Crowds are not my thing. Sadly, Christmas and crowds seem to come hand in hand throughout the month of December, as traffic anywhere near the vicinity of the mall is horrendous, parking lots are a danger zone, and check-out lines creep forward from Black Friday to Christmas Eve.
Let me clarify one thing- I am no Scrooge. I love Bing Crosby Christmas carols, holiday lights brightening neighborhoods and snow. I adore holiday baking, Christmas Eve church services and finding the perfect gift for my family members.
But Christmas shopping can be far from an enjoyable, relaxing experience. With jam-packed parking lots, competition to get items before they go out of stock and rude customers jabbering on their cell phones as they push their way through aisles, the joys of holiday shopping can quickly turn into something miserable and exhausting.
There is good news, however, for those avoiding or procrastinating the holiday retail battle. Online shopping is a great trend that is growing in popularity for good reason.
Online shopping is economical and practical during a time when budgets are tight. Buying your holiday gifts online offers shoppers the opportunity to browse various items and easily compare prices. Discounts can often be found online through coupon codes. For those who shop at certain stores more than others, joining e-mail lists is often beneficial, as stores will send coupons and alert you of discounts directly. You can be given advanced notice as to when your desired products will be available at the lowest possible price.
And while shipping costs can be an added expense to online shopping, the holiday season is a great time to avoid these extra expenditures. Many online sites offer free shipping through Christmas if you spend a certain amount of money. Some even guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve for those last-minute shoppers.
Online shopping allows you to avoid the hoopla of Christmas crowds altogether. It’s incredibly convenient as you don’t have to bundle up against the brutal December weather, and you never have to leave the comfort of your own home. Online retail is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can hop online at any time of day, get your shopping done in half the amount of time and even stay in your pajamas while doing so.
For those in favor of “going green,” online shopping offers an opportunity to be selfless. Shopping from your computer is beneficial to the environment, because you are taking away the travel of shopping. By not driving to the mall, you are not only saving gas money, but reducing air pollution.
The Christmas season is busy enough, so save yourself the stress and money. Put your pajamas back on, make a pot of coffee and settle in for an online shopping trip.
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