5 Tricks to Simplify Holiday Shopping
The key to saving your sanity this holiday season is to simplify in whatever ways you can. That may mean taking on less commitments, skimming down your to-shop-for list, or just carefully planning your schedule. Here are some tricks that can help you to simplify your holiday shopping routine.
This is a sponsored post, I am a Sears Blogger Squad blogger, though all opinions are my own.
- Prepare Your List
Make your holiday lists early. Plan out who you would like to purchase gifts and plan around a budget. Jot down up to three gift ideas for each individual to help you stay focused in-stores, while still allowing flexibility. Don’t be afraid to skim down your list of recipients to only those closest to your family.
- Shop Early!
The sooner you start chipping away at your holiday purchases, the less stressful your holiday season will be. Spreading out the gift purchases can also help ease your budgeted expenses, and starting early can help with that process. I try to have all my Christmas shopping done before December 1st. That allows me to relax and enjoy our holiday traditions and activities without fretting about shopping.
- Meet With An Expert
If you are shopping for new appliances this holiday season, turn to an expert to help skip the time consuming search through consumer reviews, opinions of friends and family, consumer reports, and the slew of options that will make your head spin. Sears’ new, free Meet With An Expert service will be there to help. Now, you’ll have an expert on your side that can help walk you through all the options, features, specs and pricing to find the best product within your budget. Together, you’ll compare different models side-by-side and have someone to answer any questions that come to mind right in the store before your purchase.
You’ll start by scheduling an appointment with just a few clicks on the product page you were eyeing by selecting the time and store of your preference on the Sears website. A knowledgeable associate from Sears will then call to confirm your appointment time. Next, head in and let the experts take over navigating you through your big decision, they’ll stay with you as long as you need. Not ready to purchase in stores? No problem! You’ll be equipped with a shopping recap email that summarizes the information you discussed with the expert in-store to help you complete your purchase when you’re ready.
When I helped my dad shop for a fridge as a Father’s Day gift earlier this year, we started by browsing the selection online and thought we had the fridge picked out. But heading in stores and speaking with a very helpful associate, we were able to hear about the potential drawbacks and benefits of each feature or design aspect. Such as, an ice maker that frequently spills ice when you open the door or a water spout that is poorly placed. With their guidance, we were able to feel confident in which fridge would be best for my dad to suit his needs.
Schedule an appointment to Meet With An Expert here: Sears.com/ExpertAdvice
- Duplicate Gifts!
You can save a ton of time (and stress) by picking out a few favorite gift ideas and gifting from the same top items for each of your recipients. One year, we passed out a favorite book to all our grown siblings. Another year, everyone one was gifted pajama bottoms and a pair of slippers! It might sound boring, but it’s actually has become a fun tradition!
- Return/Exchange/Pick-up Without Leaving Your Car!
Save even more time this holiday season, take advantage of Sears In-Vehicle Pickup, Return or Exchange service. Simply check-in on the Sears or Shop Your Way mobile app to alert your local store that you are in the parking lot and a staff member will help you return, exchange, or pick-up your order. There’s no charge and you are guaranteed assistance in 5 minutes or less (without even unbuckling your seat belt!)
I love the quality and selection at Sears, but toting my little boys through the mall is tiring. I love that this service saves me time, energy, stress, and still lets me shop for or change a gift purchase (return or exchange) without the hassle of lines or a wait.
Visit Sears to help you simplify your shopping and get the most out of this holiday season. Sears has hot appliance deals this week as part of their Veteran’s Day sale that runs through November 14th. Head in-stores while the sale lasts. Would you love to give the Meet With An Expert service a shot?
What are your tricks to simplify your holiday shopping?
I could not agree more that it’s good to have your shopping done by December 1st! You’re not digging yourself into a hole by spreading out the spending plus you’re able find just the right gift for everyone without the stress of a time crunch. I didn’t know Sears had a talk with an expert service. That is very cool and extremely helpful!
Can’t complain about the flexibility involved.
Sounds like a great service!
Sounds great – Expert answers & product insight
I like being able to get a ton of information from an expert before purchasing
I like the Sears Meet With An Expert service. The concept is great, just hope the expert is really an expert.
I like this new service. It would help out with major appliance purchases.
If I ever need a Sears expert, I would certainly use the service.
Awesome Idea! Thanks for the giveaway!
At a time where finding a store employee to help you is getting harder and harder, this is a great idea, especially when considering a big ticket item.
It looks great!
I think it is a great option.
I think it’s a great idea. And by being able to set the appointment up and letting them know what you’re looking at getting, the expert can work on getting themselves familiar with whichever appliance it is.
I think it’s a fantastic idea. Last time I went appliance shopping I had both of my kids with me and had to wait a while for an associate. My kids quickly lost patience and it wasn’t pretty!
Sounds like a great idea. I’d just want to make sure I feel like they have my best interests at heart and its not necessarily about making “the sale.” I would highly trust the opinions of an “expert” at Sears.
This would be so helpful for me because I do not know a lot about appliances.
Sears is awesome! We buy all our appliances from Sears and have since I was a little girl. Nice to have EXPERTS!!!
It would be very helpful to have someone who knows the appliances and can tell me about them.
Thanks for the contest.
It’s nice to feel like you are actually getting real truthful answers to your questions
I think this is a great idea to get opinions on products like appliances.
Sears certainly has it all! Thank you for the giveaway option!
I think it’s great to be able set an appointment at my convenience.
It would be very helpful since I don’t consider myself an expert at all.
I think the service is convenient and wonderful. You can look at products online, request service assistance through the website, and meet someone in person to discuss particular appliances. We are currently in the market for a standing freezer because our chest freezer is old and things get buried too easily.
Its a great idea, shopping for appliances is diffacult enough alone but having a expert help you out is a wonderful idea!
This sounds like such a great idea. Shopping for major appliances can be daunting and having a personal shopper to help sounds like just the thing.
I think it is a good idea and i’d like to try it out.
I think it is a great idea! I like that you can schedule your appointment on your own.
i would love to try this service it sounds really nice
It sounds like a great idea, but I’d have to try it out before I make an opinion. Sometimes experts are just kids with a badge.
Love being able to make an appointment with an expert on the appliance I’m interested in buying.
I like that I can get advice before buying
it looks like a wonderful service!
I think this is a great idea to get opinions on products like appliances or tvs and really for so much more.
I think it is a great idea especially when shopping appliances
I like the idea of driving up and getting the items. This is very convenient, especially during the holidays when the malls and stores are crazily jam packed with people.
I really like that you can schedule an appointment to meet with an expert. I like when there is someone knowledgeable to help with your shopping.
I think this Meet With An Expert from Sears concept is great to get advice from experienced people as long as it does not become a hassle with theming trying to sell before you are ready.
I like that I can ask an expert their opinion on things I need or want. Thank you!
I think I need that because I am not an expert.
I do a lot of online shopping and try to go when everyone is at work. Less crowds!
I often have questions when I buy a big ticket item. I love to do my research and I like to talk to experts.
What a great service. I love that you can drive up and get the items. Talk about a great convenience.
I like that you have the ability to meet with experts to discuss your potential appliance purchase.
I like that I can schedule an appointment online.
Entered the Rafflecopter as “Wild Orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
I think it’s a pretty good idea in order to help you find the perfect item that fits your needs!
Holiday shopping can be so stressful! Giving yourself plenty of time to shop does make it a little easier!
This sounds awesome. I would love someone to help me do my shopping. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
It seems like a wonderful service.
Sounds like a great idea if the expert is really an expert on the products. A lot of times I find myself knowing more from doing my own research and find the sales people just reading straight from the tag. If they really are knowledgeable it will be nice to have someone answer questions.
These are great ways to simplify the holiday shopping!! It is hard to believe it is that time of year already!
I htink it’s neat! I like that you get one on one attention!
As much as my boyfriend hates asking for help, it really helps me. I’m grateful for the experts Sears has on staff.
It’s a great idea.
I keep an eye out for deals during the year so that I don’t have to get all the presents during the crazy holiday shopping period!
The new Sears meet with a expert service is totally awesome. It is a great service that will be most helpful for shoppers.
I think the sears meet with an expert is great. It will help out a lot with purchases. Way to go Sears!
I think it’s great.
I think it is a good idea where you can some expert advice and one on one help. I would use this service for buying a big item that I want help picking out the right one for my needs.
I think its a great idea! When making larger purchases, it would really help to have an expert to talk to! I would have loved that years ago when I purchased my washer!
that’s a great idea and knowing i can get help when i need it
This is a nice service to have for a really big purchase, but I still have to research everything myself. I could see this being very useful for someone who isn’t as keen on researching everything online.
These are helpful tips! I am always a last minute shopper. I NEED to plan better that is for sure! LOL
I think it will simplify shopping!
I like to shop early! That always seems to help a lot!
This sounds really great. I haven’t shopped at sears in a really long time.. Great idea!
With major purchases this service would be great. For everything else I like to either go to the store or buy it online. No crowds to deal with this way.
It sounds like a great idea!
This sounds great!It would be nice to have someone right there to help with the buying process.
i like it as these are not items you buy often so you want to get it right!
I like it because you can ask questions with out high pressured sales.
I love it! I am no good at picking a good appliance or brand. This would really work for me.
Visited the site and I like that it has the option because it makes me feel more assured about purchases
I think it’s great because it makes me feel more comfortable with big purchases.
I think it’s a wonderful idea! This would take a LOT of the stress out of trying to find the right appliance!
I guess this would be helpful to some, but honestyly it isn’t something I need or would or find useful.
I think the service is helpful, particularly with appliances and tools.
In all honesty, I am a do it yourself kind of gal. I prefer to do my own research and make my own decisions without a store representative hovering over me
Sounds like a go deal to me! I try to research things before I go shopping, but it would be nice to have an expert to ask questions of.
I think its a great idea! Its so hard to know what to purchase when there are so many options!
I’m kind of confused about the”Meet the Experts” program. This is what store employees have always done (in any dept/electronics store),they’re just giving it a new name. I feel like it’s more of a strategic marketing ploy, and not really an introduction of a new service. Perhaps I’m missing something?
The service gives you a specific appointment time with the expert. It’s true, Sears has always been ready to help with associates that are very knowledgeable. But with this service you don’t have to wait around for someone to be ready to help, you have a dedicated staff member to assist!
I think this would save a lot of time doing research on the internet and checking around to find the best deal and the best match for your needs.
It’s always nice to have help when you holiday shop. It can be difficult to find the right thing.
Great, new idea, love this is available!
I think Sears’ new Meet With An Expert service is a great idea that I will definitely use
I think it would save time. I’ve had to wait before while a sales associate was busy with other customers.
I think it is helpful and love that you can pick your time.
i think it is helpful! having the extra knowledge is helpful.
looks helpful
i think it’s s uper neat idea
I think it is a great idea, it would help me choose which appliance is right for us.
I think it’s a very helpful and useful idea!
Such a helpful idea! I wish they had this available when we were looking for our major appliances.
I think its a great idea and something I’d consider doing as we plan to put in a new dishwasher and stove very soon!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I think this is a great idea. It would be good to have someone knowledgeable answer questions.
looks helpful
I would like having an expert explain the different features to me.
It’s a great idea.
First, I have heard of this-love the idea.
I think its a really good idea 🙂
I like this idea. I love shopping at Sears
If the workers are really experts, I think it’s great.