Holiday Shopping Tips to Help You Get Ahead!

There are few guarantees in life, but the holiday season is almost guaranteed to bring the stress of purchasing the perfect gifts for your loved ones and sometimes spending more than you anticipated. Last year, the National Retail Federation reported a $691.1 billion total consumer spend during the holidays, up 5.5% increase from 2016. Online spending grew at an even faster rate, with a 11.5% year-over-year increase. If history holds, the 2018 holiday season will be another record-breaking year for shopping. Which means it’s time to start your research and beat the crowds rushing to the stores for the newest “must-have” item. We’ve compiled a list of holiday shopping tips sure to make the holiday season easier on you and hopefully your wallet.

Popular Days to Shop

Despite the fact that holiday shopping and sales start earlier and earlier each year, Black Friday continues to be the biggest shopping day of the season, coming in as the most popular shopping day! In close second is not Cyber Monday, as it has been previously, but Thanksgiving Day. In recent years, more and more retailers have been opening their doors earlier than 6 AM the day after Turkey Day and have instead opted for opening as soon as dinner is over! Cyber Monday however allows many consumers to use their phone or tablet to shop online from the comforts of their couch. In addition, many shoppers are using their phones in-store to compare prices, check item availability, and read customer reviews. One of our holiday shopping tips is to catch the sales on  these popular shopping days!

Prepare or Procrastinate

When it comes to the holidays, there are two types of people: the planners and the spontaneous shoppers. The “prepared shopper” plans out the gifts they want to buy in advance. This group starts making their shopping lists, looking for sales, and stocking up on gifts and supplies an average of over a month ahead of the holidays. The procrastinator does just that, waits until the 11^th hour to cram in their shopping and hope to get the gifts on everyone’s wish list. The best ways to shop are of course to prepare! Another holiday shopping tip is to set an overall budget for the gifts you are purchasing to avoid overspending and maxing out your bank account. Keep a list of gifts to purchase and stick to it! Nothing causes stress more like wandering the store, feeling the pressure to find something for that special someone or family member. Research the products to compare costs, read reviews and seek out sales or discount codes.

Make the Holidays Happier!

This season, instead of making holiday shopping a chore, make it an event for you and some friends to enjoy! Arrange for a car and driver to take you and your group out to one of the top shopping malls in California like the Irvine Spectrum, Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza. This is a great way to “kill two birds with one stone” by spending time with the ones you love as well as knocking out your Christmas list! Our chauffeurs would meet you to pick up bags, you wouldn’t have to worry about parking and can enjoy a few drinks with friends along the way! BEST-VIP prides itself on offering exceptional service and providing a stress free, first class experience!