How to Finish Your Holiday Shopping in One Day

You'll be amazed at how much easier your holiday shopping is when you prepare properly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gift Tags
• Ribbons
• Comfortable Shoes
• Shopping Lists
• Yarns
• Spiral Notebooks

1. Make a list of everyone you want to buy a present for.

2. Decide how much you want to spend on each person, and write that amount next to the recipient's name.

3. Go to a mall or neighborhood that has several stores where you know you like to shop.

4. Shop during a less crowded time, such as a weekday lunch or evening.

5. Make a hard and fast rule that when you find a gift for someone, you will buy it and then cross that name off your list. After that, you will not think about that person's gift again or play the "Oh shoot! That would be even better for Mary. Maybe I'll buy this instead and return the other thing I got her" game.

6. Take advantage of free store gift wrapping only if the store isn't crowded and there is a separate person wrapping gifts. It can take longer to get your gift wrapped than to pick it out and purchase it.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider shopping online, if you still have enough time. You'll avoid hassles like traffic and crowds, and you won't be limited to stores in a given neighborhood or mall.
• Walking around the entire mall to see what each store has before you start shopping may allow you to find the perfect gift, but it'll also take twice as long. Managing your time is important.
• Wear comfortable shoes and eat before you go; hunger will make you slower and cranky.
• Never go to the mall on a Saturday or Sunday between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Between looking for parking and standing in lines, you'll lose precious hours.

[aaronflo]

on 10/18/2009 "Step #3 Go to a mall or neighborhood that has several stores where you know you like to shop."

This sounds like the old days... In today's internet age why not do it all online??!!

I do most of my shopping online (you may want to try http://www.onemillionstores.com/ only things I know exactly what I want) I often use shopping directories to find online stores

[waiting4rain]

on 12/14/2008 You've inspired me! Thanks.

[1trout]

on 12/2/2008 I decide on one store and get everything there for each person on my list. One year, it might be a local book store. Another year, everyone will get warm wooly hats. For example, with the hats, I vary the color, style to suit the individual. In my family, we have made a game of it. The first person opens my present and discovers the hat. The second person, rattles the package and "wonders" what it is, making humorous guesses. It makes shopping easy and also fun.

[SensitivePlant]

on 12/2/2008 Yes, shopping on line made it easy. Check this out!
** TickleMe Plant - It Moves **
A great green low cost gift that will make everyone smile is to grow a TickleMe Plant and watch it MOVE when Tickled! The leaves quickly fold and even the branches droop when tickled. I found this to be a great stress reliever in my office and what a conversation piece!. You may have seen the TickleMe Plant in the botanical gardens.. Now it can be grown indoors year round.
No green thumb needed. I found it on line at http://www.ticklemeplant.com

[betterbody]

on 11/19/2008 I forgot about free gift wrapping! Thanks a bunch.