It’s that time of year again when many of us start writing lists and thinking about what to buy for our nearest and dearest. Searching for presents can be fun, but it can also be stressful. If you’re up against the clock, you have a packed schedule, you’re short on inspiration and ideas, or you’re trying to save money, this guide has all the advice you need for stress-free gift shopping. This is a partnered post.
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Set a budget
The first thing to do when writing a list of items to buy for loved ones at Christmas is to set a budget. Calculate how much you can afford to spend in total and set a limit for each recipient. Knowing how much you can spend makes it easier to filter search results, conjure up suitable ideas and monitor spending over the festive season. If you can, try to set money aside as early as possible and create a gift fund. This will enable you to spread the cost of buying presents to avoid a big financial hit just before the holiday season. If you can save every week or month, you’ll have a pot available to dip into as and when you find the perfect gifts.
Prioritize interests and hobbies
We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve found it tough to come up with creative gift ideas for a special person or buy something for somebody who has everything. The best way to make coming up with ideas a breeze is to focus on the recipient’s interests and passions. From young children to grandparents, taking inspiration from the individual’s hobbies and interests will help you narrow down the options and find something they will love. There are items and experiences to suit everyone from foodies and travel enthusiasts to animal lovers and sports aficionados.
Go through your gift list and think about what every person loves doing, how they like to spend their free time and what they would spend their money on if they had a windfall. Consider your budget and start noting down ideas. Fans of sports may enjoy an autobiography, a piece of club merchandise or memorabilia, or an experience like tickets to a game or a stadium tour, for example. Kitchen gadgets, recipe books, wine tasting and restaurant vouchers are ideal options for fans of gourmet food and drink. 
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Let them choose
If you don’t know what to get somebody and you’d rather make sure they use their present rather than risk buying something they won’t like or an item that will stay in a drawer or cupboard unopened, let the recipient choose. You can find all kinds of vouchers and gift cards today, from retail therapy treats like Argos gift cards to vouchers for experiences, such as afternoon tea, white water rafting, supercar track days and hot air ballooning. Gift cards are an excellent option for friends, relatives and colleagues you’re buying for in the office Secret Santa gift swap. Buying vouchers and gift cards enables the recipient to decide what they want. They may choose to indulge in a new outfit, book a weekend away or buy a new pair of earrings, or they might put the money towards practical purchases, such as essentials for a new baby, home appliances or bedroom furniture, for example.
Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes
One of the most difficult aspects of present shopping is choosing something for another person. When you’re browsing in stores or trawling the virtual aisles, you have to put yourself in the recipient’s shoes and focus on what they like rather than what suits your taste or checks the boxes on your wish list. It’s particularly important to do this when buying items such as clothing, cosmetics and accessories for the home. Consider their taste, style and personality. Look for items that make you think of them immediately. Perhaps your sister loves bold makeup or your best friend has a passion for vintage bags, for example.
Compare prices and deals
Shopping for gifts can be expensive, especially if you have a large family or you usually buy gifts for friends and relatives. Statistics show that the average US adult spent over $900 on Christmas gifts in 2023. It’s no secret that many families are feeling the pinch, as living costs have risen and the prices of many popular items have increased. If you’re on a mission to shop smart and save money in 2024, there are multiple ways to lower your outgoings without sacrificing quality or effort.
Shopping around for deals and comparing prices are brilliant ways to lower costs in the run-up to the holidays. At this time of year, retailers and brands are desperately trying to persuade consumers to choose their products over others and entice new customers. This is the time to snap up bargains and take advantage of special offers. It’s a good idea to save items you like, create wish lists, sign up for offers via email and follow your favorite stores and brands on social media.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are among the most popular times to shop for festive gifts. If you are planning to buy during this period, make sure you compare and monitor prices and stick to your budget. It can be tempting to buy extra items because they’ve got money off or veer off your list because there are offers on different products. Try to avoid impulse buys unless you know that the recipient will love the product. If you buy a load of extra presents, you may end up spending much more than you planned rather than getting more for your money during the sales.
It’s worth noting that some deals are much better than others. Pay attention to the small print and always shop around before you commit to buy. You may find that retailers have the same items available for completely different prices. Look for and be mindful of marketing ploys that try to convince you to spend more or hurry into making purchasing decisions. Time-limited sales can offer brilliant opportunities to save but the savings are not always as good as they seem. You may find that many items were already available at the price shown during sale campaigns before the avalanche of Black Friday emails arrived, for example.
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Look and listen out for hints and clues
When you’re looking for presents for loved ones, it’s natural to want to find things they will absolutely adore, but it’s not always easy to locate or choose the perfect gift. If you need a bit of help, listen and look out for hints and clues. Observe your friend, partner or relative when they’re browsing stores, note down anything they mention during conversations and listen for tips when they talk about what they would do if they had some spare cash to splash.
Consider experiences over items
Spending money on experiences and opportunities to make memories has become more popular in recent years. Material gifts can be brilliant, but often, there’s nothing better than gifting somebody quality time with loved ones or the chance to try new things or do something they’ve always wanted to do. There’s a vast array of options to choose from, including spa treatments, adventure sports, thrill-seeking activities, travel and tours, wildlife experiences, shopping trips, music and sports events, and food, drink and theater experiences. Consider presents such as booking tickets to an event, treating your parents to a mini break with the rest of the family, paying for a friend to go skydiving or organizing a romantic weekend.
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Some people love shopping for gifts for their loved ones, but it can be a stressful experience. If you’ve got an endless to-do list, you’re trying to save money, or you’re struggling to be creative with ideas, these tips will come in handy. Set a budget, compare prices and deals and focus on the recipient’s interests, hobbies and passions. Put yourself in your loved one’s shoes, listen out for hints and tips and consider buying experiences rather than material items.