5 tips for stress-free holiday shopping

For some, the possibility of crowded stores and gift giving add up to one thing — loads of stress. If holiday shopping has you feeling more “oh, no” than “ho, ho, ho,” we’re here to help!

Use these five tips to reduce stress and stay on budget:

1. Have a plan and a budget

Set a spending limit before you start shopping. Plan for gifts, decorations, meals and travel expenses. Create lasting memories, not lasting debt, by setting a budget for each person or event on your list. If you overspend on something, cut back somewhere else.

Some ideas to keep the budget on track:

• Search online gift guides for unique, lower-cost ideas for friends and family who are hard to shop for.
• Don’t count out buying used. While it may take some effort, it’s possible to find like-new toys or other gifts.
• Consider planning a reasonably-priced experience in place of gift giving. There are so many option this time of year. Have dinner together and take a trip through a holiday light display. Or, meet up at the movie theater or for a local holiday concert.

However you approach gift giving this year, give yourself the gift of a debt-free holiday.

2. Be aware of return policies

Shopping earlier to avoid crowds can reduce shopping stress. But, be sure to check return policies. In past years, many retailers offered more flexibility with returns around the holidays. This is to account for the time gap between when a gift is purchased and received. You may have come to expect extra time to make a return. However, return fraud is on the rise, causing some stores to make changes to their return policies. If there’s a chance the recipient may need to make an exchange, check the return policy before buying. Also, if you have a return or exchange to make after receiving a gift, don’t wait too long to get to the store.

3. Shop online

Gone are the days when the best prices were on Black Friday and in-person only. Deals are often available throughout November and December in-store and online. Just remember to check the shipping details to be sure your gift will arrive on time.

Don’t forget, you can often shop from your favorite local stores online as well. You’ll even get the added benefit of local pickup, if you prefer.

4. Shop local

Speaking of shopping local, it can really make gift giving easier. The number of choices online can be overwhelming. But, when you walk into a well-curated shop with a friendly associate ready to help you, the perfect gift may be easily at hand.

And, be sure to follow them on social media. Many local stores showcase fun, unique gifts and great deals on their social channels.

Shopping small doesn’t mean spending more money. Local businesses offer specials throughout the season. Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is a great time to check out deals.

5. Beware of holiday shopping scams

Criminals have one goal: scam you out of your sensitive info or money. And, the holidays are full of opportunities. They know you’re already getting more texts and emails from stores and shipping partners. Maybe they can trick you if they say there’s a problem with your package. Or, maybe they can tug at your heartstrings and get you to donate to a false charity (ahem, the criminal’s bank account).

Be on the lookout for these common holiday scams:

• Specials that are too good to be true. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. These hoaxes may also include requests for advance payment to secure a gift. You shouldn’t have to pay something up front to secure access to a deal.
• False texts or emails about shipping issues with a package. You will often receive both legit and scam shipping updates during the holiday season. It’s a red flag if the text says you need to take an action to receive your package. If in doubt, always check with the carrier directly or check the status from an email you can verify is legit. Want to learn more? Individual carriers may have guides and advice, such as this guide from FedEx.
• Requests for charity donations that are not legit. Do your research to make sure a charity is real and reputable, and that you are on their true website. CharityWatch and Charity Navigator are a good place to start. There, you can do so some research and also get links to a charity’s website.

The holidays can be full of both joy and stress. We hope these tips help ease the stress, so you can enjoy more of the things that matter most this winter and in the coming year.