Shopping for Christmas is fun and exciting, but it can also be very exhausting. Filipinos are generous by nature and the holiday season magnifies this attitude.
As practical Modern Filipinas, however, it is important for us to be clever in spending our time and money on Christmas gifts. Is it too early to start shopping for Christmas in October? Some may say, “Yes,” but believe me: now’s the perfect time to start thinking about your Christmas shopping list.
Here’s why.
You Can Practice Wise Money Management
Many of us wisely set a budget for Christmas gift shopping, but how many can honestly say that they’ve met those budgets when they buy them all in December? More often than not, we spend more than we intend to. Giving more is not a bad thing, but getting a huge credit card bill in January is the last thing you want to happen. Whether or not you believe in Feng Sui, being broke is not a good way to start the year!
You can avoid all this trouble if you start shopping in October. In fact, do it earlier next year. By shopping early, you can spread out your expenses over the course of three months instead of maxing out your credit card in December.
So, when you’re out on a date or hanging with friends at the mall, you might spot a handbag you know your mom will love or a book your younger sibling keeps talking about. They might not be on sale, but you can better afford them this month than in December when you have to buy gifts for 28 other people.
You Can Take Advantage of Pre-Holiday Sales and Fairs
Almost every week now, booths selling all kinds of things, from cute socks to BOGO bags to leather wallets (with free embossing!), are lining the activity halls and atriums in some of the metro’s biggest malls.
Popular online shopping sites like Lazada and Shopee also hold site-wide sales and brand-specific promos for gadgets, beauty and makeup products, and other gift-worthy items. You can even take advantage of the 10.10, 11.11, and 12.12 sales that guarantee huge discounts on products all over these websites. Just don’t forget to check your items out with the best combination of vouchers available!
Expect that these sales will be more frequent as we approach the last quarter of the year (the time when boutiques and retailers start emptying their inventories of last-season items). Watch out for sale announcements on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Major malls frequently hold payday sales, too, so check out their pages for updates.
You Can Plan Out Deliveries
The closer Christmas is, the more hectic delivery schedules get. The usual three-to-five-day delivery time around Metro Manila can go up to seven days! This can be a problem if you’re rushing to complete your Christmas shopping in time for any event you need to attend.
Starting your Christmas shopping early can make sure that your presents don’t end up in logistics traffic.
Additionally, if you’re planning to have your presents delivered via a same-day courier, you can save a lot more money because you won’t have to worry about surge fees!
You Have More Time to Prepare the Gifts
Your preparation for Christmas presents doesn’t end at shopping, nope! You’ll also need to have enough time to wrap and label these presents – and we all know how long it can take to wrap presents.
Aside from wrapping presents, depending on the gift you’re giving, you may also need to clean it. Let’s say that you found the perfect gift at a thrift store, it’s a good practice to learn how to clean ukay ukay clothes so, the recipient can wear your gift immediately.
You Can Give Meaningful Gifts
Had there been a Christmas season when you had to cram gift shopping for 30 people in just one day or two? Did you ever think you could have given them a much better gift if only you had more time and money? Well, if you start looking for gifts now, you won’t have the same regrets this year.
Window shopping as early as October gives you more time to think about what to buy. You’ll also have time to crochet a beanie, paint or sketch a portrait, make accessories, or create other handcrafted items for the special people in your life. These are meaningful gifts that your family and friends will surely love.
You Can Spend More Time with Family and Friends
Terrible traffic and long counter lines — these are the banes of every Christmas shopper! Instead of wasting hours commuting to the mall or waiting in the department store checkout line, you can spend more quality time with family and friends when they come home for the holidays.
Consider also that you might have to attend several Christmas parties and year-end events, which means you’ll have even less time for holiday shopping. So, doing your Christmas shopping early will give you the time and peace of mind to spend your December enjoying the festivities!
Tips to Help You Get Started on Christmas Shopping Early
Now that you know why you should start your Christmas shopping early, it’s time to get down to business!
Buying presents can be stressful. This is why we’ve listed our best tips to help you get through this:
Make a List
And check it twice! By this we mean, making a list of people to whom you’ll be giving Christmas presents. Having this list will keep you on track and prevent you from overspending.
Set a Budget
We recommend setting a budget for every person on your list. This can help prevent the heartache of a bill shock and it can also help you narrow down your gift options!
Have a Shopping Plan
Once you have your list and gift ideas, you’ll need to come up with a shopping plan. Try to do it all in one go if you’re going to the mall to save on gas and energy. If you’re doing it online, try to wait for payday sales to keep your wallet happy.
Also, don’t forget to buy Christmas wrapping paper. Those tend to run out the closer it is to the holidays unless you want to be stuck with Christmas presents that say “Happy Birthday, Jesus!”
Keep Track of Presents
Have you bought your presents for everyone on your list? Great! Now it’s time to wrap, label, and hide it! Just make sure to remember where you hid all of your presents and you’ll be ready to give it to the recipient anytime you see them.
Have a Stress-Free December!
If you complete half of your Christmas shopping before December, you won’t panic or cram on the weekends before the 25th. Even if you forgot about a godson, niece, or uncle, you’d still have plenty of time to look for a great gift.
I have been buying Christmas gifts early for the past five years now, and I have no intention of stopping. I find that I’m able to give more, save more, and feel less stressed during this hectic season.
For me, shopping early is not about being a cheapskate; neither do I think that I am placing a lot of value on material things. Being able to give something special to the people I love is my way of showing how much I care. If you’re the same as me, take my word for it. You’re better off starting your Christmas shopping early!
Have we convinced you about the benefits of doing your Christmas shopping early? Great! Tell us all about your experience in the comments below and let’s rejoice in the season!