How To Shop For Christmas Gifts
By Ruzica Milevska

Okay. Christmas is coming, fast. It's time to panic. After all,
you don't want to relive last Christmas Eve. There you were, at
ten to five in the evening, standing in a large department
store, with two gifts still to buy and a distinct shortage of
cash. 'Never again!' you said at the time. Remember?

Here is a rough guide on how to shop for Christmas gifts:

1. Decide how much you can really afford to spend. Now, take
10% off that figure for extras, like wrapping paper, ribbon,
bows, tags etc. Then, divide the sum remaining by the number of
people you will probably buy gifts for. Redistribute the money,
so that you allocate more to close friends and relatives and
less to distant ones. You now have a rough budget.

2. Identify whom, exactly, you are going to exchange gifts
with. There are few things worse in life than receiving a
Christmas gift from someone when you have not bought anything
for them in return. The slight embarrassment of determining this
important fact early on is much better than the bigger
embarrassment later. Refine your budget accordingly.

3. You may agree with some friends and relatives that a gift
exchange is not necessary. This might help both of you
significantly. Perhaps they are less well-off than you are, or
less mobile. Where such agreements are possible, refine your
budget accordingly.

4. Try to agree some financial boundaries with all those who
you do exchange gifts with. Again, put your embarrassment aside
and agree with Aunt Flo' not to spend more than x on each other,
an amount that both you and she can afford. Gain, and give, a
strong commitment not to exceed the agreed amount, under any
circumstances. Again, refine your budget accordingly.

5. Do ask indirectly, sometimes directly, what recipients would
like to receive as gifts. Every year, millions of unwanted gifts
are bought and given. Many end up in attics, charity shops or
landfill sites. In return, do drop hints and tell friends and
relatives directly what you would like in return. This process
need not dilute the gift exchange experience. By allowing some
scope for choice, it should enhance it.

6. Now, the hard work begins, especially for those who seem to
have everything they need, and don't know what they'd like
either. Well within the budget for that person, write down ideas
over several days. Think about their lifestyle, hobbies and
interests. Avoid cliché presents that might imply little real
care about the recipient when you give it. Write down things
that they will use every day.

7. Start your shopping early. Contrary to popular belief,
September is not too early. Indeed, some seasoned gift-givers
shop for Christmas gifts all year round and squirrel them away
in hiding places until December. They even buy gifts for next
Christmas in the preceding January sales and during summer
special offers.

8. Shop around online, at least in the first instance. Without
expending any shoe leather, this will enable you to establish
price and availability. Visit product comparison sites first,
rather than the sites of likely, or your favourite, retailers.
You might find that less well-known suppliers offer you better
deals. If you do find good deals, go ahead and buy online! Did
you really want to trudge around cold, damp shopping centres
only to find higher prices and lower stock levels?

9. Do buy offline any Christmas-related items, including gifts,
which require a multi-sensory approach to purchase. It's
difficult to be prescriptive here, but you may need to judge
first hand the smell of a real tree, the sound of a bell, the
taste of a cheese or the feel of a fresh holly wreath. Also look
in local shops for specialities not yet found on the Internet.

10. Well before the big day, wrap and hide your presents with
care. You can now rest assured that you've bought your loved
ones gifts that they will appreciate, at prices you can
realistically afford, without any last-minute panic buying. Go
ahead and give your gifts, when the time is right, with minimal
risk of embarrassment or disappointment. Do not forget to send
your bank manager a Christmas card too. He or she will be so
pleased that you have spent wisely.

Happy Christmas, everybody!

About the Author: Steve Hawker is a partner at
http://www.ehawker.co.uk E-mail him at: info at ehawker.co.uk ©
Steve Hawker 2005. All rights reserved. The article must be
reproduced in its entirity, including this biography.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=17779&ca=Advice