Financial Blog

A Crammer’s Guide to Last-Minute Holiday Shopping

By: Pia Del Mundo | November 20, 2017

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If you’ve dropped by a mall recently, you might have noticed something different. An air of excitement puts you in the mood to shop. A sea of green, red and yellow lights line the entrance. Fancy garlands drape the interiors, and festive music (courtesy of Buble, Carey, and Chan) sets the mood. It’s Christmas season again!

Frantically, you check the calendar only to realize that you have a few days left to shop. Considering that it’s December, you are in big trouble.

But don’t worry, we’re here to help you plan a one-day shopping itinerary to cram a month’s worth of mall time. It won’t be stress-free but we can guarantee that it will be fun, fast, and efficient.

The Day Before

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

When it comes to war, these words have extra weight. And make no mistake, you are–in a way–going to war. Before the madness, dedicate a day to map out your battle strategy. Start by listing down the names of people you’re giving gifts to. A wish list will help you know how much you’ll end up spending for the day.

Oh, and don’t forget to set the battlefield. Determine the mall, the time and day you’re going, and even your commute route. Knowing these will make your shopping day smoother. We recommend doing it on a weekday morning (you may need to take a leave from the office) at a mall nearest to you. The size of the mall doesn’t matter as much as proximity especially if you’re a heavy shopper.

Shopping Day

Eat a heavy breakfast, put on your comfy clothes and sneakers, and head out. It’s time.

This is what you came for. When you enter the mall, pull out your shopping list and stick to it. Snap decisions are the bane of shoppers. If you see something you like that’s not on your list, note it down and leave it for another day. The key to success is being strict, even if it’s only for a day.

First thing, last thing. Buy the least expensive gifts first, then move on to more expensive ones. If you splurge your cash on a big purchase, you might not have enough left for smaller ones.

Don’t rush things. In other words, take your time. You’ve already planned out your route and checklist. Unless you’re shopping at night, you should take it slow and easy. This will minimize overlooked gifts and will give you more time for the next tip.

Search for deals and discounts. Hunt them like a hungry hound. If you think that an item has stocks in many stores, visit them all first. Do not, I repeat, do not buy the first item you see, unless it’s the last one and you know that it’s rare. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of debit/credit card deals. Some of them might be smaller compared to in-store discounts but they do add up.

Quick-fire tips:

Shop alone. You’re more likely to spend extra with a companion.
Wear headphones. Listen to heart-pumping music to get you going (while drowning out those enticing sales pitches).
Eat a heavy meal before going to the mall.
Head to the department store basement cashiers to skip long lines.
Bring eco bags.
Wrap the gifts at home.
Missed an item? Shop for it online.
Enjoy a nice bottle of wine when the day is over. If you’ve made it this far, you deserve it.

That wasn’t so hard, right? You got a lot done in one day! You saved time, money, and minimized stress from what could’ve been a frantic last-minute ordeal. Just make sure to keep those gifts hidden until Christmas. Good luck, and happy shopping!

Financial Blog

A Crammer’s Guide to Last-Minute Holiday Shopping

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