5 Important Things to Keep in Mind for Holiday Gift Shopping

The Christmas season is here once again, and you are probably already in the midst of finding the right gifts for friends, loved ones, and colleagues. Receiving and giving gifts are two of the most wonderful parts of the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be stressful and difficult to find and give the right gifts to people at Christmas.

Giving the right gift to someone is a fantastic opportunity to show someone how much you love them or a friend how much you care. It is also an opportunity to strengthen bonds with work colleagues and acquaintances, building new friendships. Here is our quick guide to five important things to keep in mind while holiday gift shopping this season.

Know Your Audience

Getting the right gift for someone can be difficult at times, and gifting someone something generic like aftershave or cologne can give someone the impression that you have put little or no thought into their Christmas gift. It can also be difficult to find something appropriate for a work colleague or distant acquaintance, and the wrong gift could cause offense.

Do a little research on your recipient, even if it means taking a look at their social media accounts to find out more about their hobbies and interests. Facebook and Instagram can tell you a lot about what a person does in their spare time.

Stay Safe Online

Every year millions of people are the victims of online credit fraud and data theft, and a huge number of these instances occur at Christmastime as people start using unfamiliar sites and payment methods in the search for the perfect Christmas gift.

No matter how good a deal looks, do some research on a website before you hand over your card details and address. Sites you know well like Amazon don’t need this extra scrutiny, but if you find yourself about to buy something from an online store you have never used before or heard of, do a Google search for reviews of the site. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Sample a Product Before You Commit to a Purchase

When you are searching for the right gift for someone, especially something like a beauty product, then you can sometimes end up with the wrong thing no matter how hard you try.

There are websites online that help you to try products before buying them, letting you test a product out before you spend your hard-earned money on the gift. Some of these freebies can even make great gifts themselves, saving you money at one of the most expensive times of the times of the year.

Save Time and Money by Opting for Gift Wrapping

At this time of year, many online stores offer a gift-wrapping service for purchases, often for free or just a few cents. These services can save you time and money by expertly gift wrapping your gifts for you so they arrive ready to go. You should be aware that sometimes the products can be wrapped in very generic paper, so if you want to wrap gifts in something brighter or more specific to the recipient then you may have to re-wrap them later.

Save Money on Delivery Fees

Products sold online are often a lot cheaper than identical products sold in stores on main street. The savings can soon disappear, however, when you add in the delivery charges.

Most online retailers will offer free delivery if you spend over a certain amount, usually about $50, and also offer free returns. If you find yourself short of the free delivery threshold, why not add some products to take you over the line? You can send these back as soon as they arrive and get the products you want delivered for free.

Shopping for gifts for Christmas can involve a lot of stress, but you can save yourself a lot of hassle and some money by following one or more of our top tips.