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Discover our tips for avoiding hiccups when tackling your Christmas list this holiday season. These simple pointers are key to hassle free shopping and on-time delivery this year. Plus download our free printable Christmas gift list to make planning even easier!  Holiday Shopping SeasonThe holiday season is quickly approaching. Every year it seems like it sneaks up on us. In reality, however, most of stay so busy that we simply forget to keep track of all those important dates. Unfortunately, with the pandemic continuing to wreak havoc on shipping times and prolonged supply chain shortages, planning for the Christmas shopping season this year is a must! Christmas Shopping TipsAvoid the challenges presented by shipping delays and supply shortages this year with our Christmas shopping tips for 2021. Following you’ll find a timeline for a smooth shopping experience to avoid disappointments on Christmas day.  When to Start Christmas ShoppingTo make your holiday shopping a breeze, we’ve created a timeline to help you stay on track, so you don’t get caught off guard. While some of these dates may have already passed, you can still catch up. Also make sure to mark these dates on your 2022 calendar so you can be prepared and plan early next year. Oct 12th — 12 Weeks Before ChristmasNow is the time to start planning what you’re going to give your business clients, friends, and family for the holidays. Make your list and decide on a shopping budget. If you’re planning to make homemade gifts, then now is the time to get started. Order supplies now if you haven’t already. Most craft stores are a season ahead, so waiting to purchase materials can make it difficult to find what you’re looking for the closer you get to Christmas.  Oct 16th — 10 Weeks to Christmas10 weeks may seem like a LOT of time, but you know as well as we do that if you blink it’s suddenly gone. There’s just over two months before the holiday at this point. So, now is the time to start your Christmas shopping. Not only will you be able to avoid the crowds, but you can also stay on top of any potential shipping delays. It’s also a great time to pre-plan your holiday parties or decide how you’ll celebrate. And, if you’re sending out Christmas cards, get the family together for the perfect holiday portrait. You can upload your photo to Minute Mail Gifts. Then go ahead and create a template for all your holiday cards you plan to mail out this season with your photo printed right inside the card! Oct 30th — 8 Weeks Until ChristmasWith less than two months until Christmas, it’s time to put on your face and get serious! Lots of businesses are already advertising hot offers that you can take advantage of to save money. (These days, there’s really no need to wait until Black Friday for the best deals.) So, whether you are shopping in person or online, use this week purchase gifts for as many people on your Christmas gift list as you possibly can. Now is also a great time to double check addresses for gifts and holiday greeting cards to make sure they are correct. You can also start planning holiday gatherings with your friends and family. Nov 6th — 7 Weeks Before Christmas(It’s finally November and it’s starting to feel real. If you are mailing out bulk Christmas cards, then order them NOW! You’ll also want to order address labels and stamps. Alternately, you can also start creating personalized greeting cards for Christmas with your photograph inside. Hop over to Minute Mail Gifts to see how easy it is. Not only can you personalize a handwritten card, but you can also schedule a date to mail out your holiday cards — and send them with a creative gift inside the envelope with no extra work.  Also at this time, you’ll want to take inventory of all your Christmas decorations. See what you have and what you need. If you’re missing any elements to create that perfect holiday display, then shop as soon as possible for whatever is missing. (Here locally we were sold out of Halloween decorations by the first week of October!) The same can be said for pantry staples and baking supplies. There’s going to be a rush on basic foodstuffs as shelves aren’t being restocked as quickly as they have been in the past. Stock up on essentials at this time to avoid scrambling to find out of stock items later. (Remember the meringue powder and yeast shortage last year?) Nov 13th — 6 Weeks to Christmas We know it seems like you’ve done a lot already, however, there’s still more work to be done to prepare for the holiday season. While you’re waiting on the gifts you ordered to arrive in the mail, now is the time to clean and organize your home. Go through the closets and pull out winter clothes that don’t fit to donate to charity. The same goes for kids toys that they’ve outgrown or no longer use. This is a great way to help families in need, and tackle some of those spring cleaning chores a season early.  If one of your family traditions is to make Christmas ornaments, then this is the time to get them done! You’ll also want to order or shop for your holiday gift wrap, including gift tags, ribbon, bags, and bows. Nov 20th — 5 Weeks Until ChristmasIt’s Thanksgiving week! Right now, you probably have a TON going on preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and related activities. However, there’s still work to get done to prepare for Christmas.  We recommend that you mail out your Christmas cards THIS WEEK for timely delivery. (There’s nothing worse than your card arriving AFTER the holiday is over.) You’ll also want to start mailing out care packages or Christmas gifts at this time. If you are ordering custom gifts that need to be personalized, then order them now and have them shipped directly to the recipient.  If you are decorating your home with a live Christmas tree this year, go ahead and order your tree or take a trip to your local Christmas tree farm. Nov 27th — 4 Weeks Before ChristmasThere’s now less than a month to go before the big day! (Are you getting excited yet?) If you have kids who are writing a letter to Santa, then make sure they get those letters written this week! They’ll need to be mailed by December 7th to ensure they arrive on time.  You can also put up your Christmas tree and holiday decorations now that Thanksgiving has come and gone. And don’t forget to pull out your Advent calendar! Dec 4th — 3 Weeks to ChristmasThe countdown is getting real at this point! If you have ANY last minute Christmas shopping, then get it done NOW! This is the absolute final chance to complete your online ordering as well in hopes your packages reach their destination on time.  Now is also the perfect time to wrap your holiday presents. After all, there’s nothing worse than staying up until 4am on Christmas Eve scrambling to get everything wrapped and ready to go in time for Christmas morning. Dec 11th — 2 Weeks Until ChristmasNow that your Christmas shopping is officially handled and decorations are up, you can start prepping for your holiday menu. If you’re hosting this year, decide what you’d like to serve and give any new recipes a test run. Otherwise, choose a dish or two to take to any holiday parties you plan to attend. Season’s greetings cards are also starting to hit your mailbox. Display Christmas cards on your fridge or tape them across a hallway door frame. Or, if you’re crafty, find a creative way to display your cards to help boost the holiday cheer.  Dec 18th —Christmas Is ONE WEEK Away!It’s the final countdown! Believe it or not, there are still a few things left to make those final preparations. If you have any baking to do, get it done this week. You should also finalize your menu for Christmas dinner and do any last minute shopping you need to get ready. Then spend the rest of the time enjoying time with friends and family. Make hot chocolate, watch classic Christmas movies, or drive through neighborhoods to see all the Christmas lights and décor.  Printable Christmas Gift ListTo assist you with your holiday preparations this year, we created a free printable Christmas gift list to use as a holiday shopping guide. You can download and print this colorful Christmas printable here. 
Then use the list to write in the names of your gift recipients, the gift you’ve chosen for them, and the price to help you stay on budget.  Best Website for Holiday Shopping OnlineThere are several great reasons to complete your Christmas shopping online this year. Not only will you avoid the hustle and bustle and parking woes by shopping online, but you can also avoid the crowds. It’s also a great opportunity to create and send personalized gifts that you know are in stock. And, as there’s no worry about driving from store to store to find the perfect gift in stock, you actually save time as well! We may be biased but we think LifeLong Gifts is ideal for your holiday shopping needs. Not only can you create lasting, personalized gifts for friends and family, but we also sell a wonderful collection of products suitable for business client gifts.  What to Give for Holiday GiftsIf you need ideas on what to give as holiday gifts this Christmas season, then be sure to check out our holiday gift guides.
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