Taking the Stress Out of Christmas Shopping | Sponsored

If you're like me then 'actual Christmas' (as in Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day) is always great, it's just the build up that can get a bit stressful! These are my top tips for staying calm when it comes to Christmas shopping, plus how to plan your present-buying with Shoptagr.


1. Get the essentials as soon as possible

There's just stuff you will always need: cards, tags, wrapping paper - you know what I mean! Card shops are always absolutely rammed around Christmas time so if you want to avoid the snaking queue in Card Factory (whilst sweating it out in your winter coat...) then try to get this part over with as soon as possible because it's one of the few things you probably will want to do in the shops as opposed to online. Or better yet, see if you have any left over from last year - I know I almost always buy too much wrapping paper so tend to keep it for next time.

2. Head online 

For virtually everything else, I personally think online is the way to go. I try to either order to my workplace (to avoid the endless 'sorry we missed you' cards) or to click and collect, because I can go in-store at a time I know it won't be so busy. I don't live in a big city any more, so whilst my town has all the main shops I need, they don't have the full range of products so click and collect is a great option. If you do live in the city then it still saves you having to rush around to get it all done in your lunch time - you can just collect your packages as and when it's convenient for you.

3. Get organised with Shoptagr

I pretty much never go Christmas shopping without a list and this year the free app Shoptagr has been a life-saver. You can use it on a desktop however I've been loving it for mobile especially, as I always seem to get ideas when I'm out and about! All you have to do is download the app and install the extension, which takes about 30 seconds (and the app shows you exactly how to do it on your browser and operating system). The app is very simple and intuitive to use, plus I like the clean, stylish interface. Once installed, it creates a universal wish list button so all you have to do is browse your favourite website and hit the button to save items, like I've shown below. It will automatically save them to 'my items' but you can also create lists to sort the products.

The app doesn't just let you save items to 'my items' and to specific lists you've created, but it lets you know if an item you saved has been reduced, is out of stock or is low in stock (you can enable notifications for this too). If you set up a Christmas Gift list then this is so handy because it means that you can save money when you can see there's been a reduction on an item you were already going to buy for someone. Also if there's a really important gift that's just become 'low in stock', you can snap it up before it goes.

It's also a great way to create your own list of products you'd like for Christmas that you can share with loved ones via social media, email or Whatsapp. For fashion items, you can also specify which size you want, which is handy for the stock updates (if you're buying for yourself) or for anyone looking to buy you a gift. I often find myself refreshing pages on ASOS, waiting for a product to come back in stock in my size, however now I can just add it to my list and get notified (so I can get in there fast) when it's available again.

This app is also going to be so handy when the Boxing Day sales come around because I try to avoid buying anything on sale that I wouldn't have bought if it wasn't reduced. The Shoptagr app lets you know when an item on your list has gone on sale, so if you have products you really want saved on the app you can snap them up if they're then reduced (without the temptation of buying a load of other stuff 'because it's only £15'!) So, even if you're ridiculously organised and have your Christmas shopping all done then it's still worth checking out the app here for the sales!


4. Don't wait until the last minute

Every Christmas a friend, family member or work colleague of mine ends up in a flap over a present not arriving on time. I'd like to think this isn't brand new information for anyone but (wait for it...): Christmas is on the 25th of December every year! It isn't a surprise thing you have to do! I aim to get all of my Christmas shopping done for mid-December. It's pretty much a given than online stores might be slower in dispatching orders around this time of year and that shops regularly sell out of much-sought-after gifts. Yet every year, someone I know is still there on the 23rd of December hoping their next day delivery shows up ok! Therefore, do yourself a favour and allow some leeway. Items can show up damaged, your order could be incorrect or the shops might be sold out of what you want if you show up on the 24th. There's no better feeling than that smug satisfaction of knowing all your presents have been bought, wrapped and are ready and waiting by the 15th!

5. If you need to go to the shops, get there early (or late...)

At this time of the year, the shops tend to operate at extended hours, so if you can only visit them in person on the weekend then I'd suggest biting the bullet and going either at 8am or 8pm to try and beat the rush. I'm not saying it won't be busy but it will be far more bearable!

What are your top tips for a stress-free Christmas shopping experience?

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*DISCLOSURE
THIS POST CONTAINS ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FOR SHOPTAGR. 
ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. 

PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.