I actually have some Facebook friends who have posted that they are finished with Christmas shopping already! Are they kidding? If I posted that sort of thing, my sisters would definitely be duct taping me to a chair, asking “What have you done with our sister?” and checking to see if there is an empty, already-hatched, alien pod in my back yard. My sisters consider my whole approach to the Christmas shopping process to be something akin to a “chicken with its head cut off.” I tend to put off Christmas shopping because I don’t enjoy it. I end up in a mad scramble (get it chicken… egg… scramble? OK, bad pun!) at the last minute, making purchases willy-nilly. If I would pay attention to the sales and do a little planning, I would pay a lot less for those last-minute purchases.
Most stores and other businesses offer significant savings to draw in shoppers the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday). Consumer experts recommend that you do your homework when shopping for holiday gifts to get the most for your money. Know your budget and do research ahead of time to find the best prices. You may even want to plan to get to some
stores early. Some stores offer early bird specials and extra discounts to folks that get there first. Black Friday News offers information on some Black Friday deals.
The federal government has some holiday shopping guidelines and tips. ConsumerAction.gov offers General Buying Tips, a section on Gift Cards,
and if you do have purchase problems, tips on how to complain and a sample complaint letter. Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping and Holiday Shopping are good resources to read prior to hitting the malls.
If shopping at stores, dealing with crowds, payment lines, and hunting for parking isn’t your thing, here are two resources that offer some good tips: Online Holiday
Shopping and Shopping From Home.
I really should start shopping now, just so I can freak my sisters out and tell them that I have finished my Christmas shopping before them. Kidding! That will never happen.