Here we go again, it is almost year end. As much as we love the season, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year. If you aren’t organized, you could miss out on the fun because you are stressing. Here are 7 practices to help you get through the rush and stay on top this Holiday.

7 Best gifting practices for the upcoming rush

1. Know your recipient

Every year you have a list of people that you will be buying for. Beyond knowing the name, also think about their likes, dislikes, and passions. There is nothing worse than the disappointed look when someone opens a gift you’ve given. Try sitting down and brainstorming all the things you know about the person if they are especially hard to buy for.

2. Be prepared

When you know the person and what they like, plan out the gifts that you want to get them. Do a bit of research on what is out there if you are unsure. This will help you to efficiently shop for your loved ones.

3. Buy early

Don’t wait until the last minute to shop. The crowds only continue to grow as the day gets closer, and the stock diminishes. If you make sure to go early you won’t run into crowds of people vying for the last items on the shelf.

4. Get organized

Do a bit of research on each of the items you want and make a game plan of the stores you need to go to. If you plan out before you will save yourself time from back and forth store hopping. When you plan out your store trips, you can also take a look at who has your item for the best price.

5. Make yourself a budget - and stay on it.

Money often slips through our fingers this time of year. Often we get excited to the point where we are not paying attention to the fact that we have gone over our budget. Don’t torture yourself after the New Year with huge debts. Stick to your budget. The best way to do this is through planning and preparation.

6. Don’t take it over-board.

This is supposed to be a time of giving and family. Don’t waste it trying to make it perfect or stressing because you don’t have time. REMEMBER: the holidays are about relationships and family. Gifting is a sign of our affection, but it isn’t the only one. Take some time to unwind and enjoy the moments you have with your loved ones.

7. Think about the wrapping.

Wrapping can be a dread and take up more time than you think. Budget yourself enough time to wrap your gifts so you aren’t wrapping everything the night before. Try and get things that are easy to wrap or even pre-wrapped. This way you can cut back on the time cutting up paper. There are also some gifts that don’t need to be wrapped at all. Things like gift baskets for instance ;) or things that are big. There are many ways to rest during your holiday. Maybe one of those ways is by letting us do all the gifting for you, while you sit back and relax. Whatever your holiday brings, we wish you glad tidings and a very merry time.