Let’s play a game. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say ‘Christmas’ or ‘Holiday season’? Carols, Christmas trees, lights, cakes, snow, Santa Claus, an ex? I’ll tell you what comes to mine. It’s AAAARRRGGGHHH! Yes, that’s my frustration over Buying Holiday Gifts. Why does a holiday have to be so stressful?
As per a recent biometric study jointly conducted by eBay and emotion technology company Lightwave, 88% of participants experienced Tachycardia — a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute—during their holiday shopping spree.
The study also revealed that shoppers lost interest in shopping within 32 minutes.
Perfect Present + Best Prices = Your Mantra This X-Mas
This one’s for the early birds. When you start shopping early, you have more time to find the perfect gift that fits your budget. However, if you’re worried that the prices may drop during the Black Friday or other pre-Christmas sales, just find out the return policy before you buy.
Tip: While most brick-and-motor shops offer a 30-day window for a refund, buying online will legally give you 14 days to return anything.
Gift Experience, Not Things
If you’re buying a gift for someone, it’s probably you love the person and care for their happiness. Why not put them on the direct route to happiness? Instead of things like gadgets that will be less exciting by the next Christmas, gift them an experience that they will cherish – a concert ticket, dancing lessons, sporting event, painting classes or even the fun rides in amusement parks.
American Research Group reports Americans planned to spend an average of $882 on holiday gifts this year.
National Retail Federation estimates that 20% of total annual retail sales are related to the winter holidays.
Love Should Not be Costly
A study by Lara Aknin and colleagues reveals that while most respondents predicted that spending more money on gifts would give them more enjoyment, it turned out to be untrue. No matter how they spent, $5 or $25, the amount of satisfaction was the same. So think of buying smaller presents for more people this season and you’ll earn more happiness and some good Karma too!
Re-gifting isn’t rude
An uncle of mine had a closet full of ‘re-gifts’ because he didn’t believe it throwing away things, especially gifts. He said, “Just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean someone else won’t.” You don’t have to feel guilty of ‘recycling’ the gifts because it’s the thought that counts. Scented candles, self-help books, beach towels, tubs of Aloe Vera gels, oversized t-shirts – don’t stock them up; just re-gift to someone who might like them.
Present Perfect Exists, Perfect Present Doesn’t
If you’re unable to think of a perfect gift for everyone on your list, don’t worry about it. There isn’t such a thing as perfect present. Like they say, it’s the thought that matters.
Delegate the Task to Virtual Assistant – Save Time, Savor Moments
If you’re pressed for time or have run out of ideas or have used up your patience trying to buy 10 different gifts, virtual assistant is a God sent. Apart from making gift suggestions, placing orders, tracking the shipments and keeping you informed of the status, a virtual assistant can free up your time and help you maintain work life balance.
Holidays are not about gifts, they’re about people. Five years down the line, not many will remember what you gifted them but they’ll remember how they had a great time with you. Time is the most precious gift you could give.
Click here to gift a one-month assistant to someone you care about and let them take it easy…
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