Christmas Shopping

Get Organized

Before you begin your online Christmas shopping experience, take some time to determine your holiday budget and make a list of all the people you need to buy for. Whether you’re shopping for your husband and your children or your sister and 15 coworkers, staying organized is the key to reducing holiday stress.

While a certain amount of “virtual window shopping” is acceptable, try to come up with a few general gift ideas for each person before you begin your online search. Otherwise, you risk wasting time and inadvertently going over your budget.

Plan Ahead

Don’t forget to factor potential shipping delays into your Christmas shopping plans. If you’re not willing to pay extra for rush shipping, try to have all of your orders placed shortly after Thanksgiving. If you wait too long to order a popular toy, you might be dealing with a very disappointed child on Christmas morning.

Look for Discounts

Many popular online shopping sites offer codes that provide free shipping, a percentage off your total purchase, or other special discounts and incentives. You can gain access to these codes in two different ways:

• Sign up to become a preferred customer at your favorite store and receive the codes in promotional emails.
• Use a website such as CurrentCodes.com or DealCatcher.com to manually search for coupon codes at your favorite store.

Keep Your Personal Information Safe

While online Christmas shopping is safer than ever before, it’s still a good idea to guard your personal information. Remember the following tips as you’re buying holiday gifts:

• Order from established online companies whenever possible.
• Don’t use a password that’s easy to guess when you’re accessing an online shopping website. Avoid using your birthday, pet’s name, or your telephone number; choose something that’s a bit more creative.
• Change your password on a regular basis. Never tell anyone else your password.
• Always double check your order to make sure you’ve entered your account number, address, and other information correctly.
• Think twice before using your debit card for online purchases. When you pay with a credit card, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act.
• Look over your monthly credit card statements carefully and report any suspicious activity immediately. If your credit card is used without your authorization, you can be held responsible for up to $50 per account. However, if you report the loss before your card is used, you aren't liable for any unauthorized charges.
• Print out a copy of your order and confirmation number for your records.

Popular Sites for Buying Christmas Gifts

If you’re new the world of online Christmas shopping, check out the following websites to find gifts for people of all ages:

• Amazon.com has books, CDs, DVDs, computer software, clothing, home décor, and other gift items.
• Catalogs.com has free catalogs and online catalogs for almost everything under the sun.
• Buy.com carries a number of books, CDs, DVDs, and computer software.
• Red Envelope offers a wide selection of personalized items and unique gifts for almost any occasion.
• Overstock.com lets you buy jewelry, electronics, home décor, apparel, and other gift items at affordable prices.