Christmas Gift Ideas
When is the Right Time to Start Shopping for Christmas Gifts?
If you’ve ever waited until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping, you know how stressful it can be.
The stores are packed, things are sold out online, or you have to pay a ton of money to get fast enough shipping.
There’s no time to enjoy the season when you are rushing around like that!
On the opposite side of the spectrum, is there such a thing as getting started too early? When actually is the right time to start shopping for Christmas gifts?
While there is no magical date to mark down on your calendar, there are some great guidelines to follow that will have you prepared in plenty of time for the holidays!
Here are our best tips and suggestions:
1. It really never is too early
Truthfully, it is never too early to start shopping if you are trying to save as much money as possible (and we don’t blame you on that one!).
There are always amazing sales that happen right after Christmas, so technically you could start your shopping for the following year right then!
This tip is especially important if you have a specific, big-ticket item in mind. It may be in your best interest to get it a year early and keep it hidden for the big surprise next Christmas. However, keep in mind that a year is a pretty long time.
Things can change a lot in that time frame, especially when it comes to technology. If you are absolutely certain of a certain item, go for it.
If not, don’t feel like you need to head out December 26th and get all your shopping done for the following year.
2. Think off-season
If you are shopping for a winter-specific gift, shop for it in the summer. Alternatively, if there is a summer item on your list, shop for it in winter!
You can save a lot of money by shopping at an off time for seasonal gifts. To take the most advantage of this, we recommend having a running list of ideas on hand.
Whenever you see something that you think a family member or friend would like, write it down!
Similarly, if you happen to have a conversation with a friend or family member and they mention something, write it down!
3. Don’t rule out holiday shopping events
If you haven’t found great deals throughout the year, don’t feel like you will be forced to spend a lot of money last minute to get all the gifts you need. You can still buy gift at an affordable price.
In truth, sale days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to do some shopping.
Stores need to stay competitive and usually anticipate a nice sales bump around the holidays, so they are willing to give great deals to get customers in the door (as well as online).
We recommend having the majority of your shopping done by this point, as it is getting very close to Christmas by the time of these sales!
4. Spread your shopping out
This isn’t as much a timing issue as it is a tip to save money. Don’t feel like you have to do all of your shopping at once!
Whether someone decides to go right after Christmas, over the summer, or on Black Friday, they tend to pick one time and do all the shopping they have to do.
The result? Even with taking advantage of great discounts, that is a lot of money you have to spend all at once! Instead, we recommend spreading your shopping out over the course of the year.
5. Shop for wrapping paper early
A big expense that we tend to forget about when shopping for Christmas gifts is all the wrapping paper, labels, bows, and gift bags that you’ll need to wrap up all the gifts you purchase!
Truthfully, this can be a major added expense, especially if you wait until the height of the holiday season to purchase it.
For this item group specifically, we recommend shopping right after Christmas. Most retailers will have huge sales as they try to clear out all of their holiday inventory.
Get everything you need and store it away for the next season!
The Perfect Christmas Gift Ideas All in One Place
No need to worry about bundling up and battling through crowded stores packed with cranky people.
You can sit at home with a cup of hot chocolate while binge-watching your favorite show or Hallmark movie and get all of your shopping done right here!
Christmas Gift Ideas For Both Family and Friends
Figuring out the perfect pick can be a time-consuming process, especially when you have numerous people to shop for. Sometimes, you just come up blank.
Maybe you don’t have a lot of time (who isn’t incredibly busy around the holidays?) or are just lacking some inspiration. No matter the case, we are here to help!
Our Christmas gift ideas will help you check off your entire shopping list.
We can help you decide what to get for your children, spouse, parents, grandparents, nephews, friends, and more!
We do all the work so that you can sit back and relax as you easily figure out what the perfect pick is for everyone you want to shop for.
10 Practical & Pretty Awesome Christmas Gifts & Gift Ideas
1. Mini crockpot
A lot of us have bonded with our crock pots and realize how fantastic they are.
Who doesn’t love setting it up in the morning, and coming home at night to a perfectly cooked meal?
However, mini crockpots are less popular, but can be just as (if not more) useful during the holiday season!
These mini-sized crock pots are perfect for fixing up small appetizers and best of all, are so much easier to transport than a large-sized one.
2. Portable charger
The holidays are an incredibly busy time spent with family and friends. While spending time with family is nothing to complain about, have you noticed how much your phone battery drains??
Spending hours on end out of the house taking pictures and researching things to do can take its toll on your smartphone.
Therefore, a portable charger is just the thing needed to keep your device charged up all season long.
3. Subscription box
A subscription box is the perfect, practical gift for anyone who already has everything. These boxes are curated by the company - meaning you don’t have to pick anything out!
All you have to do is sit back each month and enjoy the look of surprise on your friend or family member's face as they see what they get.
Whether you know someone into beauty, fashion, cooking, or pets, there is a relevant box out there for them.
4. Portable speaker
Want to play Christmas music wherever you go? Who doesn’t! A portable speaker is a perfect practical idea that anyone will be able to use all year long.
From playing Christmas music for friends and family during the holidays to blasting your favorite dance playlist during your birthday party, and everything in between, a speaker is a great option.
5. Heated blanket
Winter- it’s cold! A heated blanket is a perfect idea, especially for those living in cold parts of the world.
A regular blanket sometimes doesn’t cut it, but a heated blanket is sure to warm up anyone. A cozy, practical gift, you can’t go wrong with a heated blanket.
6. Electric kettle
Know someone who is always hosting a lot of people at their house during the holidays? The perfect practical gift for them is an electric kettle!
Instead of having to wait for what seems like forever for a typical kettle to boil, an electric kettle will get it done in no time so that they can have tea or hot chocolate served to the entire family in no time.
Best of all, this is an item that can be used all year long!
7. Desk calendar
Keeping track of meetings and family events can get hectic, especially during the holidays.
Stay on track with a nifty desk calendar that will ensure you won’t miss anything important.
Perfect for the person who has places to be all day long, and a gift that will serve them well the entire year.
8. Phone stand
More and more people use their smartphone for watching videos - but holding the phone up can get tiring!
A phone stand is a perfect practical item for anyone who has movies or YouTube videos constantly playing on their phones.
9. Cookbook
There is such a variety of cookbooks out there today, you can easily find the perfect idea for just about anyone. Want to focus on just dessert? Southern food? Vegetarian options? Gluten-free items?
You name it- there’s a cookbook out there.
10. Portable smartphone printer
How many times have you taken a picture on your smartphone and wished you could print it out? With a portable printer- you can anytime you want!
Perfect for printing family photos out during the holidays, this is a great practical gift that will bring a smile to everyone’s face.
So what are you waiting for? Start shopping for Christmas gifts today!
