The week before Christmas tends to be a very hectic one. Sometimes we get caught up with work, kids, or even simple day-to-day events that we don’t have time to hit the mall to finish our Christmas shopping. Well, you still have enough time to get it done; here are a couple of tips to help you pick out the perfect gift for the perfect person, Pronto!
1. Plan ahead: that’s just a precautionary stage. Planning ahead allows you to enjoy all the great offers for free shipping, delivery, and the best deals at the store. The longer you wait, the faster the shelves will clear up so next time, avoid over spending and postponing your holiday shopping.
2. Make a list: including the recipient’s name and budget assigned for each one. Choosing the right gift can be tricky and needs a lot of thought so sit down and write one of the recipient’s hobbies or interests.
3. Beware of shipping deadline: if you’re ordering a gift online, make sure it’ll arrive on time otherwise it’s useless. Most sites cut off shipping on December 17th, so by ordering in mid December, you’ll enjoy free shipping deals and much more.
4. Do your research: instead of hopping into stores comparing prices, do it online. Purchasing the gift online would actually save you lots of time and effort but before you do that, make sure that the website you’re ordering from is a secure site. When asked to enter credit card information, look for 'https://' at the beginning of the website URL. The 's' indicates that the information being transmitted is encrypted for privacy. Some browsers such as Internet Explorer will have a lock icon or symbol to indicate that the website is secure.
5. When all else fails: send out a gift card. A lot of stores carry gift cards in different price ranges. This is the most practical gift but I think it’s a bit impersonal. To further personalize it, add a note about why you chose that specific store or something funny like 'aren’t you glad these aren’t socks?'
6. Go extra: buy in bulk, whenever you grab an amazing deal on something. Keep extra gift sets or chocolate boxes around for those un-expected gift senders.
7. Avoid the mall at all costs: start with small neighborhood stores; it’ll be easier to shop there. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t drive to the mall as parking will waste time and energy. Shop during off-peak hours which are either early in the morning when the store opens or later at night near closing time.
8. Know your target: if you’re looking for clearance items, check the rails at the back of the store. If you want new items and best sellers, you’ll find these at the front, next to the shop entrance. If you’re not quite sure what you want, don’t waste time hovering around, ask the salesperson for help.
9. Keep the receipt: in case you want to return or exchange an item. If you want to include the receipt with the gift, ask for a gift receipt (it doesn’t include the price) and make sure you understand the store’s policy on returns, exchange, and refunds.
10. Keep it a secret: Never bring it up. Some people could think you don’t care, or get mad at you for not putting much thought into it, so if the subject does come up, don’t mention me!
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