Giving gifts is, without doubt, one of the absolute best feelings in the world. There is nothing quite like seeing kids’ faces light up as they see their new favorite toys on Christmas morning or watching our parents marvel at a really touching gift or two.
However, given the amount of time, effort, and money that can go into buying these gifts, it is only natural for the most wonderful time of the year also happens to be the most stressful time of the year!
The best thing for you to do is to start buying now! Starting your shopping as early on as possible will significantly help you in multiple ways.
However, there are certain gifts that are better to buy on sale, in certain stores, etc.
That is why knowing when and how to buy your gifts is essential. That’s what we’ll discuss in this article.
When Should You Start Shopping for Christmas?
The truth is that it is never really too early to start your Christmas shopping.
People who start their shopping earlier on in the year tend to save a lot more money on their budget.
In fact, many people suggest buying your presents for next Christmas as early as late December itself.
Generally speaking, right after the holidays, stores put on big sales to get rid of the end of the year inventory, to prepare for the new stuff arriving in the new year.
Good quality products can be at a fraction of the price, making them a very good deal.
However, not everyone has enough of a budget left over after Christmas to spend on next year’s holiday season.
You could always prepare your Christmas gift list for the next round of good sales, such as Black Friday; however, you would be putting a lot of pressure on a time of year when most people rush to get their Christmas shopping done. (Find out the best black friday gift ideas here).
What generally works best is to spread your Christmas shopping throughout the year.
Certain items are at better prices at different times of the year.
For example, game consoles such as the Nintendo Switch tend to be cheaper during the Black Friday sales, in mid-November.
However, things like iPhones always go down in price when a new one is released, usually around September.
Other things like stocking stuffers can be found pretty much as you go along.
By looking at warehouse stores, and second-hand shops online, you will be able to find great deals year-round, helping you get major savings as you buy presents.
The truth is that as long as you don’t leave all of your gift buying for the last minute, you will already save yourself a lot of money.
Doing all of the shopping during the Christmas rush is an easy way of getting stuck with the worst prices, not to mention the long queues, and the overwhelming stress.
Your best bet is to shop throughout the year, keeping your eye out for good sales, as good deal hunters do!
How Early Do People Buy Christmas Gifts?
Generally speaking, most people start buying gifts around November and December.
Sadly, most of us do leave it till the run-up to Christmas, which is why the lines are so big, the store inventory is so low, and the prices are booming.
However, as more and more of us are trying to find new ways to live and buy responsibly, more and more people are looking at buying presents throughout the year as opposed to just around the Christmas season.
Some people start buying their gifts as early as late December, whereas others stick to looking at sales during the spring and summer months.
When Is Too Soon to Start purchasing Christmas Gifts?
As was previously mentioned, there isn’t really a ‘too soon’ for buying gifts for many people!
Buying early for the holidays is definitely a thing, but if you have the money, the right gift in mind, and it is at the right price, then there really is no better time to buy it!
How do I Budget Properly For My Christmas Gifts?
A big part of saving money on presents is knowing how to budget for them – that much is obvious to any of us that’s dived right into the Christmas spirit and has started buying Christmas presents without a plan.
Taking the time to assess the amount of money that you can responsibly spend on presents will help to keep you within your budget throughout the year.
On top of that, by taking the time to consider everyone that will be on your gift-giving list (from your close family members to extended ones, friends, co-workers, and any other person that you should not forget around Christmas Day), you will be able to truly consider what gifts would be good for each person and take the time to look into the best times for buying them (based on deliveries, etc).
Summary
There’s no real correct answer to when you should start shopping for Christmas – ‘whenever feels right’ tends to be a good idea, but of course, the earlier you buy, the better the deals.
Buying Christmas presents can be quite a nightmare when we leave it to the very last second, usually around that time of the year, the last second can even be a few weeks before Christmas day itself!
If you find it difficult to prepare yourself financially for this time of the year, then remember just to take it to step by step.
Even starting to spread out your shopping from as early as October can significantly help to reduce your stress and even out your budget for the end of the year.
From there, you can start to prepare for everything earlier and earlier, which will help to get you used to plan this way.
You will notice within the first year of trying that there is a big difference when you prepare this way and it will make this time of the year that more special for you, your friends and family!
For some of our best suggestions read also, best flowers to gifts on Christmas, best Christmas chocolates to gift, top picks for scented candles as Christmas gifts.
