What does Black Friday (or holiday shopping in general) feel like to you? Long shopping lists? People shoving you inside stores? Messy shelves with all the hottest toys missing? 20, 30 browser tabs open as you’re trying to compare prices, understand technical jargon across review sites, add items to carts, try coupon codes while checking out?
A couple years ago REI began a social media campaign that asked everyone to #optoutside on Black Friday and enjoy a day off. I loved the message that this campaign stood for. More importantly, I think that there can be a different way to approach holidays that takes the pressure off gifting, and moves it more towards spending time with family. Not only does it help your wallet, but it also creates better, happier memories.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Here are some thoughts on how you can approach holiday shopping and keep your sanity:
Set expectations for the next generation
Think back to when you were first exposed to the idea of Christmas / holiday gifts. How were you taught to expect gifts, and how do you think that translates to how you approach gifting today?
If you have children, start with helping your kids learn the value in being the giver, not the receiver. You can teach them prioritization and budgeting by setting limits on prices and encouraging your children to do the hard work and research as well.
Limit the number of gifts per person
I often see people overwhelmed with buying gifts for many people they don’t know well. It’s stressful trying to guess what they want, right? Thankfully we’re in the age of gift cards, but it can feel somewhat impersonal to gift a card. So what all this leads to is many gifts being returned after the holidays, which takes up even more time. I suggest that everyone in the family randomly draws one person’s name to gift. Everyone receives one gift, and there’s less pressure.
In addition, whenever your kids receive many gifts from others, I would suggest setting aside a certain number of gifts to be donated or re-gifted (or sold), so that they understand the concept of not being able to keep everything that they receive, and to look out for those who have less.
Ask the whole family to#optoutside
Ask everyone for the next holiday season to try participating in an activity together that is low-cost. This could be volunteering for another organization, or hiking the nearest nature trail. I guarantee that it would create some memories you can look back on.
Budget, shop with a plan, and shop throughout the year
There are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year where you can get deals. Most retailers have to liquidate inventory after the holidays (January is a great time to shop sales).
As finances can be difficult this time of the year, another way to help is to smooth your spending. The best approach is to understand that you’re going to be buying gifts every year, so back that out of your total budget upfront so you have the cash ready on hand.
Take the total amount you will be spending this year on gifts – divide it by 12, and subtract that total amount from your next year’s monthly budget. This way, you won’t have a money crunch each December.
Finally, shop for gifts throughout the year rather than focusing on the post-Thanksgiving time frame. Stock up on little things during liquidation sales. This reduces the amount of time you have to dedicate to shopping, particularly when life can get super busy.
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