Are you one of those people who didn’t prepare 2 months before Christmas? Are you starting to feel that holiday panic creeping in, as you realize you’re probably the only person on Earth who still doesn’t know what to buy your own mother? It seems that you are in dire need of some last minute Christmas shopping tips.
Relax, you’re not the only procrastinator out there. The data provided by the Associated Press revealed poor sales up until now. See? There are tons of people who still haven’t gone to buy their moms a gift.
Because of these modest numbers, stores all over the U.S are putting all their hopes into the spending potential of upcoming days. As the average customer has only completed about half of their shopping, the number of shoppers is expected to rise exponentially.
Does the thought of so many people packed in one store already make you nauseous? Do not threat. Here are some tips and tricks that could help you.
Take advantage of retail offers
Stores came up with all sorts of methods to encourage procrastinators. Shopping hours have been extended along with faster shipping and numerous promotions.
Another option is to start shopping at late hours, after the hussle and bussle has faded. Many stores are now open longer in the upcoming days before Christmas. Wal-Mart for example is open around the clock until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, offering to ship products until 9 p.m. Dec.23. Toys R US is also open non-stop starting Dec. 23 until 9 p.m. the next day. It also offers extended shopping hours in the preceding days.
Always make lists
The chief industry analyst at market researcher NPD Group Marshal Cohen said that many shoppers don’t actually have an idea of what they should buy, adding that they “ put themselves in a stressful situation”.
One of the suggestions he gave was to first do a bit of (online) research, making a list of potential gifts but also getting to know what they themselves would like to receive. One way you can find inspiration is by searching on Facebook, Pinterest of even Amazon.com to see if the person has a wish list.
This helps you avoid impulse purchasing pricey and often unwanted gifts.
Think about all that running around
Never forget to wear comfortable shoes! As you are faced with a lot of walking these days, remember to protect your feet. The last thing you’d want is to attend the Christmas party with aching feet.
So what are you waiting for? Tie those sneakers, but on your most comfortable sweater and shop ‘till you… crossed everything off your list!
Image Source: Say Anything Blog
