When is the best time to start Christmas shopping if you want to avoid holiday crowds in stores
? When should you start to Christmas shop if you want to save money? These are the two most asked questions by anyone who wants to save both time and money while Christmas shopping.
To Save Money -- Christmas Shop on Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday, and it is the best time to do your Christmas shopping if you want to save money. Black Friday early bird sales mean massive savings even though it means being up almost all night in order to be among the first to take advantage of the huge discounts offered by stores.
In order to truly take advantage of the Black Friday early bird sales, attend those that are held in the huge department stores. Remember that these sales give you a limited time to take advantage of them and it would be best to trim the time you will need to spend going from store to store. You also need to look at the time it will take you to stand in line going into the store and again standing in line at the check-out counter if you need to go to another store. The secret to Black Friday sales is to shop at just a few stores that offer the widest variety of products.
It is also worth noting that a vast majority of retailers offer great sales all throughout the weekend that follows Thanksgiving so you can still take advantage of the sale prices that are offered even though you missed Black Friday.
To Save Time -- Christmas Shop on Weekdays
Whenever you can manage it, do your Christmas shopping on weekday mornings. This is a great way to save time Christmas shopping because most people are either at school or at work. Weekday mornings are best for homemakers and parents to do their Christmas shopping as their children are at school. And even if their children are not yet of school-age, stores are not as crowded as they are on weekends; they can take their young kids with them while they shop.
Weekday mornings are an ideal time to Christmas shop because most people are at work or school. Weekdays can be a great time for parents of school-age children to buy Christmas gifts, as the children are at school.
The thing to remember is avoid the lunch hour from 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. as hundreds of working people do their shopping on their lunch hour. So the best time would be right after the stores open or after the lunch hour but before 5:00 p.m.
To Save Money -- Shop on Christmas Eve or the Day-After Christmas
Many retailers offer Christmas Eve sales and day-after-Christmas sales. These can be a great way to save money while buying gifts. As more and more people give gifts to their friends after Christmas, you can take advantage of the reduced prices offered during these sales and not feel guilty for buying gifts late. You just need to be mindful of the fact that on Christmas Eve, most stores close early. Do not leave all your holiday shopping on this day.