Last Minute Christmas Shopping Tips
This is the most hectic shopping time of the year and it only continues to get worse as we approach Christmas. Whether you forgot a gift for somebody or you procrastinate and didn’t buy anything yet, there are ways to avoid the massive crowds of angry shoppers. Not only can you save time and money, but indirectly go green while doing so.
Donate to a Charity
A gift that most people can appreciate is to make a donation on behalf of friend, family member or spouse. This could include having a tree planted in your community, providing for a local community effort or finding their favorite charity to donate to. This is a win-win situation. It will not only make the person feel good, but you are giving to a worth cause.
Overnight It
I discussed this an article I previously wrote about saving money and time on Black Friday, why not just shop online. Since Thursday is fast approaching, there is still time to either have anything purchased shipped with either two-day shipping or have it overnighted. There is going to be a premium, but both in my opinion are better than going to a local mall to shop. You can probably offset most simply on the cost of gas that you would use sitting in traffic and fighting for parking spots. Most online stores are accommodating and will ship items immediately to ensure they arrive by Wednesday.
Go at Off Hours
Hit the stores at off hours to avoid hitting heavy traffic times of the day. At this time of year, the only good time is to go immediately when the stores open. This will save you many headaches and hours of trying to find a parking spot.
Re-gift
Why not? It saves you time and you can get rid of those gifts that you don’t want anymore. It will also ensure that items are put to good use and not simply thrown in your basement. Just make sure to not re-gift a present to the person that gave it to you.
Give a Hug
If all else fails, you can just let the person know that they are a good friend or spouse and you simply forgot. The only problem with this plan is you may get some grief and some lonely nights on the couch.
