The holiday season is jammed packed with fun, celebrations and so much shopping! Don’t let stress take away the fun of the season. OhioHealth wants to help you stay festive with these stress-free holiday shopping tips.
Set a budget
It’s easy to get carried away during the holidays, which is why it’s so important to know your budget before spending a dime. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Create your budget. To create a budget, you may want to look back at what you spent last year to see how things add up. Since prices fluctuate, you may also want to get an idea of what the items on your list cost now.
- Break it down. Once you know your full budget, assign dollar amounts to each category. For instance, how much money will you spend for the meal, decorations, traveling, gifts per person and charity donations?
- Stick to it. After you get the numbers to add up, it’s time for the most crucial part — sticking to your budget!
Make a list and check it twice
Being generous and giving is great, but it’s not the same thing as overextending. A lot of us feel pressured during the holidays to give a little something to everyone in our lives, but that’s not a realistic plan for most of us.
Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for and take time to really think about what each person would be happy to receive. Consider making homemade gifts for friends (don’t forget to factor that expense into your budget). Also, remember that simply sending a holiday card, making a phone call or getting together are all great ways to spread holiday cheer without spending a penny.
Start early
Avoid last minute holiday shopping — it just adds stress! Whether you’re going to a brick-and-mortar store or shopping online, you’ll do yourself a big favor by getting to it with plenty of time to spare. When shopping online, be sure that you know when the items will be delivered. You can also wrap gifts as they come in, so you’re not stuck with one long wrapping session at the end.
Shop smart
Watch for good deals and coupons to save a little money. There are a variety of web browser extensions you can download before you start shopping that automatically apply coupons or offer cashback for online purchases. Pay Pal Honey, Rakuten and Capital One Shopping are a few worth checking out.
Shop locally and mindfully
Shopping local is like giving multiple gifts with every purchase. Often, local vendors sell one-of-a-kind items that make unique and personal gifts. When you shop local, you’re not just supporting local businesses during the holidays, you’re also supporting the jobs and economy of your hometown. Want one more great reason to shop local? It’s good for the environment too! Buying locally sourced products cuts down on the environmental impact of production and shipping. How’s that for eco-friendly holiday shopping?
Take self-care breaks
Be generous to yourself, too, by giving the gift of self-care. The holiday season, and all that goes with it, can get overwhelming at times. Taking steps to relieve holiday stress can help you be more productive and more festive! Make time to take a walk, listen to holiday music, drink a hot cup of tea or anything else that soothes you. You deserve it!
