The festive season is a time for joy and celebration, but at the same time, it is a season of significant expenses. It includes gifting, decoration, travel, special meals, sweets etc. How do you plan to shop this holiday season? But with a little planning and wise shopping, we can find the Strategies To Use While Christmas Shopping that ensure we enjoy the celebration without any extra burden. In this article, I will explain to you all the possible ways by which you can save your money and get the most out of your shopping experience. Mainly you can follow these steps:
- Plan Ahead for Festive Shopping
- Set a budget
- Compare prices
- Use cashback and rewards
- Use No Cost EMI
How do you plan to shop this holiday season?
Planning Ahead for Festive Shopping
Festivals are almost approaching and this is the perfect time to be prepared for the celebrations, gifts, and all. It is good to plan to ensure that you will get the best out of the deals during sales without burning your budget. Let’s explore all the points related to festive season shopping.
- Access to Pre-Festive Discounts
Many retailers like Amazon and Flipkart offers early bird discounts, promotion or deals for those who want to stay ahead for festive shopping. You can secure these kind of deals and make good savings.
- Avoiding the Last-Minute Rush
Shopping in advance helps us to avoid any kind of stress and confusion mostly due to last-minute shopping. You will have much more time to make a wise decision for shopping and find the perfect items.
- Availability of Popular Items
As we know, most of the popular products tend to sell out very quickly as the festive season is approaching. If you shop early, it increases the chances of finding the item you want without any disappointment or being out of stock.
Spread Out Expenses
If you start shopping early, you can spread out the expenses over a more extended period making it you to handle the budget. There are many Strategies To Use While Christmas Shopping, but start from spreadingthe expenses.
- Creating a Budget
Before starting your festival shopping journey, it is very important to establish a budget. A well-planned budget helps us to stay on track and avoid overspending. Here I have a few points that will help you to create an effective shopping budget:
- Determine your total spending limit
First of all, decide on the amount you are comfortable spending on all of your festival season expenses like gifting, decoration, food, and travel. Because these are the main and big budget holding things.
- Breakdown expenses
The next thing you can do is divide your budget into categories like gifts, decoration, and travel. Now specify the amount for each category as per the importance. I can’t specify here the importance because everyone has their priorities.
- Prioritize and allocate
The third step is to identify your top priorities from the categories decided in the second point. For example, if giving meaningful gifts is more important to you then allocate priority by allocating more budget to the gifting categories. Then decide your second priority and so on.
- Track and Adjust Spendings
It is very important to keep tracking your spending as you shop into make sure to have adjustments if needed. If you are overspending in any category then it is just to the other categories to balance the expenses.
- Use Budgeting apps
Nowadays keeping track of your budget is not a hard thing. There are many apps available on the Play Store. These apps will help you to manage your expenses and stay within your budget.
Making a shopping list
The fundamental step included in Strategies To Use While Christmas Shopping is to make a shopping list. It makes you ensure that you don’t forget any essential items and also helps you to focus on your goal by shopping. Here I have a few points that you can consider while making a shopping list:
- List all recipients
The very first step is to make a list you plan to buy gifts for during this festive season. You can include your family members, friends, colleagues, relatives, and anyone else you want to be a part of the gift list.
- Set a gift budget
The second step is to assign a budget for each person on your list. This will help you to stay within your budget and avoid overspending. You will be able to allocate your resources wisely.
- List Gift Ideas
Now, for each recipient, jot down the gift ideas or preferences. This will help you to have a quick shopping without any extra time spent.
- Include other expenses
In addition to gifts, many other expenses should be on your list. These expenses may be decoration, gifting, festival, and travel costs.
Keep an eye on sales and discount
Creating a list is not enough, if you don’t keep your eyes on sales, discounts and promotions that can help you to save your money. Always be alert to get subscribed to the newsletter for big eCommerce websites like Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho.
Identifying Your Shopping Goals
Now it’s time to identify your shopping goals for this festival season. What do you want to achieve with your shopping experience apart from finding great deals? Here I have some common shopping goals:
- Saving money
Most people aim to save money during festival shopping. This contains finding good discounts, cashback deals, And exclusive offers to maximize savings.
- Giving thoughtful gift
Some people love to give meaningful and thoughtful gifts. Their main goal is to find a gift that will genuinely delight the recipient.
- Minimising stress
Many people’s goal is to reduce the stress related to festival shopping. They love to plan, avoid crowded Stores, and enjoy your relaxing shopping experience.
- Supporting local business
Some people focus on supporting their local businesses and artists during the festival season. Their main aim is to purchase and craft items from them and have a positive impact on the community.
Once you identify your shopping goals, you can follow your shopping strategy to achieve the outcome that matters most to you. If you have a bell friend budget, a detailed shopping list, and clear goals, trust me you can make a shopping with confidence and success.
Leveraging Online Shopping for Festive Deals
The internet has transformed the way we shop. It makes shopping easier than ever to find fantastic days and discounts specifically during the festival season. Online shopping gives us convenience, variety, access to products from all over the world, and deals at our fingertips. I think it’s important to understand the benefits of online shopping during the festival season in how to make the most of it:
- The Rise of E-commerce
Online shopping means e-commerce, which has a tremendous growth in the past few decades. It gives us the convenience of shopping from your computer or a mobile device that revolutionized the Retail Industry. The following are the reasons for the rise of eCommerce:
- Convenience
One of the biggest points of online shopping is it allows you to browse and buy products from your home. You can shop 24/7 without bothering store hours.
- Wide variety
E-commerce platform offers us a wide variety of products, more than you can find in any Store. This variety means by range of options to find the perfect gift.
- Comparison shopping
During online shopping, you can compare the prices, features, and customer reviews very easily, this feature makes sure to make an informed Purchase Decision.
- Access to the global market
With online shopping, you are not limited to the local stores or brands. You can explore the production from all over the world that will open new possibilities while shopping.
- Reduced overhead cost
Online shops mostly have a lower overhead when compared to the physical Store. This helps us to get the products at very competitive prices with better deals.
Benefits of Online Shopping During the Festive Season
Shopping has so many advantages, especially during the festive season.
- Exclusive Online Deals
Most of the retailers offer online exclusive deals and discounts during the festival season. These Deals And offers are mostly not available at the physical Store. So online shopping saves you money with offers and deals.
- Avoiding crowds
Heading to the malls or a store during the festival season for shopping, especially on crowded Roads, is very irritating and time-consuming. Online shopping eliminates these all and you can do your shopping comfortably from your home.
- Easy price comparison
Most e-commerce websites have their price comparison tools that make it simple to compare the prices from multiple retailers, and shoring you to get the best deals possible. So why not use these tools and save your money by getting the best price?
- Hassle-free return
Most online retailers have a very straightforward return policy. This policy makes it easy and possible to return or exchange the items if they don’t meet your expectations. If you buy from a physical Store, it is very hard to return or exchange the item and you have to spend your valuable time.
- Doorstep delivery
The online retailer offers delivery wherever you want like in your home, office, and shop. This option saves you time and effort. You can directly ship your gift item to your relative, friend or family member.
- Increase the availability
There is a high chance that highly demanded items will be out of stock in the physical Stores. However online stores have large inventories that increase your chances of finding what you need.
Safety and security concerns
As we see, online shopping has numerous advantages. It is very important to be aware of safety and security concerns related to online shopping. To ensure a safe online shopping experience:
- Shop from reputed websites only
To avoid the risk of scams, it is always advised to well-known and reputed online retailers. Amazon is a well-reputed and well-established name for online shopping.
- Always use the secure payment method
Use secure payment methods like a credit card that has a fraud protection feature. Most people, use cash on delivery options due to security reasons.
- Check for SSL encryption
The very first security layer you can look for on any website is https. In a website URL and a lock icon in the address. Indicates that the site is secure and you can trust.
- Beware of fishing scams
Every day we get so many requested images and messages especially those asking for financial and personal information. Always be cautious about this kind of email for messages and never click on the links provided in that image or message.
- Review seller rating
If you are purchasing from a small online shopping platform, it is always good to check its seller reviews and ratings to estimate their trustworthiness. You can also ask your family or friends to get the review if they already shop from those online platforms.
- Keep software updated
To protect your mobile or computer operating system from malware and viruses, make sure to keep your antivirus up to date.
- Monitor your bank account
It is good to regularly review your credit card and bank statement to check for any kind of unauthorised charges. If any discrepancy appears, immediately contact to bank and lock your credit card.
Using price comparison tools
one of the most powerful in the used online Shoppers 2 leaves the price comparison tool it might be a website or a browse extension. These tools help you to compare the prices and features and help you to find the best deals. Let’s discuss these all:
- Websites
Comparison websites like Price Grabber, Google Shopping, and Shopzilla that allow you to enter the products you want to buy and see a list of a price from various retailers. You can apply your filter like by price brand and other factors to find the best deals.
- Browser extension
Some browser extensions like Buyhatke automatically scan the website for discount coupons and a price. It helps you to find the best price on a website when you are there. Extension you can track the price history for the past 3 months. This extension works fine for most of the shopping websites.
- Mobile apps
Many mobile apps allow the US to compare prices making it easy to scan the barcode for a search for products while you are in physical stores. This app will help you If a better deal is available online.
- Setting price alert
Some tools allow you to set the price alert for some products. You can input the price you are willing to pay. These apps notify you when the desired price reaches.
- Use review and ratings
In addition to price comparison, you can read the product reviews and the ratings. These will provide you with the inside for its quality and performance. Never focus on over-negative or over-positive reviews, your aim should be to read a variety of opinions. It will make you sure that you will get the best deals running right on that time on various e-commerce platforms.
- Cashback and rewards programs
Another reason for online shopping is due to the opportunity to participate in rewards and cashback schemes or programs. These offers allow you to give some amount back in the form of rewards. The following are the ways to get benefit from rewards and cashback:
- Credit/Debit cards
Many credit and debit cards offer cashback or rewards for a particular type of purchase or all types of purchases after minimum spent. Make sure to check whether your credit or debit card is eligible for this offer or not. You can use rewards or cashback for further shopping discounts.
- Online retailer programs
Many online retailer offers cashback or rewards program. For example, Amazon Prime offers an Amazon Prime Rewards Visa signature card which gives you cashback on Amazon Purchase.
- Third-Party cashback services
Many third-party websites allow you to earn cashback when you go through their links for shopping. I mostly used cashkaro.com and there are many more like this. They provide us with all kinds of offers and deals. You can join this retailer if you shop mostly online.
- Membership Programs
Nowadays, most of the e-commerce platforms offer subscription-based services. Like I am using a firstcry.com club membership in which exclusive deals, offers, and discounts are available for members only. You must subscribe to this retailer if shop most often.
- Loyalty and reward cards
Many platforms offer loyalty and reward programs for those who shop frequently. These offer exclusive offers and deals for discount. Starbucks Reward Card is one of the examples.
- Maximizing Rewards
For a particular period, some retailers offer maximum reward points. So it’s good to shop on those days to have maximum savings. For example, some credit cards offer more cashback during festive days or on their anniversary.
- Redeeming Rewards
Once you have earned enough reward points, make sure to spend them on further purchases. You can use them for gift cards, travel, shopping etc. Many retailers have a reward points expiry too. So make sure to use them before their expiration date.
- Exclusive Online Deals
Many retailers give online deals and promotions, especially during special days like festive, and anniversary days. But how to take advantage of these offers? let’s discuss these all:
- Subscribe to their Newsletters
The first and most important step is to subscribe to their newsletter. They will often send you emails for deals and upcoming events.
- Follow Retailers On Social Media
Nowadays social media are very popular. The retailers are also promoting and posting their coupon codes, and flash sales on their social media pages. You can follow them to get updated.
- Shop on Special Online Shopping Holidays
To have maximum savings, make sure to plan your shopping around special days like festive days.
- Use deal aggregator websites
Deal aggregator websites are those that help you to find the latest online deals from multiple retailers in one place.
FAQs
What are some Christmas gift ideas?
There are many Gift ideas are for Christmas But popular ones are discussed bellow:
- Personalized Gifts
- DIY Gifts
- Subscriptions
- Home Decor
- Gadgets
- Books
- Cards
- Sweets / Chocolates
- Gift hampers
- Home made cookies
- Toys to kids etc.
What are Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas?
Nothing is better than Eco-Friendly gifts for your loved ones. Few of them are:
- Beeswax Wraps
- Reusable water bottles
- Eco-Friendly Bags
- Organic clothes
- Recyclable Coffee cups
- Eco-Friendly Candles
- Bamboo cutlery
- Wooden items
- DIY toys, etc.
How can I avoid overspending during Christmas shopping?
Set a budget before you start shopping and stick to it. Make a list of recipients and gifts, and prioritize needs over wants to stay within your budget. In starting decrease you budget, so that little more spending will be totally fine for you.
What are some tips for finding the best deals during the holiday season?
Keep an eye on sales, compare prices, and take advantage of online deals. Use shopping apps and browser extensions to track discounts and promotions.
Is it better to shop online or in-store during the holidays?
Both options have advantages. Online shopping offers convenience and often better deals, while in-store shopping allows you to see items in person. Choose the method that aligns with your preferences and needs.
How can I make sure my gifts arrive on time if I'm shopping online?
Be aware of shipping deadlines provided by retailers. Order well in advance, especially if purchasing from international websites, and consider expedited shipping options if necessary.
When is the best time to start Christmas shopping?
Starting early in the season gives you more time to find the perfect gifts and take advantage of sales. However, avoid waiting until the last minute to ensure availability and timely delivery.
Summary
How do you plan to shop this holiday season? We can save our money as well as time and efforts by carefully planning our shopping in advance. You can follow these steps:
- First of all set your budget.
- Then make list of all to whom you want to give gifts.
- Keep Eyes on Pre-Festive sale.
- Compare Prices over multiple E-Commerce platforms.
- Utilize Cashbacks and Rewards.
- Take Benefits of No Cost EMI.
- Use Price Comparison Tools.(Discussed above)
