2022 has been a crazy year for a lot of us, and it looks like it's shaping up to get even crazy as we enter into the holiday season. A lot of companies have already forecasted that they will be sold out of their gifts by the time Christmas rolls around. Others have mentioned that they will need to charge different prices to deal with the high demand and low supply of goods.
To make sure you successfully navigate this 2022 holiday season, we have compiled a list of 4 simple tips that are sure to make your experience less stressful!
Buy Your Gifts Early
This year it will be VERY important for you to get all of your holiday shopping out of the way ASAP! Chances are, if you try to do your shopping the week before Christmas, you are going to be out of luck. They always say, "The early bird gets the worm" and that statement has never been more true. The longer you wait to start your shopping, the less likely it will be that you check off your entire list!
Consider Gift Cards or Vouchers
Certain items will just be plain impossible to find this season. However, it doesn't necessarily mean the holiday season will be ruined. A great alternative to the actual gift itself is a gift card to buy that gift in the future, probably right after the holiday season when things calm down!
The great thing about gift cards is you can buy them whenever you want, without having to worry about them being in stock or not. Companies will always have gift cards ready, and some will even send your gift card through email, so you can have it instantly! This will probably be what the late shoppers will end up doing if I had to guess.
Be Aware of Shipping Costs
The United States Postal Service, along with a lot of other major postal companies, have already issued a notice that shipping costs are going to increase as we get further into the holiday season. Shipping times may also take longer than usual! This is another reason to start your shopping early. Right now, shipping costs are higher than normal due to the shortage of staff on hand, but it's only going to get worse from here!
Be Flexible
This holiday season will be a test for many shoppers. Many will not check off every item on their list. It will be important for customers to have a back up plan for their back up plan. The less flexible you are regarding specific brands and popular products, the more you may have to pay, if you can find the items at all.