How to Avoid Holiday Shopping Hassles

Christmas shopping has become very stressful for most of us. Fortunately, there are ways of reducing the stress and bringing back some of the joy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gift Ribbons
• Tissue Paper
• Comfortable Shoes
• Christmas Cards
• Gift Bags
• Gift Bows
• Wrapping Paper
• Paper
• Pens
• Paper
• Pens
• Tissue paper

1. Reduce your shopping list. Buy presents for only those people who are important to you. If you have a large extended family, consider suggesting that everyone pick the name of one other person to buy a present for.

2. Limit the number of presents per person.

3. Shop during the week if possible, and during the daytime. Avoid weekends when the crowds are most intense.

4. Wear comfortable shoes when you shop. If going shopping directly from work, take along a pair of walking shoes to change into.

5. Buy the heaviest gifts last so you don't have to carry them around.

6. Shop by catalog or online from the comfort of your home or office. This will save you an incredible amount of time - and wear and tear.

7. Arrange for the store to wrap and ship your gifts if they are for people out of town. It is worth the nominal charge not to have to wait in long lines at the post office.

8. Make some or all of your gifts. Baked goods, homemade ornaments or other crafts make wonderful gifts and are a lot more meaningful to the people who receive them.

9. Buy or start making your gifts far in advance. If you see something in a store that is perfect for your Aunt Martha, buy it then and there. Don't waste time coming back next month.

10. Shop for Christmas cards immediately after the holiday. They are always on sale for half the price, and you will be all set come next Christmas.

Tips & Warnings

• Before the holidays, do some investigating on the Web. Find sites that sell clothing, books, CDs and other gift items, and bookmark them for holiday shopping.

[myphoenix]

on 3/25/2009 shopping it in advance to avoid the hassles

on 11/22/2005 My friends and family use the Elfster.com online Secret Santa to help add fun to our families? holiday shopping. We can ask that person who has everything secret questions that will help us find them the perfect gift, or we can look at their wish list for ideas. The site is so fun and easy to use. We set up our Secret Santa with our family in July so we can start shopping for something special for that person while we are on vacation, in a very relaxed state of mind vs. the madness that takes place when shopping during the holidays.

on 11/22/2005 Sometimes we get impatient and want shopping online to be more simple and fast, but when comparing with shopping in stores, shopping online is a snap. You save time, gas and often money. And for out-of-town gifts, you don't need to wrap and send!

on 11/22/2005 For friends who have everything, consider making a charitable donation in their name to an oganization they support. It's hassle-free, plus it's a thoughtful gift.