Gouden Gids Blog

Write down what you want to buy and for whom before you leave your home to go Christmas shopping. That way you’ll go shopping with certain objectives in mind and you’ll waste less time.

Extra tip:

Come up with a few “back up gifts” to avoid coming home empty-handed.

It’s important that you give your friends and family the option of returning your gift. Not because they might dislike what you got them, but because the size or colour might be wrong or because they might already have it.

Extra tip:

When paying, ask the cashier if they also accept returns during sales.

“Buy 1. Get 2”, “30% discount on second purchase”… there are a number of deals and discounts around Christmas that help you stay within budget. The key is to take a moment and think of who else might be happy to receive that gift.

Extra tip:

Visit the websites of the shops you plan to visit. Their current discounts and deals are also promoted online.

Getting back home and realizing that you forgot to put someone on your list can be quite aggravating. In order to avoid the hassle of another shopping trip, buy an extra gift or two that could be given to any one (regardless of age or sex). Extra gifts will most likely come in handy and they can also be used for other occasions.

Extra tip:

Gift certificates might not be the most original gifts ever, but everyone enjoys getting them. And they’re usually not restricted by sex or age.

If you want to avoid the Christmas rush, do your shopping on a weekday after work. But if the Christmas rush boosts your holiday spirit, then you should make a day of it with your family and have the occasional shopping break in a festive café or restaurant.

Extra tip:

If you plan on doing some online shopping, make sure you start on time. The holiday period is also the busiest time of year for mail order companies.

White Pages: Lost touch with someone? Show them that you haven’t forgotten about them with some delicious chocolates, wine or a beautiful Christmas greeting card.

SaySo: Still looking for a nice restaurant for your Christmas dinner or for your New Year’s Eve? Read some reviews on Sayso and write about your own restaurant experiences.