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I love the idea of shopping for friends and family in a bustling mall or on a twinkly downtown street, taking in magical holiday window displays. But how I actually find gifts is far less romanticized.
I do most of my holiday shopping online, which is convenient but overwhelming. There are more sites than I know how to find, and retailers have new sales every week. In the last few years, I found myself anxiously going back and forth on gifts. I would procrastinate, leading to last-minute overspending and unnecessary shipping costs. I used to be tempted by anything I thought was a “good deal,” which made me purchase too many unnecessary things.
After years of doing holiday shopping all wrong, I’ve learned some helpful strategies to avoid some of these costly mistakes.
Holiday shopping strategies
I’m not letting holiday shopping overwhelm or consume me this year. Here’s how you can also curb overspending.
🗒️ Plan ahead
Start by listing who you’re buying gifts for and setting a budget for each person. It’s also helpful to think about what you plan to give them and set a deadline for making purchases. This will help you avoid last-minute impulse buys and outrageous shipping fees.
❌ Avoid impulsive purchases
Instagram ads and TikTok shop features tempt us to buy everything that’s not on our list while scrolling through ads. To avoid clicking “Buy” on the latest trend, I set one very important rule: Don’t make impulsive purchases.
I told myself I wasn’t allowed to make an unplanned purchase without taking a day to think about it first. Now, I put the item in my cart and revisit it 24 hours later. Most times, I decide I don’t really need or want it.
🎁 Allow yourself one indulgence
I don’t buy many things for myself. Sometimes, though, when I start spending for others during the holidays, it opens this door in my brain to spend more on myself. I can quickly get carried away.
To combat this, I purchase one Christmas gift for myself while shopping for others. It helps me set limits while still treating myself.
🏷️ Use price-comparing tools
Some price comparison apps and browser extensions can help you save more money or get cash back while shopping for holiday deals. Price comparison tools can also help you sniff out deals that aren’t so good, too.
For example, I love using the automatic pop-up Karma browser extension when I’m shopping online. Karma has a feature that alerts me if the price of an item is expected to fall soon and where the item is offered for cheaper.
Other apps, including BuyVia and ShopSavvy, let you scan a barcode in-store to compare costs.
💲Look for price-match guarantees
Some big-box stores offer a price-match guarantee. For example, if Walmart has a better deal on the exact same item as Target, Target might adjust the item’s price to match Walmart’s.
Stores with price-match policies include Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Nordstrom. Each retailer has different requirements for price matching. You usually need to request it within a certain time period (often 7 to 14 days after a purchase), and retailers may only match prices on certain brands, so make sure you understand any limitations first.
✅ If your list is done, stop shopping
This may seem simple, but it’s not the easiest to follow when you’re finding good deals. When your list is complete, you can retire from holiday shopping. There will always be last-minute sales or items you didn’t see before. Try to be content with the gifts you’ve found.
🛍️ Shop with strategies that work for you
Filling up a cart online can be so easy (almost too easy). For me, online shopping for gifts is more convenient, but I tend to spend more than I would have in a physical store. Other people tend to spend more when they shop in person. Think about what helps you stick to your budget and any strategies you’ve found helpful over the years.
In other words, my holiday shopping challenges may not be the same as yours. It’s important to tailor your shopping strategies to your strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. Use these tips as a guide, but be real about what you need this holiday season.
