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Experts share tips on navigating the holiday shopping season

By Eunnie Park, The Record (Hackensack N.J.), Source: MCT News Service

What should be the most wonderful time of the year easily could become the most stressful when you're shopping for the holidays. The traffic! The crowds! The (dwindling) budget!

Can anybody help?

We reached out to a few shopping gurus to share their tips on getting through the gift list most effectively and efficiently. But proceed at your own risk: The following information includes intense shopping advice that may cause shortness of breath, hyperventilation and extreme dizziness.

BEFORE YOU GO

1. Make a list and when possible find out what your friends and family want ahead of time, says celebrity event planner Steve Kemble. Plan your day around getting those must-haves before they run out.

2. Comparison shop. Go to Web sites like Shopzilla.com to see who has the best price, says Alicia Rockmore of Buttoned Up Inc., an organizational lifestyle company based in Michigan. Map out where you're going to go and what you're going to get.

3. Eat a balanced meal and pack a bottle of water and an energy bar, Kemble advises. Shopping is a draining activity, and the less time and money you spend at the food court, the better.

SHOP ONLINE

1. Sign up for e-mail newsletters from all your favorite stores. You will receive coupons and stay updated on all their special promotions, Rockmore says.

2. Look for online retailers that offer free and discount shipping and handling, Hoxmeier says. Amazon.com offers free shipping on most purchases over $25. Overstock.com has a flat shipping rate of $2.95. WalMart.com also has a "Site to Store" service that allows you to order online and have the item delivered free to the store of your choice.

3. The Internet is a great place to find unique gifts. Check out sites like Etsy.com, an online marketplace for all things handmade.

LAST-MINUTE MALL CALL

1. Avoid peak mall hours. Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. are the worst, Hoxmeier advises. Go early in the day, preferably weekdays, or try dinnertime, between 5 and 7 p.m.

2. The easiest way to get through your gift list is to find two or three favorite things (electronic gadget, sweater, book etc.) and get them for multiple people, Rockmore says.

3. When in doubt, get a gift certificate. Many malls sell gift certificates that are valid at most stores within the mall. But if you want to avoid the mall crowd altogether, go to a local A&P, ShopRite or CVS, where you can find a wide range of gift certificates, from Gap to Pottery Barn to iTunes.

STAYING WITHIN BUDGET

1. Make it a mission not to pay full price for anything, says Hoxmeier. Shop clearance racks, scour the Internet for coupon codes, and, when possible, haggle.

2. If you're not seeing someone until after Christmas, get their gift on Dec. 26, when prices plummet, Rockmore suggests.

3. Avoid getting the season's "hottest gift." They're usually the hardest to get and therefore most expensive, Hoxmeier says.

4. Set a budget and a dollar amount for each person on your gift list. If you stay under budget, reward yourself by buying a little something just for you, Hoxmeier adds.

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