7 tips for Smart Christmas Shopping 2021
by Larissa Dávila
Shopping, shopping and more shopping. This past Black Friday and Cyber Monday was a return to pre pandemic seasons. Millions of people ventured out to hunt for gifts for this holiday, yet you have to ask yourself is it smart to shop amidst the frenzy of the season? Here are a few suggestions for shopping smart this time of year.
7 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR BUDGET IN CHECK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
1/ MAKE A LIST
Make a list of who you should give a gift to and be sure to leave off only the people who are strictly necessary, possibly because they are close family, valued friends, important clients or key work relationships. You can buy three or four generic gifts and keep them in your closet, just in case you are faced with any unforeseen circumstances.
2/ MAKE A BUDGET
You should make a Christmas budget for how much you can spend on gifts and arrange it by hierarchy on your list . This will prevent your bank account and credit cards arriving at zero or worse, in the negative numbers.
3/ MAKE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION
Remember that details are important, a message that connects with your loved one with a thoughtful gift is more important than an expensive gift. Sometimes a phone call or even coffee is better, as some people value a quality moment more than anything material.
4/ CONSIDER LOCAL COMPANIES FOR YOUR PURCHASES
You should consider local entrepreneurs and artisans, your purchases have more impact on small businesses and you can help make a family’s Christmas a merry one with your purchases. Look for them in your local Facebook groups, at craft fairs or at local events you’ll see around town this holiday season.
5/ CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT
Take into consideration the environmental impact of your purchases, remember to recycle, reuse and remodel what you already have to avoid your waste going to the trash, for example, you can take to the tailor those pants that lost a button, reupholster that old chair or buy a new lining; buy a new lampshade for that old lamp.
6/ BUY FASHIONABLE
What’s in fashion this season is to be a conscious consumer and to reduce pollution as much as possible. The clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world. Avoid buying Fast Fashion items, or in other words clothes, that you will only wear a couple of times.
Read more on ethical fashion here: Pamela Torres + Classic Childhood Raising Awareness in the Textile Industry by Elsa Tovar
Take what you really don’t wear anymore to a recycling center and ask for your donation coupon for next year’s taxes. It is a matter of austerity, but it also has a great environmental impact.
7/ DON’T WEAR YOURSELF OUT
And finally, SAVE ENERGY, because an intelligent woman is one who takes care of her economic, physical and mental budget. The holiday season should be a time of reflection and quality, don’t forget this and avoid exhaust yourself to the point of discomfort. We want you prosperous and want you happy!
Larissa Dávila, a native of Laredo, Texas with parents from Tamaulipas. She has a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Texas A&M International University. She is currently a business consultant generalist with BCO CONSULTING GROUP and specializes in micro, small, and medium-sized companies. Larissa is also host and producer of the podcast in Spanish, Estrategia, Negocios y Dinero.
