One of my all-time favorite ways to Christmas shop, is online.
No crowds, no parking problems, no pressure, no kids begging for this or that, you won't lose your wallet, or forget your bags, run out of gas, need to stop for lunch, and everything gets delivered to your door.
What's not to love?
Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time for the postie to get your goods to you.
No crowds, no parking problems, no pressure, no kids begging for this or that, you won't lose your wallet, or forget your bags, run out of gas, need to stop for lunch, and everything gets delivered to your door.
What's not to love?
Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time for the postie to get your goods to you.
Where to shop?
Amazon.com - good for just about everything
eBay.com - good for just about anything
Etsy.com - good for hand crafted and one of a kind items
Major chain stores - many large chain stores have an online presence
These are the 3 big ones that come immediately to mind, but really, all you need to do is Google your chosen product and a list of websites that sell it will show up.
Things to keep in mind when Christmas shopping online
Shipping costs: for obvious reasons
Shipping time: make sure you give things time to arrive before Christmas.
Warranties: this is important especially if buying ahead of time. Make sure warranties will still be valid once Christmas has been and gone.
Return policy: if the product that arrives is defective, you need to be able to return it. If is opened for the first time on Christmas morning and then found to be defective, you still need to be able to return it.
Other online places to keep your eye on...
Freecycle.org: Through Freecycle you may be able to find things that suit. Some people are not comfortable giving (or receiving) second hand goods, but are your kids really going to care if the slide you gave them is brand new from the box, once it's set up in the front yard? Look for freecycle in your area.
Craigslist: Another way you may be able to find what you're after is on Craigslist. Craigslist does not operate in every country though, so check to see if it's available in your area.
Facebook: Sometimes groups of friends will set up a facebook just for selling and swapping, or having an online garage sale.
Start planning now
Leaving it all till the last minute is the most stressful thing you can do, so get moving...!
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