RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- With Christmas right around the corner, the time for holiday shopping is coming to a close and last minute shoppers are scrambling to take advantage of the last holiday deals without breaking the bank.
Ideally, everyone wants to buy the best gifts for every person they know, but it’s important to be able to set a realistic holiday budget to relieve the stress of shopping the week before Christmas.
“The biggest misconception of buying a perfect gift is that the perfect gift is the most expensive gift,” said Tech. Sgt. Bryan Bittner, 86th Comptroller Squadron special actions NCO in charge.
Let go of the pressure of purchasing the “perfect” gift and avoid overspending by diving into the holidays with a game plan.
Not every purchase you make has to be the best deal, but being smart and thrifty while shopping is a great way to ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck.
Homemade gifts, using cash instead of credit cards, and saving a monthly allotment throughout the year that goes to an account strictly for a Christmas budget can go a long way toward a stress-free holiday.
To avoid the crowd, some prefer to do their shopping from the comfort of their own homes. The convenience of shopping from home is a huge benefit of online shopping, and results in less compulsive shopping.
According to a study by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Wisconsin, touching an item results in an increase in perceived ownership of that object and desire to buy it.
Without being able to connect to an object in person, the chance of buying something you don’t need becomes less likely when shopping online.
“Shopping online has many benefits,” said Airman 1st Class Martin Anderson, 86th CPTS special actions technician. “I like that I can shop without having to leave my dorm.”
Getting the majority of Christmas shopping done online can seem more appealing in an unfamiliar area.
For military families in a new country for the first time, the new language and different culture can be overwhelming enough without adding the high expectations that come with the holidays.
Being stationed overseas, military members have the advantage of getting unique gifts from Europe for families and friends, but also the disadvantage of easily spending too much money, given the difference in currency.
Relax and enjoy the next few weeks, and remember to not get too wrapped up in the holiday spending.
Whether it’s an elaborate gift or just a heartfelt Facebook message, any gift from family will be a most appreciated one.