Holiday Shopping in a Pandemic

2020 Holiday shopping during a pandemic.

What is the best way to shop during a pandemic? There isn’t one. Plain and simple, end of story. There is no right way to do anything as of this time, and that is okay. We put so much emphasis on traditional holiday shopping that for many of us, we do not know any other way to do it. We spend so much time wondering if it’s safe, and fearing any social interaction, yet craving it, yearning for it, needing it above our own instinct for self-preservation. I am here to tell you that you have alternatives beyond going to the mall, or perusing Amazon for the deals of the day. The other thing that sets 2020 apart from years past is finances, we don’t want to admit it, but this year the budgets tight for most of us. So how can we still make a merry holiday season for us, our family, and our friends? Hopefully, the ideas I outline below will inspire you to have a safer, more meaningful, and yet still just as enjoyable holiday.

Go out and shop

The best part about holiday shopping for most of us is the gratification that goes along with it, whether it be from the perusing the shops, or the crowded malls, or the spending of money, or even the warm tingly feelings that come with finding the perfect gift. Just because we are in a pandemic and even stepping out the doors now adays is awfully scary, you shouldn’t dismiss the possibility of going out to do your shopping. Having said that, holiday shopping doesn’t have to be done at big malls, or Walmart, or BestBuy, they can be done in little out of the way shops and stores. Almost anything you would be after, be it stuff for the house, electronics for loved ones, or just knickknacks because you like having or giving out little trinkets. My advice? Do a google search for local shops, or ask an old person (they seem to know all the local hotspots). You’ll find that there are tons of little shops that provide all the same merchandise and presents you want. Not only will you be avoiding the big crowds associated with big malls and shopping centers, but you’ll also be supporting local businesses. A good portion of local businesses aren’t expected to survive the current global crisis, so why not support them?

Getting your gifts in the digital age

The best place to get gifts online is obviously Amazon, it’s easy, it’s quick, they have great deals, and they ship to your front door in very short order. There is nothing wrong with getting all or most of your shopping done there, and I won’t try to convince you otherwise. That being said, there are other options. With everybody being stuck at home, having a reduced income, and being stuck for ungodly amounts of time with loved ones, many people have turned to home businesses. From uncle Ted making end tables, Grandma Esther knitting potholders and hats, or your cousin Marty crafting his own home brewed beer. Your friends and family are all thinking of or actively doing their own side hustles, so why not buy from them? You’ll be getting something unique and special while also supporting people you care about, so give them a call or shoot them a text. You can also check to see if your local favorites have a website, email, or contact number, send them a message, see if you can order that special something local and support your community. Or find a charity that you can buy a gift from, that supports a cause you care about. One that is near and dear to my heart is the Til Valhalla Project, they bring awareness to veteran suicide and hardship relating to our former troops. Being a former member of the United States Air Force, it makes me proud to know that people care as much as I do. They have some amazing shirts and other gifts that I plan on getting for family and friends. (I will include a link at the bottom of the article)

What about no gifts this year?

Think back to the best holiday memory you have, was it about getting a gift? Was it about the check you got from your parents? The T.V you got from your sibling? The toy you got from your best friend? Or was it a meal you had with family, where you just talked and enjoyed each other’s company? Was it a board game? Having a fire and some drinks while watching a classic holiday movie? For me it was the first Christmas we spent on the farm, I don’t remember what gifts I got, but I do remember the feeling of being completely happy, watching the snow fall, having a fire and watching It’s a Wonderful Life with my parents, enjoying a bowl of my family’s famous fish stew (which in my opinion still needs some work). If your budget is tight this year, or if you want something less stressful and with less risk, play a family game of cards, or charades, make the meal a family project, teach the kids how to build the perfect fire, start a new holiday tradition. Unwrapping gifts is the one of the biggest mainstream media’s lies about what makes for the perfect holiday, from big jewelry companies saying that expensive diamond necklace is the only thing that will make her smile, to toy companies saying that no kid should go without a nerf gun this year. The truth is that by this time next year that thing that they couldn’t live without is now just a discarded trinket, in a pile of past discarded trinkets. Instead of buying a memory this year, try making one.

Closing remarks :

Choosing to go the extra mile this year just isn’t as feasible as it has in years before. Planning big shopping trips, or distant vacations just isn’t as easy or simple as it used to be. By no means am I telling you not to, but why take the risk, why spend the money, why make it the same as before? Nothing about 2020 is the same as it was in years before, so why should the holiday’s? Make it simple, make it safe, and make it unique and special.

Link for the Til Valhalla Project: https://tilvalhallaproject.com/