'Tis the season to shop early

by Brooklynn Smith

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crispier, there is an undeniable magical feeling of the holidays coming. With Halloween ending, people are preparing for activities such as Thanksgiving dinners, booking flights in advance, and holiday shopping.

In the past, it was common for people to start their holiday shopping either on the day of Black Friday right after a Thanksgiving meal or in the beginning of December. Yet times have definitely changed.

Each year, retailers fill their shelves with holiday inventories earlier and earlier. Soon, it won’t come as a surprise when we see Christmas decorations alongside back to school supplies!

Now you may be asking yourself, why on earth would I start shopping for the holidays months before December? Well picture this: December rolls around, everyone is scrambling in the stores to find the perfect gifts, people are rushing for the last popular game console on the shelf, all of the remaining Christmas trees are small, straggly, and unhealthy, and you’re overwhelmed. Some would simply go online to shop for their items, but the websites are lagging and the delivery trucks are stalling due to everyone else cramming in last-minute shopping.

Imagine how less stressed you’d be if you had done your shopping in advance! By shopping early, you can avoid the chaos and have more time to enjoy with family and friends.

Let’s explore how we can do this!

First, create a budget.

Always remember that budgets are your friend. Budgets frame how much you can spend and it can help narrow down on what you should buy.

Make a detailed list.

Of all the decorations and gifts you plan to purchase and write an estimation on what each item might cost. A good tip while doing this is to take a quick search around your house for items that you might already have on hand, like old Christmas ornaments or leftover wrapping paper. These can be eliminated from your budget and save you in the long run.

Set aside a portion of your paycheck.

If cash is king, then the credit card is the queen of spending. And during the holidays it’s unfortunately very normal to rack up large amounts of credit card debt. Plus, with the country teetering on a possible recession and inflation rising higher and higher, it can feel impossible to afford everything we want all at once. A way to go around this is to save portions of your paycheck. Not only will this lower stress, but it will also help meet your budget goals.

Keep an eye out for sales.

Searching for holiday sales will ultimately stretch your budget further and save your wallet from heartache. Retail shops sneak in early holiday sales in October for eager beavers. Starting in October, stores like Walmart, BestBuy, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Amazon are hosting 48-hour-long sales for popular seasonal and gift items. BestBuy also hosts sales events on October 20-22.

Retailers also reward early birds with specials and Black Friday sales that extend throughout November. While the brick-and-mortar stores have Black Friday, online retailers offer shoppers Cyber Monday. This is a perfect opportunity to snag gifts that you couldn’t find in person or to buy novelty items that can only be found online.

If you have an adventurous spirit, you can find special holiday deals at local shops too! In Downtown New Bedford there are numerous local boutiques, nautical gift stores and art gallery shops that offer brilliant holiday sales. Not only will you benefit by saving money on these sales, but you will also generously give back to your community by supporting local businesses.

Take advantage of post holiday sales.

If all goes well with your budget, and you spend within your means, you can benefit from participating in post-holiday sales. After the festivities are over, stores are then focused on removing holiday inventories, ranging from toys, foods, electronics, clothing, and seasonal paraphernalia. Again, it’s best to keep certain items in mind when you go after sales. Think of items that you know will be marked up later in the year like electronics. Taking this chance to scoop up huge discounted deals will give you early bird points!

Don’t skip over DIY gifts.

Do-it-yourself gifts or homemade gifts can be extremely heartwarming. They could be a family china tea set, a handmade painting, or even a selfwritten poetry book. DIY gifts take precious time and energy to create, so getting a headstart on buying what you need will give you ample time.

The holiday season is a time for joy, laughs, and new memories with family and friends. It’s meant for baking delicious treats, decorating your home, attending parties, and embracing the holiday spirit. Yet, it can also be a chaotic and stressful time for others. This is why shopping early is a practical solution. Winter seasons come and go in the blink of an eye. Holidays only last for one or two days and then they’re over. We want to enjoy this time as much as possible. So let’s not get swamped with the chore of shopping. Let’s remain fully present and engaged in the moment. We must remember that holiday shopping centers around beautifying our holiday experience. And by engaging in this, we truly give ourselves the greatest gift of all: time with the people we love.