It seems like it’s getting earlier and earlier that holiday decorations are hitting store shelves. Black Friday used to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season, but that may be a thing of the past.
48% of shoppers surveyed by Bankrate said they plan to start shopping by Halloween this year.
The holidays are usually the happiest time of the year. Families gather and old friends gather in town. Everyone is looking forward to competing and buying the final gift.
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When asked when she would start buying presents, one woman answered, “Maybe mid-December.” “The last moment.”
But not everyone wants to buy into these questionable deals. One woman who posted on our Facebook page said she would start the day after Christmas. Another said he keeps his eyes open all year long, waiting for a good deal. However, some people say they don’t think about Christmas all year round and want to enjoy it every time it comes.
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“We have to get through the rest of the holidays first,” one shopper told us. “First we have to get through Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and once after Thanksgiving we count how many nieces and nephews we have, and that’s it.”
This buying frenzy isn’t because we live in a land of planners. Victoria Veda, vice president of communications for the Michigan Retailers Association, said she’s thankful the holiday season is short.
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“Early October and mid-October shopping will definitely become permanent,” Veda said.
She says vacations help spread the financial burden on families. And with only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, the shopping season feels especially hectic.
But don’t worry. For those who find themselves putting off their holiday shopping, Victoria has an easy solution.
“Shopping locally and in-store will give people the opportunity to avoid many of the shopping delays and online out-of-stocks,” she says.
If you’re in the spirit of giving, it goes without saying that this is your chance to support small businesses.
“We encourage shoppers to push only one of their out-of-state online purchases to a Michigan-based retailer,” Veda said. “One such change could create more than 15,000 jobs in Michigan.”
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