It’s that time of year, when the stores put up their Christmas window displays (already?) and everyone starts making gift lists and travel plans. I love the sparkly, starry magic of the Advent/Christmas season, but I do not love the anxiety that sometimes comes with trying to find the perfect gift for every person on my list.
After years of swinging wildly between different methods (including a couple of years where I tried to make every single gift), I’ve finally come up with a few holiday-shopping strategies that work for me.
1. Start early. I am a staunch advocate for enjoying each holiday as it comes – it makes me slightly sick to see candy canes and stocking stuffers fill the stores right after Halloween. And while I love the red cups at Starbucks and the Christmas music, I am committed to savoring November (and Thanksgiving).
But a little planning ahead for Christmas shopping can save your sanity in mid-December. (Especially if, like me, you often travel a long distance for the holiday and need to get your shopping done early.) So…
2. Make a list. Or, in my case, a spreadsheet. Yes, I’m serious. I have a simple Google spreadsheet with the names of everyone I need to buy for, along with gift ideas and the names and prices of items already bought. I can track who I’m buying for, what I’m buying, and how much I’m spending, all at the same time. (Bonus: I can check it at the office if I’m planning to do a bit of shopping on my lunch break.)
3. Decide how many gifts you can reasonably make. If you are even remotely crafty (and I am), it’s tempting to think you can make gifts for your entire family, and maybe you can. But you will save some serious time (and stress) if you consider what is possible for you – and what handmade gifts will actually appeal to everyone on your list.
For example, I am a knitter, but my sister does not wear scarves (they make her itch, no matter what they’re made of) and my husband already has more handknit hats than he’ll ever wear. And most of my family lives in Texas, so they don’t need many knitted winter items. But this year, I am making a few pairs of cozy slippers from this fun book. And if I’m tempted to make anything else, I’ll consult this handy make-or-buy flowchart from Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy.
4. If you see a reasonably priced gift you like, buy it. I am a maximizer by nature – I like to weigh all the options and I tend to second-guess myself, especially when I’m buying a gift for someone. (Also, the men in my family – my husband, dad and brother-in-law – are much more difficult to shop for than the women or the kids.) But at Christmas, as at other times of the year, I’m on a budget, both money- and time-wise.
So, if I see a book I know my dad will love (like American Triumvirate, about three incredible golfers) or a DVD my mom has been wanting (like Downton Abbey, season 1), I go ahead and buy it. This saves me a lot of mental back-and-forth, and it saves time, since I don’t have to go back to the store and buy it later. (The examples above are both gifts I bought last year, which were huge hits.)
5. Take the pressure off yourself. For me, this means not pushing myself to make every gift (see #3 above) or to buy everything from handmade shops or local stores. I am a huge fan of local, independent businesses and sites like Etsy – and I do buy a lot of gifts from those places, especially my favorite local bookstores. But if my brother-in-law wants a certain country album or I find an adorable outfit for my nephew at GapKids, I go ahead and buy them, from big-box stores if necessary. (See #4 above.) There’s no sense in buying a quirky handmade or local gift if it’s not what the person really wants.
6. Have fun. I know holiday shopping can be stressful, but ultimately it’s fun to buy (or make) a gift to light up the eyes of someone you love. (Someone please remind me of this when it’s Dec. 15 and I’m still struggling to finish up my list!) You may have a few panicked moments (I have them every year), but ultimately, a bit of planning and a little less pressure can make the shopping experience much more enjoyable.
Also: shop windows at Christmas are wonderful, no? They make me long to curl up by a fire with a cup of hot cocoa and Sarah MacLachlan’s Wintersong album. (That window at the top of this post is from Oxford, long ago, and the one below is from Boston – my beloved Brattle Book Shop.)
How do you shop for the holidays without losing your mind? (I’m always looking for additional tips.)
cakes, tea and dreams 
Katie, this is all such great advice. I feel like I’ve been on the gift-buying journey that you have (complete with a google doc), and came to similar conclusions. It’s hard to pull the trigger when I imagine something more perfect might be out there, especially if I’m just picking up a collection of DVDs at Target. But if I know someone will like it, that is more than good enough!
I have a lot of the same thoughts, etc. that you do, and I always end up enjoying the whole holiday season.
One thing I’ve learned (the hard way) is that, like you said – if you see something that you can afford that screams out to you for someone, just buy it then!
Great advice to keep an easily accessed list. I start buying for Christmas in January. Yes. I buy a little each month to prevent that surge of gift buying panic after Thanksgiving. But…that doesn’t always work. I often pull out the stash close to Christmas and realize…oops!!…I have waaay too much for some people (meaning I’ve covered their birthdays, as well), not enough for someone else. I forget what’s in the stash! Need to keep that list!!
I hate shopping, so i tend to start early to avoid the crowds. I also do a surprising amount on-line. This is partially due to the fact that my family is an ocean away and it is easier and cheaper to send them gifts this way. And I agree with you, having a list is crucial. I start months in advance, listening to what people are wishing for.
I am right there with you on savoring each holiday as it comes. Lovely post. Great tips.
Such a practical and inspiring post. Thank you for your list of tips.
We have cut way down on our gift giving over the years, which has made the holidays simpler and, actually, more fun. Gifts to those I don’t actually buy for are always edible, something I’ve baked, which I love doing.
Having said all that, I do now have grandchildren – who are soooo much fun buying for.
I like the positive festive feeling this post gave me. I want to enjoy this time too! Yes, I’m with you, in being organized and doing what you can early and being reasonable with your timing. It saves your sanity and your pocketbook from unnecessary stress. As the children in our family get older, I’m less hesitant to give cash and gift cards. I allow myself the frivolous, hostess gift to accompany things, small toys, candy, something festive. I don’t want to junk up people’s lives, but if there is no hint to what they want, this seems the best compromise for me. Parents are my hardest purchase and we are fortunate to have 3 sets between my husband and myself. We have started to find things that match their individual hobbies, i.e. hiking book for my father or joint gift certs to a local/favorite eaterie. Enjoy your holidays!
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