Each and every year, we know the score. As soon as November arrives, the shops are full of reminders: we need to buy our Christmas presents.
As it turns out, a lot of us do not heed such advice. Instead, we’re left to fret around in the last few days, frantically trying to find suitable gifts for loved ones. It could be argued that this year is going to be even more last minute. What with many people simply unable to get to the stops because of local restrictions.
Bearing this in mind, today’s guide isn’t designed to solve all of your problems. However, the following hacks should help you conquer those last few days before Christmas. Plus ensure that everyone in your circle has a gift for the big day.
Fail to plan…
It’s a bit of a cliche, but fail to plan, and you’re planning to fail. Particularly in 2020, where you probably haven’t ventured to the shops on many occasions, it can become very easy to get distracted. This is where self-discipline is key.
Firstly, take a list with you when you do your big, last-minute shopping. You might not know exactly what you are buying everyone, but at least have an idea of who you are buying for.
Secondly, set a time limit. Again, as most of us haven’t been to the stores as much as we would have liked this year, it’s very easy to lose track of time once you have found the gifts for everyone who you have planned to buy for. In the interests of saving money, and valuable time when it comes to the next step of wrapping these gifts, keep a close eye on your watch throughout.
Turn to your go-to shopping district
Everyone has a go-to shopping district. If you are based in London, the choices are endless, with the common choice being Covent Garden.
It’s in these last-minute occasions that familiarity is everything. The last thing you need is to be searching high and low for your favourite stores. Without trying to add unnecessary drama to the occasion, this isn’t about experimenting, it’s about finding the right gifts in as little time as possible.
Don’t place all of your eggs in an online basket
Finally, let’s finish by talking about shopping online. As we all know, this is something that has transformed Christmas shopping over the years, but this year is a little different.
Granted, some retailers (we all know who they are) have got their online service down to a tee. However, others, are almost at the mercy of others. For example, Royal Mail has had several high-profile delivery problems this year, and this means that you can’t necessarily guarantee that you will receive all of your items when they are pencilled in for delivery.
Should you abandon the online approach altogether this year? Absolutely not. However, if you’re doing literal last-minute shopping (like on the 23rd of December), this can be a risky approach in the current environment.
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