It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is coming fast, and that means the yearly rush to find the perfect gifts. But here’s a secret: the key to avoiding holiday chaos and keeping your budget in check is to start your shopping early. I’m talking waaaay before the turkey hits the table. Not only does early shopping save you some stress, it also helps you score deals, avoid last-minute price hikes, and ensures you’ll be sipping hot cocoa (or sleeping) while others are battling crowds in the early morning hours.
So grab your list, pour yourself some eggnog, and check out these holiday shopping hacks that prove early birds really do get the best deals!
1. Take advantage of pre-holiday sales
The holiday season isn’t just about Black Friday and Cyber Monday anymore. Retailers start offering discounts long before the calendar hits November, and savvy shoppers know to jump on those early deals. Whether it’s Labor Day, Veterans Day, or random flash sales in September and October, you can snag gifts for everyone on your list at a discount before the official holiday shopping season even begins.
Hack: Sign up for email alerts from your favorite stores. They likely offer exclusive deals or early access to sales for subscribers, and you’ll be the first to know when pre-holiday promotions drop.
Brigit tip: Don’t forget about Amazon Prime Day in October! You can grab electronics, gadgets, and household gifts for a fraction of their regular prices.
2. Avoid the shipping delays and stock shortages
We’ve all been there—adding the perfect gift to your cart only to be met with “out of stock” or “won’t arrive until after the holidays.” Talk about a buzzkill! When you shop early, you avoid the inventory issues that often pop up as the holidays draw near. Plus, you won’t be left biting your nails over shipping delays that could cause your gifts to arrive too late.
Hack: As soon as you start seeing items on sale that you think would make great gifts, grab them. Shopping early means you’re less likely to run into “sold out” signs or outrageous shipping fees as the big holidays approach.
Brigit tip: If you find the perfect gift but aren’t sure it’s the best deal, use a price tracker app like Honey or CamelCamelCamel to monitor price fluctuations. You can set alerts, and if the price drops later, you’ll know whether to buy or hold off.
3. Budget-friendly planning
Holiday shopping can hit your wallet hard if you wait until the last minute and buy everything in one go. Starting early allows you to spread out the spending over several months, making it easier to stay within your budget without feeling like you’ve blown all your cash in December. Plus, you’ll have time to shop around and compare prices instead of settling for what’s available at the last second.
Hack: Make a holiday gift budget and track it! Put together a list of everyone you need to buy for and check it twice (wait no, only Santa has to do that part), assign a spending limit for each person, and stick to it. That’ll prevent the dreaded January bank account shock.
Brigit tip: Use the envelope method or a holiday-specific savings app to sock away a little bit of cash each week or month. By the time the holidays roll around, you’ll have saved up without feeling the crunch all at once.
4. Score better deals by watching price drops
When you shop early, you get the luxury of time, and with time comes the chance to hunt for deals and discounts. Many stores have generous return policies or price adjustment guarantees. This usually means if you buy an item early and the price drops closer to the holidays, you can request a refund for the difference. Some stores even automatically adjust prices if the item goes on sale after you’ve purchased it!
Hack: Keep track of where you buy each gift, and make note of return policies or price adjustment windows. If you see the price drop, don’t hesitate to request a refund for the difference.
Brigit tip: Shopping with credit cards that offer price protection is a bonus. Some cards will refund you the difference if an item’s price drops within a certain period after your purchase.
5. Customize gifts without the rush
If you want to go the extra mile and give personalized or customized gifts, early shopping is a must. Whether you’re ordering monogrammed items, custom photo books, or DIYing a craft project, these types of gifts take time. Shopping early gives you plenty of time to ensure everything turns out just right—and you won’t be panicking about deadlines.
Hack: Websites like Etsy and custom retailers often get flooded with orders as the holidays approach, so ordering early ensures you won’t be scrambling to meet shipping deadlines or paying extra for rush orders.
Brigit tip: If you’re planning DIY gifts, starting early means you can take your time gathering materials (on sale!) and crafting gifts that truly feel thoughtful and personalized.
6. Use layaway or payment plans
Many retailers offer layaway or payment plan options during the holiday season. By starting your shopping early, you can take advantage of these programs to spread out your payments over time, interest-free. This is an easy way to avoid credit card debt or overspending in December. Layaway also locks in current prices, so you don’t have to worry about inflation driving up costs closer to the holidays.
Hack: Check with stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy to see if they offer layaway programs or interest-free installment plans. These options give you flexibility to make payments without the pressure of a huge upfront cost.
Brigit tip: Many payment apps like Klarna or Afterpay let you split your purchase into smaller installments. Just be mindful of the payment schedule to avoid late fees!
7. Save on wrapping and decorations
One of the easiest ways to get ahead of the holiday game? Snagging wrapping paper, cards, and decorations before the holiday rush. Stores like Target, Walmart, and dollar stores begin stocking festive supplies early, and prices can often be lower before the holiday markups kick in. Plus, you’ll have first dibs on the cutest designs and avoid the panic of wrapping gifts the night before the big day.
Hack: Hit the clearance section at the end of the year for the ultimate deals on wrapping supplies, gift bags, and bows. You can score next year’s stash at up to 90% off!
Brigit tip: Reusable gift bags, fabric wraps, or decorative baskets are a great alternative to traditional wrapping paper and are both eco-friendly and cost-effective in the long run.
