Shopping in December is challenging. It's a hectic month with work, family, and holiday greetings. Indeed, the holiday shopping rush is fast-approaching. With it comes the stress of finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list. But don't worry! There are plenty of ways to beat that rush—and we've got five early shopping tips right here.

Beat the Holiday Rush with These Early Shopping Tips

If you’re always in an endless cycle of rushing towards holiday buying, break it with these habits!

1. Start shopping early—like, now!

To avoid the holiday rush, start shopping early, as obvious as it is. Instead of waiting until the last month of the year, start your holiday shopping by November. If you're looking for something specific, like a certain kind of sweater, it makes more sense to start earlier than November. By then, there will be less competition from other shoppers who also want the same thing.

2. Look into unconventional local stores.

Aside from early shopping, another tip is to avoid crowds by visiting local boutiques instead. They'll often have better deals than your favorite malls, which tend more towards mass production rather than high-quality craftsmanship. You might be surprised by how many people go out of their way to shop at places like these. So they are worth looking at if you are into something unique this holiday season.

3. Make a list and stick to it

During holidays, stores and malls would promote new sales and deals to tempt you into spending more and distract you from your plans. Make a list of who you need to buy for, like each of your family members, then stick with it! No matter how tempting it might be, resist the urge to buy things that aren't on your list—or worse yet, let yourself get distracted by other things while shopping.

If you stick to your list, you can jump on holiday shopping by saving money on gifts and accessories while avoiding getting stuck with the swarm of shoppers.

4. Consider buying gifts online

You can avoid crowds and long lines at the mall by shopping from the comfort of your own home. You also have access to a broader selection of products than if you were to visit a physical store in person—which means that it's easier to find exactly what you want.

Plus, with free shipping (and often discounted prices), this method is ideal for people who don't want their gifts damaged during transit or arriving too late for their intended recipient.

If you feel hesitant about making such a necessary purchase without seeing it firsthand, online retailers offer returns within 14 days of receipt. So if something doesn't fit well or was damaged during shipping, simply send back what wasn't satisfactory. They will take care of everything else on their end, so all refunds go directly back into customers' pockets!

5. Explore the wonder of gift checks

One of the best early shopping tips during this busy time of year is to give away gift checks. Give it to someone as a gift, and let them decide where they want to spend it. The best part about giving away gift checks is that they don't cost anything except for the time spent writing them out and presenting them to recipients. One day you’ll hear a joyful thank you because someone bought their dream gift with your present.

Conclusion

There you have it! Start early and avoid that holiday rush. If you consider all of these early shopping tips first, we can guarantee your shopping experience will be pleasant. When all else fails, remember that what matters the most is your presence and the thought of giving.

The spirit of Christmas is cherished in moments shared! Don’t forget to spend this holiday season with your loved ones in the warmth of each other. Let Johndorf help you find your ideal home.