn away. It’s great practice for building your will power. We assure you it’ll all come in handy when you’re trying to keep yourself away from a second helping of desser.

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