Christmas is a special time spent making memories and having fun with our loved ones, however, it’s easy to get caught up with the pre-holiday rush. If you don’t get ahead on your list, you may find yourself stressed, exhausted, and wishing for the holidays to be over. With your holiday shopping taken care of, you'll be able to relax and enjoy the season.

We’ve all been guilty of last-minute holiday shopping. When you run to the mall, dreading the long lines, battle with crowds, and grabbing anything you can just so that you’ll have something wrapped up for everyone on your list. While we’re quite used to the holiday rush, gift shopping early is the way to go. And while it may still seem a bit early to check people off your list, this is a great time to think ahead.

Here are a few reasons why you should start shopping early:

• You will have ample time to choose the best gifts

Making rush decisions never produce great outcomes. This is the same in gift-giving. You want to show the people you love how much you appreciate them by giving them the best, and shopping early allows you to consider what your friends and family might genuinely want and enjoy. 

• Your items will arrive on time

Shipping time takes longer during the holidays, as more people opt to buy their gifts online to avoid the crowds. The pandemic is also causing disruptions in every part of the manufacturing process and supply chain which causes delays in the production and delivery of products. Shopping early gives you time allowance for delays that may be encountered after placing your orders.

• Shopping early saves you money

As the holidays get nearer, the prices of goods get higher. By shopping early, you’ll have more time to shop around and compare prices online and in-store, maybe even find great deals around the corner. You’ll be able to budget better instead of panic buying and spending way beyond your price point on last-minute gifts. 

• You will have more time to plan other things

Let’s face it, shopping isn’t the only stressful thing we have to do during Christmas time. We have food to prepare, a house to decorate, greeting cards to send, parties to attend, and so on. So you don’t want to be stuck in a pile of the to-do list. Getting your gifts early means you will have more time to dedicate to other things without spreading yourself thin. 

• Less stress means a Merrier Christmas

Holiday shopping can be exciting, but it isn’t always easy. One of the disadvantages of waiting until the end to do everything is that you will have very little time to enjoy the season. Christmas is supposed to be fun, not stressful. You want to enjoy the holiday with the people near and dear to you and not sit on the corner thinking about how tired you are from beating the rush. 

So make a list, plan ahead and SHOP NOW!