How to Navigate All Things Christmas 2020
Updated: Dec 21, 2020
Okay, so we can all admit 2020 has been one hell of a year; but we aren’t going to let that crush our Christmas spirit, right?! First fun fact about me....Christmas has always been my all time favorite holiday. I have so many fond memories of Christmas growing up and I dream about creating the same memories for my family. One of my favorite memories is coming home to two boxes being under the tree: one puppy and one kitten; two of things my sister and I had been BEGGING for.
I am un-apologetically the Buddy the Elf of my friends and family. I get a thrill from thinking of gift ideas for everyone and I absolutely love watching them open it. I am the typical meme you see on Facebook “No one: Me: You want your gift now?”.
With this year being as crazy as it is, online shopping is definitely how most people will be doing their Christmas shopping and I’m going to tell you all my tips/tricks on how to make this Christmas just as great (if not better) than the last.
So many people have been affected financially by this pandemic, and that alone can take the happiness away from Christmas...but it doesn’t have to. As I get older, I find that the small thoughtful gifts mean more than any expensive one. Last year I went through the steps to getting my licenses to be able to facilitate trades in the stock market and when I did my first trade I texted my mom to tell her. Last Christmas, she had my first trade details etched on glass and framed. That gift was my favorite of the year and it was because it came from the heart. She kept saying things like "this year isn't as much as it has been", but it was hands down my favorite Christmas yet. So mom, when you read this, thank you.
So how can you make your loved ones happy this year? Be thoughtful. Think of people’s passions. Think of things that people will know right off the bat the amount of thought that had to go into the gift, and the price all of a sudden will never matter again. Here is an example: your sister loves to draw and art is her passion. A personalized case for her pencils is something that will let her know you really thought about her when shopping. I personally LOVE Etsy. I love supporting small businesses and having something personalized is the perfect solution to a smaller budget this year. Remember, one small thoughtful gift will make a bigger impact than multiple expensive gifts. Many online retailers are doing HUGE sales this year, so make sure you do your research and shop around!!
Here is my step-by-step process of finding the perfect gift for someone and staying within budget:
Set a realistic budget for each person you have to shop for. I am that psycho who loves excel spreadsheets and will list out every person with my ideas for them.
Think of something that your loved one has mentioned wanting or think of something they would love (preferably personalized so they know you specifically thought of them). If you are having a hard time thinking of something, literally GOOGLE “gift ideas for….” Yes even I (the master of gift giving) will resort to good ‘ole Google for help.
Open that laptop or unlock that phone and search the item you are thinking of. I personally live on the shopping tab of Google, and will see the range of prices on whatever I am looking at. Find one you like in the budget you set for that person.
Look up coupon codes! So many websites now list out retailer’s coupon codes for you, use them! I have the honey and retailmenot plug-ins on my browser. 10/10 recommend.
Order the gift and stalk the tracking every minute of the day until it shows up at your door. Yes, I know we all do it.
Now the last thing to make that gift perfect? WRAPPING! Think of how you would feel if someone handed you a beautifully wrapped present. Your first reaction is, “WOW this is beautiful!” That emotion is the first impression of your gift; so add that on top of a thoughtful gift? CHRISTMAS WIN! Christmas Tree Shop, Dollar Tree, Walmart, Job Lot, Michael’s. All of these stores have great deals on wrapping paper and bows/ribbon. I am the nut job who loves to wrap things PERFECTLY (with army corners) and I am a sucker for a ribbon. If you don’t know how to wrap a ribbon on a gift….Youtube videos! Here is what the presents under our tree (with the exception of the gifts Santa brings my Stepdaughter Mia since we all know he doesn’t arrive until December 25):
The moral of this Christmas story? We all know how rough this year was for everyone so throw the guilt of a smaller budget out the window. Christmas is our last chance to turn this year around, and I know for sure that if you follow these ideas of finding a thoughtful gift, your loved ones will carry that happiness into 2021. DON’T hesitate to head on over to the Contact Me section of the blog and ask for advice on what to get someone! I wish you all the happiness and luck this Christmas season! Be merry and be safe!