34 THE COURIER SUN • HOLIDAY • DECEMBER 10, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com EASE HOLIDAY SHOPPING STRESS BY TRESA ERICKSON Whether you start on Black Friday or wait until Christmas Eve, holiday shopping can be maddening. There is a lot to buy, a lot of places to go and a lot of items to choose from. Here are some tips to keep the stress down this year as you shop for holiday gifts. Set a budget. How much can you afford to spend on holiday gifts? This will dictate the types of gifts you can buy. If you have a very small budget, you may have to make more gifts than you buy or steer your efforts toward smaller, less expensive gifts. Determine what you can comfortably afford to spend and stick to it! Make a list. Jot down the names you need to buy for and what you would like to get them. Remember, it’s the thought that counts. You do not need to go all out for every person on your list. One gift per person or family outside of your immediate family should suffi ce. Shop early. Start looking for deals long before the holiday shopping season begins. Shop throughout the year, especially if you have a lot of people to buy for. You might be surprised how many good gifts you can get during a Christmas in July sale. If you are not a year-round shopper, go in late October or early November or December, when supplies are more plentiful, crowds are fewer and checkout lines are shorter. Compare deals. Shop around for the best deals, and don’t choose on price alone. Price and quality do not always go hand in hand. A $50 digital camera that breaks down the fi rst day is not a deal. Research the quality of the bargains you uncover and use all of the tools at your disposal to ensure you get a good deal circulars, websites, smart phone apps, etc. Choose a good time. When you are ready to hit the shops, do so early in the morning, if at all possible. Merchandise will be in order and salespeople will be more apt to help you. Lines will also be signifi cantly shorter. Shop online. If you are too busy during the day to do any real shopping, shop online at night. You wont have to deal with pushy people or stand in long lines. You might also uncover some hard-to-fi nd items. Whatever you purchase online, make sure your account for the shipping fees in your budget. Prepare for returns. Know each stores return policies and ask for gift receipts. That way, should you or the recipient need to return the gift, there will be fewer hassles. Wrap as you go. There is nothing more stressful than having a pile of gifts to wrap. Wrap your purchases as you go, or consider having them gift wrapped. Many retailers offer gift wrapping for a small fee. Take advantage of the service if your budget allows. You will save time and get beautifully wrapped gifts in return. Holiday shopping can be a real hassle. You are one of thousands of people trying to get their shopping done. Never lose sight of that fact and always be prepared. The more prepared you are for the daunting task before you, the better experience you are likely to have. s holiday guide Established 1974 Serving Gourmet Italian & American Cuisine of the 2012 New Year’s Eve Party SEATING AT 9:30 110-80 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills 718.520.1123 Sun. thru Thurs. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. • Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 12 midnight LUNCH SERVED: Mon. thru Sat. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com WE ARE OPEN CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS DAY NEW YEAR’S EVE SEATING AT 9:30 SPECIAL MENU Music • Dancing • Champagne Toast Hats • Noisemakers HOLIDAY PARTIES PRIVATE PARTY ROOM 4 COURSE DINNER INCLUDING WINE & SODA $31 per Person (plus tax & tip) Starting at $31 per person (plus tax & tip)
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