Brainstorming Gifts, Doing Your Research, and Creating Itemized Lists

If you’ve been to many shops recently, you’ve probably seen all the Halloween fare… nothing to suggest that the winter holidays are coming soon. 

But trust us… those snowmen displays are right around the corner.

That’s why it’s the perfect time to prepare for the holiday season. In Part 1 of this series, we shared how to budget proactively for the holidays. In this installment, we’ll share how to plan your gifts so that you can avoid the last-minute rush and shop ethically.

Let’s dive into how to research, generate ideas, and finalize your budget effectively.

Step 1: Gather gift ideas.

By this point, you’ve already made a list of everyone for whom you want to get gifts, and you’ve set your overall budget, as well as outlined how much you’re spending on each person.

Now, it’s time to gather gift ideas that meet your budget!

You can make this step fun, having brainstorming sessions while drinking hot cocoa, going on Pinterest and gathering visual inspiration, or using a Google Doc (or Airtable) for collaborative family planning. 

For this first and earliest step, you can be as broad as you like (this is all about brainstorming and getting ideas!). Here’s some ideas our team had:

• Fuzzy socks
• Chocolate
• Jewelry
• Purple earrings
• Cute dress
• Bath bombs
• Nativity set
• Candle trio
• Self-care basket
• Gift cards

At this stage, you don’t need to get caught up in the specifics. Just think about what you’d like to give this person so you can start doing research.

Step 2: Research potential gifts.

Once you’ve created your list of gifts that you’d like to give your friends, family, and loved ones, then it’s time to start doing research. 

Not only do you want to research prices to make sure these gifts work with your budget, but you also want to look at reviews or testimonials. Is the quality of the product what you want? Was it sourced ethically?

Is there a more ethical option?

One key question to ask is if there’s an ethical or fair-trade option for the gifts you have in mind. Some people are surprised to find that, even on our website, you can purchase fair-trade clothing, jewelry, home goods, and holiday ornaments… it’s not just food and drink!

Even if you’re not shopping exclusively fair-trade, you can still make an impact by:

• Following our recommendations for making more ethical purchases on these common holiday gift items.
• Purchasing from certified B Corps, whose business models have been third-party recognized for reducing harm to the environment and creating more equity in the world
• Using Amazon and other big-box stores as a search directory for the product you want then purchasing directly from the retailer or brand instead (e.g., purchasing Olly Vitamins from their webstore instead of Walmart).
• Looking to see what sustainability policies the big-box store you’re supporting has in place before making a purchase; some have a Modern Slavery Statement, where they’ll share how they ensure that there is no labor exploitation in their supply chain.

You might also like: Ethical Options for Common Holiday Gifts

Step 3: Create an itemized list.

Now that you’ve done your homework, you can create a specific, itemized list of the gifts you’ll purchase before December. 

In step 1, part of your list might have looked like this:

• Mom ($75): Nice earrings, classy sweater
• Dad ($50): Engraved mug, new pen, and/or sweater
• Best Friend ($35): Candles, bath bombs, self-care stuff

But now, you’ve researched various brands and products, and you probably know the specific products you’re going to get. When you’re creating your itemized list, you want to take your list from Step 1 further and list specific brands, price ranges, and estimated shipping costs (if relevant). 

When you’re done, it will look something like this:

• Mom: Adalee Mother-of-Pearl earrings ($37.99 + tax), Dinadi Merino sweater ($64.99 + tax)
• Dad: Pact vintage long-sleeved tee ($48 + tax)
• Best Friend: Salt scrub ($12.95 + tax), handmade bath bombs ($9.99 + tax), and soy candle ($9.99 + tax)

Like we did, you can even include hyperlinks to where you plan to purchase each product.

Psst… notice a trend? When you factor in tax, let alone shipping costs, the price usually creeps beyond what you budgeted. If you include a 10-20% buffer to your budget like we recommend in Part 1 of this series, you’ll be covered.

Step 4: Sign up for email and SMS notifications.

Now that you know where you’re shopping, sign up for the companies’ email lists so you can stay in-the-know of any holiday flash sales or promos. You may even be eligible for special or tailored discounts that you wouldn’t otherwise earn.

For example, we sometimes offer a 20% discount on various brands and products. If you make a purchase from us, we’ll recommend products that complement your purchase, and sometimes even offer a coupon for that similar-but-related product. (Great for you, right?!)

You can also benefit from having a customer account on the company’s website by building up loyalty points on early purchases you make. 

Then, you can redeem those loyalty points when you’re buying last-minute stocking stuffers. Smart, right? 

You’ll maximize your gift-giving budget and make sure you’ve covered everyone on your list at the same time.

(Not) dashing through the snow

Ultimately, these tips help you take a mindful and strategic approach to gift planning and giving. Brainstorming and researching what gifts you’ll give ensures your holiday shopping will be stress-free and on budget. Rather than dashing through (and getting stuck in) the “snow” of the holiday shopping season – long lines, missed gifts, maxed out credit cards – you’ll be smiling bright.

You might also like: Ethical Options for Common Holiday Gifts