The hysteria of Black Friday, intrusive commercials, endless Christmas trends:you would almost think that excess is part of Christmas. Fortunately, that is not the case, because giving is about more than buying stuff. Keep Christmas shopping fun with these tips.
Plan your time and budget
Nothing makes you more vulnerable to thoughtless spending than a lack of time and budget. Rushing yourself through the shopping streets (or through the web shops) a week before Christmas is a recipe for impulse purchases. And then there are those inviting Christmas atmospheres that suddenly put your rational brain on the back burner, because:lights! glitter! Discount! Therefore, do not wait until the very last moment, but start making a plan in time. Who do you want to buy something for? What do you want to spend? Where and when will you purchase this? This way you not only create an overview, but you also deal with your time, money and energy with respect.
Ignore your FOMO
It is very easy to be tempted by that 50 percent discount that really only applies today. This is a typical case of what is called psychological pricing in marketing. There are all kinds of tricks to give you as a consumer the feeling that you have a great deal in your hands, which you should grab now. Once you decide that this hysteria has no impact on you, you can move on with your own shopping plan. No more Fear Of Missing Out, so.
Don't be afraid to declutter
Buying stuff doesn't make you happy, researchers at the University of Arizona discovered. Consciously buying less stuff makes you feel better, they say. With that in mind, you may wonder whether it is even necessary to give gifts to all your friends and family in the form of products. Especially if you don't know what someone wants, or if you can't find anything nice. So think out of the box when it comes to giving:what feeling do you want to convey? Cooking for someone might as well be a great gift. But also a donation to someone's favorite charity, an e-book, a subscription to a music service or an online course. Don't be afraid to give someone an experience instead of a tangible object.
Don't buy gifts
Christmas is now a lot more commercial than it used to be, and you would think that excess is the new norm. Therefore live according to your own Christmas spirit and leave all peripheral matters for what they are. After all, the purpose of a holiday is to be together, have fun and relax, whenever possible. So have guts and ask your friends and family whether Christmas gifts are really necessary, or whether you can also be very satisfied with a cheese fondue and a game of 30 Seconds.
Text:Emma Verweij
