While the majority of us want to take each holiday as it comes, there’s no denying preparing for Christmas earlier might be a good idea any year. And this year as consumers continue to battle supply chain issues along with other ripple effects of the pandemic, it’s an even better idea. So here’s my take on 2021 Christmas Shopping.
The Current Status of Shipping
We’re already hearing rumblings of potential delayed shipping when it comes to buying holiday gifts this year. Because of even the rumor of this potential, you’ll likely want to begin shopping a bit earlier, especially if you plan to do most of your shopping online. You’ll also want to consider increases in shipping expenses in your budget. FedEx has already announced upping their rates by 5.9% beginning November 1. The USPS is also anticipating challenges and raising its rates for packages temporarily from October 3 through December 26. Additionally, speed of shipping with the USPS is going to decrease by 30% for packages (most first class mail will be unaffected by this). This year, Free Shipping Day is slated for Tuesday December 14th, 2021. However, odds are good fewer retailers will participate due to these challenges. Bottom line, ship packages earlier and prepare for potential delays.
Cash In Rewards Points
While you may not be ready to wrap gifts or even hit the aisles to begin buying them, you do want to be proactive about scrounging up extra cash to supplement your budget. In particular, it’s the perfect time to begin cashing in any potential rewards points to get gift cards to either give as gifts or use to purchase gifts. Many have a 4-6 week time frame for redemption which means if you cash them in at the beginning of October, they’ll arrive early November to help you launch your journey. I’m working on cashing in mine on apps like Fetch Rewards (My referral code is XP4EV which gets you 4000 points this weekend!) and Shopkick. And I’ll be looking at what I’ve accrued on Swagbucks and Disney Movie Insiders, too.
Set a Budget NOW
Before you shop for anything, you need to set a budget. See how much you spent last year. Consider how much you’ve saved. Create a list of people you want to and need to buy for this year. Determine how much you’d like to spend per person. Begin thinking through other costs like family photos, holiday parties, food, Christmas cards. If you don’t know where to begin, check out my Seven FREE Printable Christmas Budget Forms to think through how much you need to set aside. This might also help you determine whether or not you’ll need to consider picking up extra work and/or selling items to help support your Christmas experience this year.
Create a Smart List
A smart list will further help you target your spending. Begin by brainstorming everyone you need to buy for. Then, go back through that list and add current clothing and shoe sizes. Note any favorite characters or colors. Or ask those individuals for items on their wishlist. Your smart list can be on paper or on your phone. But just be sure you have it ready when you are out and about so that you can reference it easily.
Designate Storage
I know I’ve struggled with this before. And maybe you have, too. You order a gift only to discover you can’t find where you’ve placed it when the big day arrives. So if you are going to start shopping earlier this year, you need to have a designated secret hiding place for gifts. When they arrive, unbox them. Make sure the order is the correct size and item. And then tuck away until December. If you need to, make a note in your smart list about where you’ve placed the gift.
Quit Shopping When You’re Done
One of the primary temptations of shopping early for me is that I continue to shop up until Christmas anyway. If you struggle in this area, too, this year may be a challenge. Know when to say when and quit while you’re ahead. You’ll do better in this area of challenge if you keep money designated for Christmas spending in a separate account.
Prepare to Be Disappointed
This year will likely finish as it started – challenging. It’s a good idea to lower your expectations and even have conversations about how this Christmas may look different. Think outside of the box and consider sharing an experience instead of giving gifts. And realize it won’t be the end of the world if things aren’t exactly what you want. Being flexible will result in a much happier holiday.
Christmas comes every December 25th. Preparing in advance helps us better manage budgets, expectations, emotions, calendars, and more. Get ready to roll with the surprises this year and realize you can have a happy holiday even with shortages and shipping delays.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
