Last minute Christmas shopping? Our Essential Guide to get it done in Comfort!

Ho Ho Ho everyone,

Now we are only 5 more sleeps to Santa’s arrival, and if you’re a bit of a Last minute Lucy (or Larry)…then we have our 12 Top Tips to help you get those gifts with ease.

 

I had my Christmas shopping done in August…it’s what you expect from someone writing a blog on organisation, right? ….I am, of course, not serious…I only got it done yesterday. Where do you think the inspiration for this post came from!

I am totally one of those people that swear to get it done in early November and then all of a sudden it’s one week to Christmas.

This year I had planned on doing more online shopping, but alas, the weeks flew by quicker than Santa’s reindeer…so even that option was out for me.

But once I decide to get it done, I’m in and out of the shops in one morning. So I have over the years developed a way of getting my shopping done quickly and with minimal stress. I used to be running from one shop to the next, arms sore from my handbag and the gift bags. Too warm from the coat I had on, and too hungry by mid morning. Now I have a system. Here are the 12 things I do to make sure I get everything I need, quickly and comfortably.

 

1. Pick a full morning to this. No evening shopping, no afternoon…a morning. It’s quieter and no queues.
2. Get up really early. Make sure that you’re standing at your first shop before the doors are opened.
3. Have a breakfast before you leave the house…but don’t let making it get in the way of you getting into town early. We’ve factored in a pit stop later anyway! Alternatively, get yourself into town and eat in there – but don’t delay!
4. Use public transport. No car, no struggling through rush hour traffic, no struggle to find parking, and it costs less than car park fees.
5. Wear a good pair of runners and layers.
6. Don’t wear your big Winter coat…a good warm jacket will do for the morning.
7. Have a large tote – this tote will carry any hats, gloves, layers of clothes that may need to come off as you get warmer running around. It also carries large gifts and heavy gifts and keeps them hidden if you’re afraid of them being stolen in the crowds.
8. Have nothing in this tote but your shopping list, phone, tissues and wallet. This tote and this morning isn’t for fashion… this is exercise!
9. Schedule in a pit stop – enjoy the christmas atmosphere with a cuppa and a pain au chocolat!
10. Buy wrapping paper last – it’s bulky and annoying so you want to be on the home stretch when you get it.
11. Most importantly create a shop map! Know exactly where you’re going and have an idea of what you’re getting. First write down everyone you need a gift for. Beside it write your ideas down. Then, write down the shops where you can get these gifts. Finally, re-write these shops and form a map. Which shop do you hit first once off the bus or train? Which shop is closest to the cafe for your pit-stop? And which shop has the wrapping paper as this will be the last shop before you head for the bus. Follow the map and get each gift along the way. If you’re unsure whether you’ll settle upon the idea when you get to the shop, create your map baring this in mind. The aim is to reduce the amount of walking back and forth as possible. No looping if you can avoid it!
12. Get out and home before lunchtime…! Job done!

 

 

Happy Organising!