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9 Expert Tips: For Smart Christmas Shopping

Kaelan Robinson

The Christmas wish-list is long and the imminent purchases are many. It's easy to turn to online shopping for all Christmas gifts but there are also some things you should keep in mind. Keep yourself from falling into some of the most common Christmas shopping traps with our expert tips.

One of the major benefits of doing Christmas shopping online is that you get to avoid the stores where "Last Christmas" is blaring on repeat on their speaker systems. Jokes aside, it can be easy to stumble on the timing of shopping online and it can be a disaster if gifts don't arrive on time. Here are our best tips for success in Christmas shopping in a the most stress-free and smooth manner possible.

Here's how to shop smart for Christmas

1. Make a list

Three kids, fathers & mothers-in-law and perhaps your partner? It's only natural that listing out all the the gifts you have to buy will get long if you only do it in your head. Try actually writing down a list to cover what you'll buy and get. If you're planning purchases together with someone else, do an online list that you can share together. This way, both parties can add to the list as needed and remove items that have been purchased. Making a proper list means you also have to keep an eye on how much you are buying, which allows you to be aware of whether it's time to make a move on a purchase or be reticent if you've already bought too much (or in some cases, too little)!

If you make a proper list, it's also easy to set price alerts on the products you wish to buy, which is an additional way to help keep the bills down in December.

2. Keep an eye on the inventory status

Stores online sometimes give the impression that they have an endless inventory of hundreds to thousands of products, but it's wise to look at the inventory status before you decide to click through to buy a product. If what you want isn't in stock and the order is marked for delay, the wait for you can end up being as long as Santa Claus' trip from the North Pole.

3. Delivery & Freight Times

Keep your eyes peeled on how delivery times look from the store you're buying from. There are times where some stores deliver on the very same day you order, so it's easy to fall into the trap of believing all stores have super fast delivery services. However, it's been common for some web-stores to have some difficulties meeting demand during the past few holiday seasons. Of course you should look at the delivery time the store states is their usual waiting time, but don't forget to also check the reviews of the stores themselves as well, as these can give you good tips on what to expect. Make a note in your Christmas shopping list when the order has been placed, that way you can easily tell if the delivery is made on time.

4. The last day for placing orders

Don't order your gifts too late! Most online stores are fairly forthcoming about letting customers know about their cut-off date for placing orders for guaranteed delivery before Christmas but don't forget to use common sense. For example, if you've been reading articles about a certain store delivery service that has a tough time sticking to their promised delivery schedules and times, it makes sense to not wait until the last day for placing orders when buying the most important Christmas gifts from them.

5. Plan your visits to the post office

It's almost inevitable you'll have to make a few trips to collect your parcels from the post office when buying gifts online. If you have the opportunity to pick and choose when you can go the post office, it can be worthwhile to plan it beforehand out so you go when there aren't many people there. What time is best to visit the post office can of course depend on where one lives and the opening/closing times of the post office in question, but it's often a good rule of thumb that they are usually less busy in the middle of the day or later in the evening during weekdays.

Try to collect multiple items at once, so you're able to avoid going back and forth too much. Most importantly, take something really suitable for carrying all of your parcels and gifts and makes things easy for you; juggling 3 boxes simultaneously whilst hopping on the tube, bus or navigating busy pavements is no fun task!

6. Check your ordered gifts at least once

It's all too easy to just put the gifts you ordered into a corner or under the tree and leave them until it's time to open them on Christmas morning. Don't do it though because in the worst-case scenario, you'll be finding out your order was incomplete, broken or partially missing all too late, which is not a fun discovery to make when opening Christmas gifts!

7. Don't forget the wrapping paper

Do you have enough wrapping paper and ribbons for att the Christmas gifts you have at home. Nothing ruins the Christmas spirit like realising that you forgot to get wrapping paper on Christmas Eve. Should you find yourself in a situation where you find your roll of Christmas gift-wrapping paper running out before all the gifts are wrapped; get creative! With a little bit of will, there's a way. You can use everything from newspapers, napkins or even kitchen towel and pillow-cases if you find yourself in a real pinch.

8. Receipts and Returns

When shopping online, you almost always get a receipt via email. It's definitely a good idea to save all the receipts in a dedicated folder for all the occasions a gift may need to be returned. Whilst we're on the topic of returns, it's not uncommon for stores to offer a lengthened return policy period around Christmas but just to be sure, check the length of the return period on the gifts you are buying. Especially if you're shopping for someone you know that is quite picky and is known for exchanging gifts they receive.

9. Give away a sustainable gift

Have you come to the realisation that you're perhaps too late to order something online? It can be great to head into town and see what this year's Christmas gift can be. Why not check out what's in stock at your local second-hand store? Used books are a great, cost-effective gift and the range one can find in second-hand stores is almost endless. There's a lot of money out there to be saved, so grab yourself a book or something else that catches your fancy whilst there!

Want more inspiration or gift ideas for Christmas 2022? Then check out our Christmas giftguide!

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