8 Holiday Toy Shopping Strategies to Keep You Sane

Follow these 8 tips to stay sane this holiday season!After Thanksgiving, the holidays tend to sneak up on you. If you haven't done all your holiday shopping, don't despair, especially if you need to shop for toys. Here are the best shopping strategies to get the toys you want for your kids without losing your sanity.

Here are 8 holiday toy shopping strategies to keep you sane:

1.) Make your gift list and carry it at all times with you.
Write it in your smartphone's to-do list app, send it to yourself in an email or simply print it out and carry it in your wallet.

2.) Shop when others aren't.
That means going to stores first thing in the morning, or in the evening. Avoid the weekends at all costs!

Related: The 20 best apps to get you through the holiday season

3.) Make the most of holiday hours.
Malls and stores tend to have extended hours the 4 weeks before Christmas. Take advantage of them.

4.) Shop by yourself.
Obviously you cannot buy gifts for your kids with your children in tow, but avoid shopping as a social activity. It might be more fun to go with a friend, but holiday shopping is more about efficiency than having a good time. When you have kids, you have to make the most out of every minute you have to get through your to-do list.

5.) Remember that the Internet can be your best friend for holiday shopping.
Not only do you save time and can shop from home when your kids are sleeping, but you can also get free shipping and gift-wrapping. Just make sure the online retailer has a solid reputation and check the return policy. Don't forget to check for any special promotional codes!

Related: 8 holiday gifts your kids will go nuts for -- all under $50!

6.) Comparison shop.
If you have an iPhone or an Android-based phone, download a free barcode scanning app and compare prices when you're at a store. You might be surprised at the price differences in toys.

7.) Shop as early in the season as you can.
Keep in mind that your child's dream toy (such as the Hexbugs Battle Stadium) might be THE toy every kid wants for Christmas this year. Have a plan B in case online stores or retailers close to you are out of stock.

8.) Hang on to your receipts!
Worried about the price going down as Christmas approaches? Many retailers will do a one-time price adjustment for a specific time period (14 days seems to be a common policy) if you show your receipt.

- By Jeannette Kaplun
Follow Jeannette on Babble

For 10 things you can do NOW for a stress-free holiday season, visit Babble!

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