“IT’S A CLICHÉ, but it’s the thought that counts,” says Laura Jordan. “Thoughtfulness, plus a little touch of luxury if you can, equals the ultimate gift. You want to make the person really feel seen.” 

We’ve all heard the advice to start our Christmas shopping early this year. We might even have read the stories about global supply chain issues and the impact of Brexit. But let’s be honest: that doesn’t help much when you’ve still got your tricky mother-in-law AND three nephews to buy for. 

So we went to the experts for knowledge and advice on making your Christmas shopping seamless. When should you start your planning? How can you make those really difficult presents easy? And – the get-out-of-jail-free card – what should you do if, despite everything, you still end up in a pickle on Christmas Eve?

As a personal shopper, Laura Jordan – owner of StyleSavvy, with years of experience in sourcing just the right things – knows more than most of us about finding the perfect presents under pressure. And consumer expert Siobhán Maguire has been digging into what is (and isn’t) on the shelves, to share her insights.

Here are their tips to make sure all your gifts are under the tree on time. 

Don’t panic, just plan

Firstly, it’s important not to get too swept away with the hype, says Siobhán. “I’m definitely not telling people to panic buy or work themselves into a frenzy and block buy items in time for Christmas – there will be enough on our shelves come December.”

But she does advise starting your planning early, in case the particular present you want isn’t available at the last minute.

Laura agrees. “It’s about the prep, rather than the manic spend,” she says. “I think the mistake people make is just heading out to the shops, without sitting down first with a cup of coffee and a notebook.”

Jot down some notes before you even set foot in a shop, say the experts Shutterstock / Lolostock Shutterstock / Lolostock / Lolostock

That list? Use the ‘who, how, what, where’ technique to sort it

Laura advises a four-step approach: who you’re going to buy for, how much you’re going to spend, what you’re going to get them, and where you’re going to get it. 

“The first thing I would do is write a list of who,” she says. “After that I would set a budget – that’s the how.” (More on budgeting below.) “Then go back to the list again, and start on the what.”

Once you know what you want, it’s time to tackle the ‘where’. “I like to search to determine where the best value can be found. Search the product on Google, and see where you can get it at the most competitive rate.”  

Be smart with your budget

Once you know who you’re buying for, there are two approaches you can take to budgeting, says Laura.

The first is to start with the total: decide how much you want to spend on gifts overall, then divide it out between all the people on your list.

The second is to start with the individuals – “going down the list and saying, this person is a €50 present, this person is a €20 present” – then add it all together to see what the damage is. This can be a good way of sense-checking whether your dreams match your budget, so you can make any adjustments before you’ve spent a cent.

Get the easy gifts out of the way first

We all have loved ones who are easy to buy for… and others who are the last blank spaces on the list year after year.

If you can get the simple ones out of the way in good time, you’ll clear headspace to tackle those tough customers, and know exactly how much budget you have left.

“I’d start with the easy people,” says Laura. “It’s actually a budgeting thing – I’m ticking off that spend, and I’m getting those easy wins first. Then you can free up time for the trickier buys.”

Getting easy gifts out of the way can free you up to tackle the tricky ones Shutterstock / Olena Yakobchuk Shutterstock / Olena Yakobchuk / Olena Yakobchuk

If you’ve something specific in mind, bag it now

“If you have your heart set on a certain item, whether that is a toy or clothing or perfume, I would recommend you buy it now,” says Siobhán.

It’s not that it’s going to disappear forever, she says – but if you leave it until December, it might not be there just when you want it. 

So which things are particularly at risk? “Toys, artificial Christmas trees, clothing, car parts and electronics are on a list of hard-to-get items this year. We’ve already had Smyths warn parents to shop early or risk missing out on coveted items.”

Do your homework online

When it comes to those difficult presents – the father-in-law whose scarf collection is already overflowing, or the teen who mentions TikTokers you’ve never heard of – Laura suggests a little homework.

“Google is there for a reason,” she says. “Literally search something like ‘gifts for mums’.” You might not find the perfect present straight away, but you’re likely to get some inspiration.

“For a younger gift recipient, I’d look at their social media,” she says. “Who do they follow, what brands are they following? So if your sister follows Jo Malone on Instagram, that might be the right brand of perfume for her. Or you can look at ‘mirror brands’ – this  person likes X brand, so they might well like Y brand too.”

Thoughtfulness + treat = present perfection

The perfect gift, says Laura, comes from two ingredients: thoughtfulness, and a little treat for the recipient.

The key, she says, is to show the person that you’ve noticed something about them, and acted on it. “So it might be ‘I noticed when I was in your bathroom that you have this lovely soap, you might like the moisturiser to go with it’.”

This might be simple, but it shows the person that you’re paying attention to them, and thinking about their needs. “That’s a lovely combination. And then if you can, a little sprinkling of ‘I know you wouldn’t buy this for yourself.’”

A little treat can be the perfect present Shutterstock / vnlit Shutterstock / vnlit / vnlit

Don’t be disappointed – stick with trusted sellers

Another reason to plan well ahead, says Siobhán, is to avoid the last-minute rush that can lead people to make purchases they later regret.

“That panic can sometimes blind us into buying from rogue sellers online,” she says.  Irish consumers have strong protections when buying online from any business based in Ireland or another EU country, including the right to certain information about the business, and the right to cancel.

If you’re not sure where a business is located, check their ‘contact us’ page, as some international businesses use ‘.ie’ web addresses even though they’re not based here. You can check out the CCPC website for more safety tips.

Shop sustainably – and save along the way

Over the last 18 months, many people have been thinking more about the impact of where they spend their money, and the value of supporting local and more sustainable businesses.

“I would try to buy local, definitely,” says Laura. “That’s especially true now that Irish brands are producing world-class products – the likes of Chupi jewellery for example, contemporary products you’re proud to wear.” 

Preloved items might not be the first thing to come to mind at Christmas – but they can make great gifts too. “It might be that your other half would love to get Chanel earrings, just once in their life – but you can’t afford them. Go for vintage and you might find that you can get that special piece that will last a lifetime.”

She recommends Dublin vintage store Cobblers Wardrobe for curated designer finds, or French site Vestiaire Collective for a wider selection.  

Still stuck at the last minute? Here’s the answer…

So. You’ve made your list, you’ve thought ahead, you’ve done your absolute best – and somehow you’re still missing that last present on Christmas Eve. What’s the magic gift?

“You’re in voucher territory,” says Laura. “But rather than giving a cash voucher – this much money to spend in this shopping centre or department store – give a person time and something that is comforting. A massage, a voucher for a day spa, an afternoon tea, or a hot towel shave for a man. We’ve all been wishing for a treat for the last two years, and now is the time to do it.”

If you’d like to shop smarter and safer this Christmas, get the credit card that’s right for you from An Post Money. The An Post Money Classic card has Ireland’s best balance transfer offer with 0% interest on credit card Balance Transfers for 12 months.* Or check out the An Post Money Flex card for our lowest rate from 15.7% APR.** 

Interviewees are independent and received no compensation for this article.

* Information correct as of 15th October 2021 and not subject to salary restrictions, source CCPC.ie. Standard variable rate of 22.9% APR will apply once the balance transfer promotional period ends. 22.9% APR assumes that you draw your entire credit limit in one transaction using your card for a period of one year, and repay in 12 equal instalments, the principal plus the respective interest amounts (if your credit limit has not yet been finalised, we have assumed that it will be €1,500), and Government stamp duty of €30 on the card is charged, the total amount you would have to pay would be €1,666.50. Cost of credit €136.50.

** Rate is based on your financial profile and credit history. A higher rate may apply.

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