Making your holiday purchases online is like a gift to yourself. It allows you to steer clear of parking lot congestion, comparison shop in your pajamas, and have gifts sent right to your loved one’s door.
However, there is also a dark side to the holidays: scams are prevalent, shiny “deals” encourage overspending, and packages go missing when they’re needed most.
With a few smart habits, one can fix most of these problems. This guide will help you plan ahead, find real deals, spot scams, find thoughtful gifts, and beat shipping deadlines; making this the calmest holiday season of all.
Think Ahead Before You Click “Buy”
Good holiday shopping starts before you open a tab. Plan ahead so that you don’t lose control of your spending or your sanity.
Set your costs. Determine the maximum dollar value you will spend during the holiday season and then divide that up among everyone on your list. Don’t forget other things you might spend money on, such as shipping fees, wrapping supplies, party food, and travel.
Create a basic gift list for each person. Write down a gift idea, a price cap, and anything else that you need to know later, such as clothing sizes or favorite colors; use a note on your phone.
Note this year’s dates; Black Friday will be on Nov. 27 and Cyber Monday will be on Nov. 30; many retailers start sales early, so monitor prices now. Use wish lists and price alerts: save the things you want, then let the store or a price tracking tool let you know when they drop in price; you’ll know when to buy and not have to guess.
Compare Prices and Use Black Friday and Cyber Monday Wisely
Don’t let big sale days create a sense of urgency; that’s when people are likely to click buy without thinking about their purchase. Take time to consider the numbers and think beyond just seeing the “% off” label.
Sometimes stores make the “original” price look higher, and then they make it look like a huge discount by reducing the price. Use a price-history tracker or browser extension to see the actual price of an item over the past few weeks.
An AI shopping assistant can make life easier, but check its advice; AI-powered shopping assistants can compare prices, write a summary of reviews, and even give you gift ideas in seconds.
These tools are a great place to start, but AI doesn’t always get it right, so click over to the retailer’s website and double-check the price, whether it’s in stock, and the return policy yourself. Look at the overall cost. A gift for $30 plus $9 shipping is going to cost you more than a gift for $35 shipped free; take shipping and taxes into account, plus if you return it, you may have to pay return fees.
Stick with your shopping list; a deal can only save you money if you are planning to buy the item anyway and if the item isn’t on your list, it’s best to ignore the deal.
Spot Fake Deals and Shop Only on Trusted Sites
Holiday scammers thrive because shoppers are rushing around and looking for deals; be aware of these warning signs:
- Prices far lower than what every other store charges
- Unfamiliar sites putting pressure on users through countdown timers and “only 2 left!”
- Web addresses with misspelled brand names or weird endings
- Missing contact information, return policies, or business addresses
Look for “https” in the website URL, but don’t rely on it; scam websites can have “https” too. Read recent customer reviews from independent sources, not the store’s own testimonials; be extra cautious of stores you only find from social media ads.
Use protected payment methods: credit cards and secure payment services often provide better protection for buyers than debit cards and direct bank transfers. Never pay a store with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Treat every delivery notification as potentially fraudulent; fake texts and emails claiming that “your package is delayed” spike this time of year.
Don’t click any links. Go directly to the website of the retailer or the carrier’s app, and type in your tracking number; secure your accounts. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication; stay off public Wi-Fi when shopping.
Find Thoughtful Gifts Through Social Media
TikTok is a great way to come up with gift ideas; you will see creators share weird and interesting finds, cheap products, and “I didn’t know I needed this” products that you wouldn’t have thought to look for.
But don’t take these videos as facts, as creators can get paid for them or receive products for free. Viral products can lead to knockoff products; before you buy something from a video, read reviews outside of the video, make sure the seller is reputable, and compare the product photos to the actual listing.
Once you have an idea, think about making it personal: if you attach a name, photo, or special date to your gift, it will show that you did put some effort into it; it also solves the problem of “what do you buy for someone who has everything?”
Personalized Gift Ideas
Personalized gifts are special because they are made just for the person receiving them; there are many ways to personalize gifts, and this post will cover two of them.
A customized Christmas gift can make a regular gift special and turn it into a keepsake. Items that have a name, a photo, or a short message are good options and this can be a great way to give to family members, coworkers, and friends who are hard to shop for.
Personalized jewelry is also a popular option; jewelry featuring initials, names, or birthstones often feels meaningful, and loved ones can wear it long after the holidays; whatever option you choose, make sure you don’t make any avoidable mistakes:
- Proofread everything: Double-check name spellings and dates before you submit.
- Confirm sizing: Check the size charts carefully, especially for rings and bracelets.
- Read the product details: Check the materials, finishes, and care instructions.
- Check the preview: If the store provides a preview of the design, please check it before proceeding to checkout.
Check Shipping Deadlines, Lead Times, and Return Policies
An exceptional gift loses its charm once it reaches beyond the actual day. Also, the dimension of shipping must match its definition. It is essential to be aware of the lead time: any item that is manufactured to order won’t be shipped instantly, so you should add the production time to the shipping time. It is recommended to purchase personalized items well in advance. Check out the processing time on the product page at the store.
Understand the cutoff dates; retailers and delivery companies both give holiday shipping deadlines, which change every year; look up the current cutoff dates instead of going by the deadline last year.
Check the return policy before you purchase: Personalised items are often considered final sale and/or have limited return policies.
Before you buy, check the rules so you aren’t caught off-guard with a typo or wrong-size. Take care of your packages. Make use of tracking services and send your gifts to a location where they will be safely received. If you are not home during the day, send your gifts to that location; save all your order confirmations until the season ends.
Your Stress-Free Holiday Shopping Checklist
Ready to shop? Take a moment to review this list:
- Set a budget and create a gift list.
- Compare prices and view the total cost.
- Verify every unfamiliar website before you pay.
- Choose a protected way to pay.
- Buy personalized gifts early.
- Review the shipping and return policies.
- Keep your confirmations and tracking numbers.
The best gifts are the ones that are prepared, not those that are found at the last minute. Plan ahead, shop wisely, and have fun during this season; your wallet and everyone on your list will thank you.
