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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

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

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.

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