Just in the nick of time
With a little thought and effort, presents can be created at home
Procrastinators — you’re not alone. Especially if you leave your holiday shopping to the last minute.
In fact, if you’re scrambling to finish your list within days of Christmas, research suggests you’re among the majority.
Just last year, roughly three out of four shoppers admitted to buying gifts right up until the last minute, according to a survey from the International Council of Shopping Centers.
That’s because holiday shopping is stressful, and people tend to put off doing stressful things, says Laurence Ashworth, associate professor in marketing at the Smith School of Business in Kingston, Ont., and an expert in consumer behaviour.
“Procrastination has been shown to be related to task difficulty, the enjoyment of the task and beliefs about people’s ability to complete the task,” Ashburn says. “So it seems likely that the possibility of a difficult, un-enjoyable shopping experience should encourage procrastination.
“Of course, the crowds only get larger as the season progresses, so procrastination will only eventually increase the stress.”
The downside is that people who leave their shopping until the last minute face limited in-store stock, and the possibility of online purchases arriving after the holidays. And so, in their haste, they tend to buy less thoughtful presents while going over their budgets.
What’s to be done? Well, procrastination isn’t going anywhere, and last-minute shoppers will always exist. But there are alternatives to rushing to the mall at 9 p.m. on Dec. 23 to fight the hoards for the last Tickle Me Elmo (or whatever this year’s must-have thingy is).
So if you don’t want your mother-in-law to open an IOU, you may just need to get creative.
Consider making something at home, suggests Sandra Phillips, a shopping expert and founder of the website smartshoppingmontreal.com.
“Cook a casserole for somebody and put it in a casserole dish. Everybody loves having supper waiting for them when they get home,” Phillips says. “(Or give) certificates for your time: Babysitting, gardening, something that you could do to make that person’s life better.”
Type “DIY printable gift certificate” into Pinterest and you’ll find dozens of predesigned gift certificates that you can print out and fill in yourself.
Another option for gift givers on a budget and tight schedule is to put together a collection of favourite family recipes.
Phillips also suggests finding a subscription to a magazine or monthly delivery box, tailored to the interests of your recipient. “There’s something for anyone and everything you can think of,” she says. Google “monthly subscription box” and you’ll be blown away with the variety of options available.
Other thoughtful last-minute options include donations to charities in your recipient’s name, as well as gift certificates or gift cards to useful places such as grocery stores, gas stations or restaurants.