How to shop for Christmas presents like a pro

The festive season is fast approaching, and even if you’re one to resist the idea that it seems to come earlier and earlier each year, you can’t deny that it is time to start thinking about your gift lists. For some, the Christmas shopping season means crowds and presents that end up costing an arm and a leg. It doesn’t have to be this way! With some preparation and planning ahead, your shopping can be simple, stress-free, and even easier on your wallet than you may think.

Here are some tips on how to plan ahead and shop for everyone on your list like a pro.

Make a list

It’s tempting to just head to the shopping centre and wander from shop to shop until something catches your eye for each person on your list, but this ends up taking much longer than you may think, and you’re much more likely to spend more too. Instead, take a bit of time and plan out what you want to get each person. Browse online for inspiration if you need some ideas, but don’t start shopping until you’ve got a good idea of what to get everyone.

Make a budget and stick to it

If you’re trying to shop for everyone without spending a small fortune, planning out a budget and sticking to it is the key. Once you have your list of gifts, you can start doing some research and comparing prices to give you an idea of how much everything will cost. This way, you can pick a number for your budget and aim to stay under it.

Compare on review websites

Part of your research should also include checking out which brands are worth buying and which ones aren’t good value. Visiting a product comparison website like Last Verdict can help you decide what to splurge on (as long as it’s still within your budget!) or what to pass up for a different brand. It might even give you more ideas for what to buy for those people who are hard to shop for.

Beat the last-minute rush

Planning ahead and starting your shopping early will help you avoid the massive headache that is the crowds at shopping centres and popular retail stores right around the festive season. Who wants to spend an entire day battling other shoppers and waiting in lines that go on forever? If you plan to start early, there’s no need to rush everything into one weekend – you can do small shopping trips once a week or every two weeks until everything has been checked off your list. This way is much less stressful, especially if you’re not already too excited about this task to begin with.

Find good deals

If you aren’t waiting until the last minute, you will also have more time to look for sales and promotions and you can wait until what you’re after is offered for a discount. If you’re ready in time, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are a great way to save some cash on your purchases, so you can keep an eye out and watch which retailers will offer a better deal on what you’re looking for.