Why you might want to do your holiday shopping now
At this point in the year, many of us are busy adopting a new school routine and enjoying seasonal activities like apple picking. Holidays may be the last thing on your mind. But it’s worth doing your holiday shopping early this year. Here’s why.
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It’s all about product availability
During the holidays, there are often popular items that people have a hard time getting their hands on. But this year, finding toys, electronics, and clothing can be an even bigger challenge, even if you’re not looking for the most popular items on the market.
During the summer, a number of ports and overseas railways suffered damage from flooding and other weather events. At the same time, some factories abroad have closed due to coronavirus outbreaks.
The result? Supply chain issues and shipping delays could make it harder for consumers to get their hands on the items they want for the holidays. If you want to avoid disappointment, it would be wise to do your grocery shopping ahead of time, before it all goes off the shelves.
How to rock your vacation shopping
Many of us save for the holidays every month, so by the time November or December rolls around we have a nice pile of cash to buy gifts. If you’re shopping for the holiday season now, it might mean doing it before you’ve fully saved up for the items you need.
If so, be careful how you pay for those items because you don’t want vacation debt. An Itinerary charges your purchases to an introductory 0% APR credit card. If you’re confident that you can pay off that balance by this year’s holiday season, you’ll avoid the interest on gifts you buy earlier than usual.
Another option for some is to temporarily take a side job to increase your income and pay for your purchases. Ultimately, this is the safest route, but not necessarily the easiest. You may not be able to snap your fingers and find side fuss overnight.
However, some opportunities may be easier to seize. For example, if you live in a city where parking is difficult or not everyone has a vehicle, driving for a rideshare service could be a good bet to make money in the short term. Or it might pay off to ask local schools if you can publish a flyer advertising child care. Parents are often in desperate need of help with childcare, so you may get lucky and get babysitting gigs fast.
It’s never a bad idea to be one step ahead of holiday shopping. But this year is particularly important. Getting a head start could be the difference between a stress-free shopping experience and a exhausted one.