It’s the most wonderful time of the year. This is one of the lines of a popular Christmas song, and it really brings to mind the beauty and joy of Christmas time. However, it is also a troubling time where you need to buy gifts for your loved ones, and often you end up at a loss as to what on earth you are going to buy them. 

You want to make sure that it is something they like, and at the same time you do not want to break the bank.

This holiday gift guide is intended to give you some helpful tips to make Christmas shopping a fun experience, rather than a difficult one.

First off, consider keeping a small notebook where you jot down any things your relatives or friends may have mentioned throughout the year. It is common to hear them say they need something, or they liked something they saw in an advert or in a shop window. 

The notebook will prove really helpful when Christmas time draws near as you will have a ready-made guide as to what you could buy. So pay attention to any hints they may be dropping.

Secondly, avoid waiting till the last minute. If you allow time to go by without shopping for gifts you are going to end up rushing it all, and it is going to be really stressful and tedious. Besides, there is a good chance that you will end up buying useless things in an attempt to completing the shopping. 

As a general rule of thumb it is best to start thinking about Christmas gifts as November draws to an end. If you plan to order something online, it is recommended that you start even earlier as you need to factor in the shipping time.

Speaking of the internet – nowadays shopping has been made really easier. You do not have to fret around shops, or wait in the traffic and waste time trying to find a parking space, as you can conveniently shop from your own home or office desk. 

If you hate crowds and queues, online shopping is the perfect solution for you. With online shopping you will also be able to compare prices more easily, and chances are you will save some money.

Another good idea is to buy anything you come across which reminds you of a relative or loved one. say your friend is a person who loves watching movies. If you are in a shop and happen to see a really great box set of movies you are sure he likes, then it may be worthwhile to buy it, even if you are months away from Christmas time. 

This way you will be piling up presents before Christmas time, and all you need to do is wrap them up. Just make sure you store such items in a place where you will find them, rather than forget them! 

It is a good idea to store them in the same cupboard or drawer so as to make sure you do not forget anything. You do not want to end up buying things for nothing!

Another thing people often fail to consider, is the option of giving a service rather than a product. Gift cards or vouchers redeemable for certain services may be really appreciated. 

Dining out is something everyone loves for instance. Beauty services are a great gift idea for women. Just try to think of things your loved ones like to engage in and consider giving such a service as a Christmas gift.

Some people love to prepare gifts themselves as they have a knack at DIY. If you love arts and crafts, put your talents to practice and prepare the gifts yourself. 

They are going to be appreciated more than ready made gifts for sure as you put time and effort to prepare them, and they are sure going to be unique.

Finally, never equate price with quality. You need to focus on your loved ones’ interests. There is nothing wrong with saving money, as long as you are buying something useful for your friends or relatives. 

Ultimately Christmas time is about putting a smile on their face and showing them you love them.

Post by Angella Grey, the marketing manager at The Vacation Rentals Experts – an online and offline digital marketing agency that creates marketing solutions for vacation rentals, holiday homes and brands.

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