Mall
marauders and
couch potatoes alike will find no-nonsense tactics for beating the
crowds, the frenzy, and the frustration of tracking down the perfect
gift in the shopping tips below.
dropping
the shopping
Don't shop 'til you
drop. Just drop, and then shop. With Internet sites and mail-order catalogs for every conceivable
lifestyle, interest, hobby, and profession, there is no need to ever
leave your easy chair to gift shop. Shopping the Internet is a great way to
find unique gift items and to save time. And most mail order businesses have
toll-free 24-hour phone service and offer such timesaving services as
gift wrapping, express shipping, and gift certificates.
buyer
beware
When comparing
prices, be sure you are comparing apples to apples, i.e., brand name,
model number, and options. Scan newspaper ads, the Internet, catalogs, television
commercials, and direct-mail ads for comparative pricing information.
no
call waiting
Shop by phone, when
possible. This is particularly helpful if you're looking for a specific
item. Have brand names, sizes, model numbers, colors, and descriptions
ready for the salesperson.
going
solo
When time is of the
essence, shop alone. Otherwise you might spend valuable time waiting for
others or going to stores not on your list. If you enjoy shopping with a
friend, do so when you have time to browse and relax.
beating
the rush hour
In a hurry? Take
advantage of such in-store services as personal shoppers, gift wrapping,
delivery, and shipping.
back
to last-minute gifts
the
second time around
Tag sales, flea
markets, rummage sales and garage sales are great places to find unique
and inexpensive items for gift giving. When giving secondhand gifts,
attach a thoughtful note, such as, "You came to mind when I found
this cobalt vase at a neighbor's garage sale. I hope it's perfect for
your collection."
back
to inexpensive gifts
that's
bazaar
Bazaars
and craft fairs are great places to shop for one-of-a-kind, handmade
gifts. Many are sponsored by school, church, and community groups with
profits going to a worthy cause.
back
to personalized gifts
off-the-beaten
path
Try
these alternatives to mall shopping.
-
Community bulletin boards
-
Adult education programs
-
The Yellow Pages
-
Catalogs
-
Magazines
-
Newspaper ads
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Weekend paper classifieds
-
City magazines
-
Parks and recreation departments
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Country clubs
-
Public libraries
-
Museum gift shops and catalogs
age-old
advice
Parenting magazines
and books are filled with advice about age- and developmentally
appropriate toys and games for children.
classic
favorites
Use your intuition
when selecting gifts for children. Many of the things that brought you
pleasure as a child are still hits with kids today.
parental
guidance
Parents are great
sources of information about children's preferences. They can tell you
whether six-year-old Michael prefers computer games or sports equipment,
or which coin nine-year-old Stephanie wants to add to her collection.
shopping
to learn
Teacher supply
stores are an excellent place to find educational presents for preschool
and school-age children.
gift
shopping with children
The time you spend
gift shopping with your children is the perfect time to teach them to be
creative gift givers and to guide them through the steps of choosing
appropriate and thoughtful gifts within their budget.
-
Schedule a time for shopping to allow the child time to
think about the gifts he or she might wish to give.
-
Review the budget before you shop.
-
Shop for short periods.
-
Shop with one child at a time, if possible.
-
Make suggestions to help the child—i.e., "Do you
think daddy would prefer the shower massager or the stadium
blanket?" back to gifts for
children
gift
shopping 101
Go to a mall with
your spouse or significant other. Determine a time and spending limit to
buy gifts for one another. Meet and exchange your finds in the mall or
take them home and wrap them to be opened later. Observe your partner's
responses as he or she opens your gifts. This will provide valuable
feedback for future gift giving.
my
man needs help!
When it comes to
holiday gift shopping, one in five women think their significant other
really needs a lot of help.
—Source: Spiegel
Art of Giving Survey
do
you fit the profile?
Most Americans put
themselves into one or more of six shopper profiles.
-
seventy-four
percent say they are "Risk Takers," buying gifts
people haven't asked for, but which they think will please the
recipient.
-
sixty-seven
percent say they are "Planners," making lists and
selecting the most appropriate gifts.
-
thirty-four
percent admit to being "Just-Give-Them-What-They-Want
Shoppers," giving items for which others have asked.
-
twenty-one
percent admit to being "Last-minute Shoppers,"
buying whatever they can lay their hands on as time runs out.
-
sixteen
percent own up to being "Grabbers," grabbing the
first gift that catches their eye.
-
seven
percent say they are "Same-Gift-Every-Year Givers,"
giving the same thing each year.
Source: Spiegel Art
of Giving Survey
where today's
brides and grooms register
There
are many alternatives to the department store when it comes to
registering for wedding gifts. Here are just a few:
-
Hardware stores
-
Music stores
-
Travel agencies
-
Sports stores
-
Book stores
-
Computer stores
-
Audio/video stores
-
Camera stores
-
Museums
-
Art galleries
-
Office stores
-
Cookware stores
-
Furniture stores
house,
farm, and garden
"In
the quiet little valley where we live, engaged couples register at the
local implement store. Cash contributions by neighboring townsfolk are
used to purchase sundry items for use around the house and farm." —Emily B.
back to
wedding registries
gift
certificate nirvana
For gift
certificates from the nation's finest merchants, see
www.800giftcertificate.com on the Internet where you can find gift
certificates for travel, apparel, sporting goods, home furnishings,
jewelry, bath products, flowers, and much more.
back to gift certificates
shopping's
a song
A trip with the
recipient to a music store would give you a great deal of insight into
his or her musical tastes and wishes.
back
to gifts for music lovers
the
art of shopping
Museum gift shops
make easy work of selecting gifts for those interested in the museum's
subject. Reproductions of manuscripts, art, and artifacts from the
museum's collections can often be found in the museum's gift shop or
catalog. Interesting coffee table books, posters, stationery, clothing,
and accessory items might also be found.
back
to gifts for arts lovers
be
a sport
Shop the Internet
for gifts to sports fans. A simple search by the name of a favorite
sport, team, or player will result in hundreds of gift
possibilities—from signed trading cards to team-logo clothing and
more. back to gifts for sports fans
all
things jewish
Synagogue gift shops
and Jewish bookstores are good places to look for bar/bat mitzvah gifts.
Israel Connection also features Jewish gifts and books. Call:
800/722-5290.
back
to bar/bat mitzvah presents |
back
to hanukkah presents
the
big payoff
Keep
careful track of credit card spending during the holidays. It takes an
average of six months for consumers to pay off holiday credit-card
purchases. —Source: American Bankers Association
take
note
Be
sure to keep notes about gift successes and gift flops. Record what the
recipient says when he opens the gift and jot down follow-up comments he
makes in reference to the gift.
Want
to see where you can find
additional
shopping tips?
Have
any shopping tips you'd
like to share?