As the holiday season approaches, some of us start getting nervous. As beautiful and blessed this time of the year is, it is also, for some people, one of the most demanding and stressful occasions. Mainly because instead of thinking about the real meaning of the Holidays, we worry about gifts, cooking, and entertainment – to name a few. But it doesn’t need to be this way!
Rather than stressing out over what to buy or not buy during this holiday season, try to get into the spirit of the season and be less stressed.
But if you must, here are simple solutions for your gift-giving during this holiday:
Make Gift-Giving an Option Activity
Gifts don’t need to be expensive. It should come from your heart! I know you have heard this many times, but maybe you will get the point this year. A well-thought-out gift makes up for any expensive item you buy to impress someone.
The holidays are about spending time with your family and friends, having a good moment, and enjoying all the beautiful festivities that come with these special occasions. So, make gift-giving an option, especially if you are on a tight budget and can barely afford to buy anything. It would be best if you weren’t stressing about gifts.
Additionally, there’s nothing wrong with letting your relationships know that you won’t be buying gifts this Christmas. Nobody that loves you will be mad if you cannot afford a present.
The only problem with this scenario is if you have young kids. In this case, there is always the option of registering with non-profit organizations, your church, etc., and asking them to help you. In addition, most people know there are always holiday gift drives.
Buy Your Gifts in Advance
If you can afford it, buy it early! Many people think that the “Buy Early” promotions during the holidays are a retail trick to have customers buying throughout the season. Not necessarily. In reality, early shopping gives you more options, better product selection, and on average, better prices! Never mind the fact that you free yourself to enjoy the holidays. And if a bonus or some extra money comes your way, you can still buy something else if you need it.
Time Your Gift-Giving: Spread It Throughout the Year.
Shop for something throughout the year. It is a method used by many people. For example, a friend buys holiday gifts during her vacation. In addition, she chose things from local places she visited during her vacation, which makes everything more unique and thoughtful. Then when Christmas comes, she has already bought all the presents on her list. It’s an effective way of alleviating the pressure of purchasing everything during the busy holiday season.
Buy The Same Type of Gift for All Adults on Your List.
Why not buy the same kind of gift for the adults on your list? It’s another good way of simplifying your life at the end of the year. Adults know that the celebration is more important than any gift, anyway.
Growing up, we knew that my aunt Gloria would give us the same type of gift: everyone would get pajamas, a book, or something similar. Nobody was upset because we knew that she had good intentions – and better – she concentrated her time on baking and decorating her house to host all of us.
Many stores will have promotions like buying “two for the price of one.” It’s a clever way of simultaneously bundling the whole thing and saving money.
Ask Someone to Shop for The Gifts on Your List
There is nothing wrong with assigning someone to do this for you, especially if you don’t have the time and are busy with meaningful activities.
Teenagers are perfect for this. They love shopping and know all the latest trends and fashion brands. And since they are on vacation at the end of the year, time will not be an issue for them. But please make a list, give some guidance, and follow up with them. And since shopping usually comes at the top of their preferred activities, this is a win-win situation. Make sure you establish a budget, so you won’t have a surprise once the bill comes!
Buy Online
Online shopping has grown over the years. It has become more user-friendly, affordable, and diversified. It is hard to imagine which products are not available online. E-commerce sites have become so easy to buy that many people have made it their preferred way of shopping. And the best part is that you can do it anywhere, anytime.
Just make sure to observe the shipping time. Even the big sites expect that you plan your shipping accordingly, so there aren’t delays and problems with the arrival of your goods during the holiday season.
Cook, Fix, Create Something
If you enjoy cooking, there is no better time to share your home-cooked dishes. Make it beautiful, wrap it nicely, and voilà, you have a special gift! The same applies to whatever talent you have. It can be knitting, crafting, or drawing. Use what you have and make someone feel blessed with the time you spent creating something as unique as they are. So many of us remember how our grandma made us so happy with something she made just for us! Now it is your turn. And best of all, these types of activities are known for releasing stress and keeping us engaged and happy. Can you imagine a better way of avoiding stress during the holidays?
Conclusion: Make this time of the year a memorable, stress-free, happy time. Feel blessed for the family and friends you have. Enjoy the simple things and avoid the drama of non-stop buying. By now, we should all know what matters in our lives.
