Tips and tricks for taking the stress out of holiday shopping

The holidays have a reputation as the happiest time of the year, but between gatherings with family and friends, festive foods to prepare and gifts to purchase, the holidays also make for the busiest time of year. For many, the rush to find the perfect gift becomes a source of stress, rather than fun. But, that doesn’t have to be the case.

If you want to focus on fun and family this holiday season, try these tips to eliminate holiday shopping stress.

Get digital

As long as you leave enough time for shipping, online shopping is a quick and easy way to skip the crowded malls and running around that come with holiday shopping. Most sites offer gift wrapping options and free shipping on qualifying orders. If you turn to Amazon’s vast library of offerings, you can also sign up for AmazonSmile and give back simply by shopping.

Simplify

For those with large family and friend circles, the sheer volume (and associated cost) of holiday shopping can be a bit overwhelming. Consider a system that simplifies the season for your whole family. For instance, you can put names in a hat and have each person buy and receive one gift. You’ll still have the fun of exchanging gifts, but less pressure to find something for everyone. Alternatively, consider selecting a spending limit to ease the cost burden, or skip traditional gift giving and do an activity or have an outing as a family instead. You could go for a night at the theater, catch a game or indulge in a nice dinner.

Try DIY

Handmade gifts often carry extra special meaning for recipients — the fact that DIY can ease shopping strain is just an added benefit. Find a craft that appeals to you as a project and make a version of it for each person on your gift giving list. They’ll love the gesture, and you can skip the holiday rush in favor of a fun activity. Need a little inspiration? Start here.

Plan ahead

If you’re a gift-giver who loves to find the perfect gift for each person on your list, ease the holiday strain by keeping an eye out well before the shopping season starts. If something speaks to you in July, buy it, save it and update your shopping list accordingly.

We hope these tips help you find some extra joy this holiday season!

If you or a loved one are considering senior living, the holidays are the perfect time to pay us a visit — we always get in the spirit of the season! You can also get in touch with us anytime to find out more about life at Holiday Retirement.