Christmas Shopping Pointers

Like it or not (I'm a not) the Christmas shopping season is upon us. The crowds at the mall are swelling, much like the frustration of its shoppers, and it's easy to get caught up in that. I'm going to give a few tips that I think might help you get through this holiday season a little bit easier when battling the retail monster that is Christmas Shopping. Sure, I don't necessarily do these things myself but that's because I'm a masochist. Pain is my god. These are tips I've observed customers putting into practice when I'm working on the other side of the counter and they seem like such good ideas! So, here we go!

1. Only pay for things using cash or debit. This may seem obvious to people but there are still quite a few individuals who put everything onto credit, thinking that hey, they can just pay for it all after Christmas and the money they get from the holiday season can help. That or they really want to get so-and-so a certain gift and they may not have the cash right now but figure they can just pay it off later. It's a trap. Come January, these people are absolutely stunned at how much they spent this way and how much they now owe their creditors. It happens every year. January/February are the months the credit card companies enjoy because they know they're going to be able to squeeze some big bucks out of people. Don't get caught in this. Use only cash or debit when going out to buy everything. It helps you stay on budget.
2. Have a budget. If you're only buying Christmas gifts for a couple people this isn't too big a point but many people are out there buying gifts for quite a few different people and the amount of money you spend can wrack up quickly. Have an idea of how much you're able (not just willing) to spend before heading out to the mall. It'll save you from whipping out the credit card and getting caught in the trap I just previously mentioned.
3. Make a (literal) list of people you're buying for. Maybe you're a better person than I and mentally have a list of people you want to buy gifts for. The list is huge, made up of everyone from your mother to the alley cat down the road. My suggestion? Write the list out. It'll help you narrow your gift receivers down so that you're not buying Bob from Accounting an iPhone 4S. Sure, it's nice to want to get tons of people gifts but keep in mind not only your budget but also how creepy it might be buying gifts for people you barely talk to. That's what Secret Santas are for.
4. Have an idea what gift you're getting for whom before heading out to the mall. This is a point I could really get behind but I'm lucky; I only have to buy gifts for two people and they're very easy to shop for. When the number of people you're giving gifts to hits the double digits it's best to have a game plan. Again, this goes back to helping you stay within budget and not just buying things willy nilly that may look shiny in the window (and deadly to your wallet). Remember that stores everywhere are conspiring to take your money and are conspiring to take as much of it as they possibly can. They're going to make everything look shiny and awesome. All the newest gadgets are going to be thrown into your face for you to drool over and ponder. Big "SALE SALE SALE" signs are going to be everywhere. It's too easy to be drawn in. Get your gameplan down and take down the terrorist that is retail.
5. Go alone. I can just hear the protests for this one but hear me out. If you go to the mall alone with your "Kill the terrorist!" attitude and warpaint on, you're going to get only what you've planned to get and move on. Done. Easy peasy. Take someone with you and that can throw everything into jeopardy. Yes, having a second opinion can be nice and, quite frankly, settling to the nerves but friends will more than often enough start pointing out things that aren't on your list. "Oh, that sweater's cute!" becomes "Hey, would your son wear this?" which turns into "Oh Becky, I can totally see you in this at the company Christmas party." More often than not, I see women come into my work who had originally come out to buy Christmas presents for others who end up buying 5 different new outfits for themselves instead, thus spending more money, further limiting the budget they originally had for Christmas, and getting nothing done. I use women as an example but it's not only limited to them. Men do it too. If you really need someone's opinion that badly, ask a friend beforehand about items on your list you most definitely made before heading out to the mall. It'll save you some big bucks.
6. Keep a level head. Christmas shopping isn't supposed to be fun and isn't going to be. The parking is going to be terrible. Certain jackass individuals are going to shove you around, fight you for the last of anything, and take ten years at the cash desk. Lineups are going to be long and there's always going to be at least one child screaming and crying about meeting Santa. The crowds will be large, the Christmas music will be blasting in your ear, and the last thing you're going to be feeling is Christmas spirit. It's ok. Take a deep breath. We're all right there with you. Keep in mind who you're doing this for and why. You're out here, on the front line, for the people you love. To make them feel good come Christmas morn. To show, in yet another way, how much you care. So don't fret over the grandmother who just cattle-prodded you to get through the store faster. You have your strategy all set to go and you're saving money to boot. You're untouchable!

Those are my top 6 points though I'm sure there are many more that I didn't even touch on. This is also all completely based on going out to shop. I know there are many who shop online and already got on that. I like to think a couple of the points I've made here still apply and will still help you out somehow. Happy shopping!