Last-minute Christmas shopping tips to help you keep your cool

TORONTO – You’ve done it again. You promised yourself last year that you would not wind up here ever again. But you did.

You have two days left to get your Christmas shopping done. And you are nowhere near finished.

You’re not alone. A poll released late last week showed that 69 per cent of Canadians had not finished their holiday shopping – 22 per cent said they hadn’t even started.

So you’ll have lots of buddies at the mall today.

Let this be your guide to a peaceful (hopefully) experience at the checkout.

Safety first

Ice storms across Eastern Canada this weekend downed hundreds of trees, covered roads and sidewalks in ice and left hundreds of thousands without power. Check the forecast and road conditions before you leave the house.

CAA recommends that you leave plenty of time to get where you need to be and avoid rushing when driving in winter weather. Heed police warnings – if the roads are hazardous, stay home.

Before you leave the house

• Charge your smartphone –  you’ll need it later.
• Make a list of people you need to buy for. Make a budget. Stick to both of these things.
• Do some research online before heading out to the shops. Find out what stores carry the items you are looking for.

A Google Canada retail survey conducted this fall found that 91 per cent of Canadians will research online before buying this holiday season. The majority (60 per cent) will do research online, then make the purchase in a brick and mortar store.

• Now shut down your computer, it’s too late for online shopping!

Prepare for the madness

• Eat a good meal before you leave the house, and pack some snacks.
• Do your shopping in a less chaotic setting, like a quaint downtown shopping area rather than the mall.
• Be careful when navigating parking lots. You’ll find a spot eventually, don’t be that person yelling at fellow shoppers to slow down or hurry up.

While shopping

• Use your smartphone to compare prices at competing retailers, look for online coupons, read online reviews of products.

Google Canada’s survey found that Canadians would seek out incentives of all kinds this holiday season, with 74 per cent of those polled saying they would look for discounts and sales when shopping, 54 per cent would seek out rebates and 48 per cent would use coupons.

Getting a deal matters to most Canadians, getting a specific brand is not. The survey found that 75 per cent are not tied to any particular store and 81 per cent are not tied to a specific brand.

• Not sure what to get? Buy a gift card and let them choose.

Other tips for a peaceful last-minute shopping trip

• Hit the stores early in the morning or late in the evening, avoiding the peak shopping times. Many stores have extended store hours in the days leading up to Christmas.
• Donate to charity. It’s a good gift option for loved ones that don’t really need anything new (if you’re not sure what charity to give to, you can find out more here).
• DIY. Avoid the stress of the mall altogether and put your Pinterest skills to work. Bake something delicious for your hostess gift, fill a mason jar with scented bath salts or frame a photograph you took.

More last-minute shopping ideas

ParentsCanada’s editor Janice Biehn has some tips for dads who need a last minute toy for the holidays. Watch the video below:

NOW Magazine’s Sabrina Maddeaux has some last-minute gift ideas from local designers and retailers. Watch the video below: