It’s that time of year again. Shops are bedecked with green and red, tinsel wrapped around banisters. While the stores tend to focus on Christmas, the air is filled with the excitement of celebration of all kinds, whether it be for religious holidays, or for meeting up with family over the break. Along with all this celebratory cheer comes the confusion and inevitable question, “What do I get people for the holidays?”

“Holiday spending is expected to grow this year, up between 2.5% and 3.5% over last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Essentially, more holiday spending this year will focus on the parts of the season that bring people together,” stated Betty Lin-Fisher, a reporter for USA Today.

Frantic scouring of Pinterest boards and hours spent on Amazon can be avoided by following some simple steps, ensuring you get the person you are shopping for the gift they desire, without any panic to mar the holiday spirit.

Everyone has likes and dislikes, it’s the main reason celebratory shopping is so hard.  Instead of memorizing what each person’s preferences are, use the table method to efficiently organize your holiday shopping:

Books
- Person A
- Person B

Crafts
- Person D

Food
- Person A
- Person C

Clothes
- Person D
- Person E

Make a 2×2 table in Word, labelling each cell with a different title (for example, books, clothes, handmade items, etc.). Now, add the names of people you know who will enjoy getting items represented by those compartments. With this method, you can break your holiday shopping into designated chunks, limiting the time you spend looking haphazardly for gifts the person might like. With this generalization done, we can add more specificity to our planning.

For the past few years, identifying with a specific aesthetic has blown up on the internet, creating groups of people who follow specific lifestyles that fit their identities. If you know the aesthetic of the person, it then becomes easy to look for clothes/accessories that fit that style! Additionally, if the person is close to you, you can use the history you share together to generate gift ideas; rather than getting something mainstream, get an item that plays off an inside joke, or an item they have been raving about forever.

Need more help? Here are some store recommendations from fellow Spartans!

Sephora: While on the pricier side, there are a wide variety of high quality make-up and self-care products available. And because of the popularity of Sephora, you are sure to find specific products blowing up on the internet!

Marshalls: Recommended for their affordability and their large display of gifts, giving you a vast selection to choose from.

Abercrombie and Fitch: Recommended for their cute tops and branded T-shirts.

H&M: Recommended for the versatility of their clothes, as they can be paired with anything.

Made in Washington: This store is less mainstream than the other ones listed, so it would be the perfect place for unique gifts! It is recommended for the variety of the items it has to offer.

* The Spartan Forum does not endorse any of the companies listed