By Dave Ulacia

The holidays are a lot of fun, but they can be a lot of stress as well. If you’re like most of us, you expect a lot of yourself this time of year. Between holiday parties, baking, greeting cards with family photos, and trying to find the perfect gifts for the people you care about, it’s hard to find time to relax and enjoy the season.

Here are a few suggestions to help you reduce shopping stress and add a little more magic to this most wonderful time of the year.

Know Your Budget and Stick to It
Much of the stress of the holiday season comes from feeling pressured to buy bigger and better gifts for those we love, even if this puts us in debt. It’s tempting to show someone how much you love them by demonstrating how much you’re willing to spend. Don’t do it. Instead, determine what you can comfortably spend, make a budget, and stick with it. Staying within a budget can force you to be more creative and often leads to more thoughtful gifts.

Be Efficient
Consolidate your shopping into one or two trips to save time and stress. While it's fun to take long, leisurely days shopping and getting what strikes your fancy, this can add stress to holiday shopping, when you have so many purchases to make in such a limited amount of time. It's simpler to enjoy the shopping while you're doing it, get it out of the way, and enjoy doing other things once you're done.

Shop Fewer Stores
Shopping at fewer stores saves time and hassle. You could save money too. Many merchants, including FranklinCovey Products, offer increased discounts for higher priced purchases. So the more you purchase from the same merchant, the greater the savings.

The Earlier, The Better
Don’t postpone holiday shopping until the last minute. If you shop earlier, you'll have a better selection of gift ideas to choose from, you won't get stuck in the last-minute rush at the malls and the post office, and you'll be able to enjoy being done with your holiday responsibilities so you can just enjoy the season. Earlier in the day is also better. Shopping in the morning, when at all possible, will help you avoid crowds, find displays in better order, and enjoy a calmer atmosphere.

Consider Shopping Online
You can find many terrific holiday gifts right at your computer—in your pajamas. Online shopping is a fast, simple, and efficient way to get the bulk of your shopping done at once. Plus, you’ll save yourself the hassle of long lines and crowded parking garages. Sometimes you can save time by having your gifts wrapped and delivered directly to your recipient’s home.

Get Gift Cards
If you really need things to be simple, gift cards and certificates are a great option. You can find gift cards for everything from movies to massages, and they're quick to buy and easy to send. They still offer a great, thoughtful gift for your loved ones, but make the shopping much simpler for you.

Bring Your Post Office to Your Home
Rather than lugging all of your gifts to the post office and standing in line, just get them to come to you! Visit the USPS website to find out how easy it is to get a postal carrier to come to your door, pick up your packages, and deliver them for you.

Thanks Dave! Did you enjoy this article? Give it a cheer!