Make Your Holidays Happy by Planning Ahead

Origin Bank knows holiday shopping can be stressful under even the best circumstances, especially as tariffs start to push up costs on everything from decorations to technology. Plan ahead and follow these tips to help keep your holidays (and your budget) merry and bright.

  1. Shop Local

    Shopping small is one of the best ways to avoid tariff-driven price increases. This holiday season, skip the big box stores and visit your local arts market for unique gifts. From artisan jewelry to fine art, hand-made ornaments to custom furnishings, you’ll find shelves teeming with items perfect for everyone on your list. As a special Christmas bonus, every purchase you make helps to support a local maker in your community.

  2. Become an Upcycler
    Sustainable shopping is a popular trend, with consumers choosing to “upcycle” gently used items in an effort to reduce waste and support green initiatives. Estate sales, thrift stores, and consignment boutiques offer one-of-a-kind finds and even luxury designer items at reasonable prices that won’t break your holiday budget. With verified sellers and secure payment portals, online secondhand retailers like eBay and Depop make it even easier to shop smart from the comfort of your smartphone.
  3. Don’t Open ‘Til Christmas

    If you want to shop online but worry you won’t have time to receive, wrap, and ship items to your loved ones, consider having online orders shipped directly to the gift recipients on your list. While this might mean foregoing decorative wrapping on a few gifts, not having to double-dip on shipping funds will save you money and take a little pressure off of busy postal workers. Just don’t forget to remind recipients that they can’t open packages until Christmas without landing on next year’s naughty list.

  4. Ship Smart

    Between Cyber Monday shopping and express packages to relatives, the holiday season puts pressure on the postal system, often leading to package delays. Plan ahead by ordering and shipping your gifts early to avoid last-minute surges and ensure delivery before the holidays. You may also want to compare carrier rates and use a service with tracking options so you can monitor your shipments every step of the way.

  5. Shop Safe

    Scammers and thieves don’t take Christmas vacation. When shopping online, buy from secure websites so scammers can’t steal sensitive information or infect your device with malware. Keep an eye out for misspellings and unusual domains (like .io instead of .com), and remember that secure sites start with “https” and show a padlock icon in the address bar.

Once you’ve checked off all the names on your holiday shopping and shipping list, take a moment to relax and enjoy the season. You’ve earned it!