CAN you believe we’re only a couple of weeks away from Christmas? ‘Tis the season of giving! One of the most exciting parts of the holidays is shopping for gifts for our loved ones.
However, gift shopping is a sport in itself: brainstorming, budgeting, logistics etc. On top of that, there’s the holiday rush that, even with restrictions in place, still manages to pose a challenge.
If you’re a last-minute shopper and just about to start working on your list of lucky Christmas present recipients, here are some tips that you might find useful.
Look out for sales
Aside from 12.12, the whole month of December is packed with sales not just from your favorite e-commerce platforms but also in physical stores. Also be on the lookout for deals like “buy one, get one” or extra discounts when you reach a certain amount—just make sure you read the terms and fine print properly so there are no surprises.
Shop on weekdays
The mall on weekends, especially pay day weekends, is guaranteed to be crowded with people (most likely looking for gifts, just like you). So, weekdays are your best bet for a peaceful shopping excursion. Considering health and safety protocol, the last place you want to be in is a mall crammed with people.
Draft a list of gift ideas
Before heading out to the mall or searching for gifts online, make a master list of all the people you plan on giving gifts to and think ahead of possible items you want to give to them. This way, you’ll know what stores or sections to start with once you’re there.
Bring a large tote bag
If you plan on doing a lot of shopping (and you probably will), consolidate all your purchases in one large bag, so you don’t have to hold and fumble with several bags at a time. When the tote gets too heavy, you can always leave it in one of those package counters and come back for it once you’re done.
Ask for extra gift bags
If you want to save on wrapping paper or you’re just not a gifted wrapper, try asking the cashier if you can have extra paper bags to put your purchases in separately. Most stores allow you to have one bag per item, so tell them that they’re gifts. There’s no harm in asking—just ask nicely.
Prepare cash
Even if you have a credit or debit card, it’s best to come prepared with enough cash just in case the payment terminals of the stores you go to are offline. You might also want to withdraw cash before hitting the mall as sometimes the ATMs there are offline or have run out of cash.