Whether you’re toting around a young toddler or you have to get your shopping done quickly before it’s time to pick kids up from school, here are some holiday shopping tips to get you in and out of the stores so you don’t get all Scroogey:
Map out a Plan before you Head to the Mall
Know which stores you must hit, and park in a spot where you’ll most likely make your last shopping stop, and your largest purchase. This way you won’t be lugging that big screen TV you promised your sister-in-law you’d get for your mother-in-law from the both of you. (How’d you get roped into that again this year?)
Toting the Toddler/Baby/Newborn
Feed, change, diaper that kid first! And don’t try to do everything right before naptime so you can get home in time for nap. Plan it out so your baby can nap in the stroller while you’re shopping.
Ask Loved Ones for Gift Suggestions
Nobody wants a crappy sweater. And if they do, they’ll tell you. So ask the people you want to buy gifts for what they would like for the holidays. This makes gift-giving so much more practical and nice to actually give and receive gifts that are liked. What a concept!
Shop Online
… And in your pajamas! Hellooo! Thank you Internet!
Shopping Hours
Shop during the week when the stores first open or during the dinner hour, around 7 p.m. if you can swing it. If you can plan around it, don’t holiday shop during the weekend ever. You’ll just get your blood pressure up. Way up.
Budget
As a mom, I personally tend to go overboard, thinking “Oh my gosh, it’s Christmas, I HAVE to buy this for my kid!” No I don’t. They are usually just as thrilled with the smaller unexpected gifts that I find.
Don’t Overwhelm
Them or yourselves. Too much is not always a good thing.
Be Practical with Gift-Giving
They need socks. They need toothbrushes. They need new pants. Wrap them up. They’ll go ballistic when they see the boatload of ‘presents’ Santa left! Heck, wrap up gum and candy. It’s one more thing for them to open up and be excited over.
Take Time to Enjoy in the Midst of all the Shopping
Remember what it’s all about and take the time to experience the season. Spend moments looking at the decorations, actually listen to the holiday music that’s been playing since July! Drink hot chocolate with loads of whipped cream. Take the kids out for a drive to look at all the holiday lights and decorations.
Our parents pulled it off each year, and made the magic happen, and we will too.
Great ideas, Stephanie. I particularly like the practical gift idea. My husband likes to wrap up my belongings and give me them on Christmas morning: a used Q-tip, my pillow. Always fun, though not sure it will go over well with the little one when she’s old enough to understand the whole present thing!
Julie–hilarious — but ewww, used Q-tips! you have got to come up with some stuff to get back at him… maybe Elili’s dirty diaper this year! hahah!