Whether it’s about racing other customers for that last on-sale HD TV or camping outside of a store to score discounts, everyone has probably experienced at least one horror holiday shopping story. With the number of promos and people shopping during this time of the year, holiday shopping can be stressful and time-consuming.

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way this year. Preparing early can become your key to having a better shopping experience and saving money this year. Sounds too good to be true? Follow the tips below to prepare for pre-holiday shopping for your loved ones.

1 – Have a Plan

Not everyone has the financial capability to shower friends and family with expensive gifts during the holiday season. This is the reason why you should have an idea of what to give to your loved ones and decide how much you’re going to spend.

If you don’t know what to give to your loved ones, at least set a price limit. In this way, you won’t be tempted to spend too much money due to desperation or fall prey to impulsive buying.

2 – Use Online Stores

Waiting for stores to open and lining in long queues can take up a lot of your time. In worse cases, you might even have to spend the entire day at a store just to buy that special gift for your loved ones.

Do better this year by shopping online. Online stores are prevalent today, and you can easily find one that sells what you’re looking for — whether you’re scouting for your partner’s gift or even ingredients for your upcoming holiday dinner at home.

For instance, if you want to shop for gifts for your boyfriend or husband, or kids, you can check Argos catalogue online, as it offers different gifts for men which would make for a perfect holiday gift and save you money using their latest deals. You can also shop on sotres such as Lidl, Aldi, and Costco if you’re looking for healthy fruits, vegetables, or even ready-made meals and other ingredients for your get-together during your holidays.

3 – Track Price Changes for Expensive Gifts

Are you planning to send your long-distance best friend a gift from large online retailers like Amazon? Do you want to give them something expensive and memorable? Well, you don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to give expensive gifts.

There are now trackers that send you notifications whenever there are price changes for expensive gifts. These trackers allow you to view the past prices of the items you’re eyeing to buy, so you can determine whether now is the best time to buy or if you should wait a little longer for the price to drop.

4 – Look for Coupons Early

Coupons are a godsend for shoppers. As long as used properly, coupons enable you to buy more items and save money — it’s basically a win-win for you! With these in mind, exert time and effort to look for coupons before you shop for holiday presents.

You can get coupons by joining store loyalty programs, checking the Sunday newspaper, using a coupon database or app, or visiting retailer websites and apps. You can also check the social media accounts of your favourite retailers, as they often share coupon codes through these platforms.

5 – Compare Prices Online

One of the biggest mistakes people make when shopping for gifts is buying the first product they find. For example, for someone looking for a watch, they would immediately buy the first watch they come across online or in a brick-and-mortar store. Although convenient as you don’t have to spend more time shopping, this can actually cause you to spend more.

Even if you found what you think is the perfect gift for your loved ones, don’t buy the item just yet. Compare prices online, so you’ll know which retailer offers the best price.

There are websites that allow you to compare the prices of a specific item on one page. These websites will display online stores where you can purchase that item, along with their prices. This will make it easier for you to determine which retailer offers the lowest price for the item you want to buy.

6 – Read Product Reviews

Buying gifts for your loved ones doesn’t have to be expensive. As long as the gift suits the lifestyle or needs of the recipient, it’s always okay to buy anything that’s affordable. But to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth, check the product reviews first.

Product reviews enable you to determine if a specific item is a good buy or a waste of money. The experience of other people after buying that item can save you from spending money on a gift that’ll only last for days or one that doesn’t stay true to its promises. If the item you’re eyeing to buy has more complaints than praises, look for an alternative.

7 – Map Out Your Shopping

There’s nothing more stressful than driving back and forth to different shops to get different gifts for your loved ones. This experience doesn’t only eat up your time, it also causes you to spend more money on gas.

To limit your holiday shopping trips, make a map of the stores you want to visit, what you plan to buy from those stores, and in what order you are going to visit them. If possible, shop at stores that offer gifts for both men and women, so you don’t have to visit several stores during the day.

Takeaway Points

The holiday season can become a disaster if you spend too much time and money shopping for presents for your loved ones. How can you catch up with your friends and family if you spend the entire day at supermarkets?

To make your holiday shopping a breeze this year, take note of the tips we’ve mentioned here. We guarantee you — these tips will help you find the best gifts while still having the time and energy to bond with the most important persons in your life!