Christmas Shopping Strategies

With your long holiday “to do” list, a little planning will help maintain your Christmas

spirit and keep you on Santa’s Nice List. First and foremost, shop when you’re as

rested as possible.

Second, understand that post-Covid, store inventories are entirely unpredictable. You

can score some savings when they’ve got excess, which won’t necessarily be

advertised. Also, despite the shopping season, many stores don’t have sufficient staff

for extended hours, so call to verify; while on the phone, ask when their next shipment

arrives.

If you’re shopping home improvement stores, Friday evenings are best as they’re

stocked for the weekend home project rush. If shopping in person, I recommend taking

a Tuesday or Wednesday off and hit the stores right when they open and are restocked.

When hunting for that special gift, the rapport with the sales staff can make or break

you, particularly if it’s hard to find or expensive. If calling, remember get the staff’s

name and thank them in person when you pick up, establishing a connection for next

time.

When online shopping, I select “pickup today”, which immediately tells me a store’s

inventory. If they don’t have what I need, then I search online to see who nearby does.

Obviously curbside pickup whenever possible. Once you’ve found your item, call to

confirm—though it’s a bit old school, it’s a time saver. When paying for next day

shipping—remember that’s only when the item is actually available to ship; check who

pays for shipping too.

When in Christmas shopping crunch time, pace yourself. Make a reservation for lunch

while shopping, it’s quieter than a food court and gives you healthier food options, while

giving you time to rest and refresh.

Tammy’s Truism: Today, many retailers’ 30-day return policy is from the date of order,

not purchase.