6 Tips for Stress Free Holiday Shopping

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – that is, unless you’ve just spent all day standing in lines at department stores while trying to chip away at your holiday shopping. And let’s not forget the half hour you spent circling the parking lot looking for a space that was in the same zip code. It’s enough to turn anyone into a stressed out, exhausted, grumpy ole’ Scrooge.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, with a few stress management techniques and a little planning, this holiday shopping season can be a breeze. And that means you just might have a little extra time, money, and sanity so that you can actually enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

1. Set a holiday gift budget and stick to it. It can be easy to go overboard, especially with so many sales popping up every day. But having a budget ceiling and sticking to it will make those credit card bills a little easier to swallow come January.

2. Make a list of everyone you need to shop for. Include one column for gift ideas, another for budget, and another for what you actually spend. That way if you spend a little extra here, you can make it up somewhere else.

3. Unless you love long lines and packed stores, avoid the malls and department stores, especially during their prime shopping hours. You can often get great deals online with free shipping and various coupon codes. Consider signing up for an online rebate program, like at ebates.com, where you can earn money back for shopping from the comfort of your own home.

4. If you do decide to brave the stores, eat a nutritious, satisfying meal before you head out. And pack a light snack to carry you through. Map out stores you’d like to shop at and avoid excessive browsing. When you’re ready to pay, find an out-of-the-way cashier – usually at the back of the store – to cut down on wait time.

5. The right attitude can make all the difference. If you think of holiday shopping as an unbearable chore, chances are it will be. Compliment a cashier, or share a smile with a fellow shopper. It’ll help lift their spirits, and yours, too.

6. Outsource when you can. Whether you pay a little extra to have a store clerk wrap your gifts or hire someone to come to your home, it’s worth it if it takes some of the stress and pressure off you.

If you do have a hectic shopping experience, treat yourself to a nice hot bath before crawling under the covers. Its therapeutic value is beyond question. But what you might not know is that there are several ways you can enhance the experience, including the following:

• Add baking soda to the bath water if you suffer from dry, itchy skin.
• Bath salts mixed with water help promote healing
• Essential oils are fast gaining in popularity as bath ingredients, too. Take eucalyptus, for example. Adding 15 drops can help fight the symptoms of common cold or sinus headache.

And, of course, if you find there’s not enough hot water for that day-ending bath, contact Your 1 Plumber for the right solution to increase your hot water supply.