Both small shopping this holiday season more enjoyable and a lot of difficulties.

I always liked that I can shop with small businesses. I not only feel my spending is a more direct impact on people’s lives, but I can more easily find unique, handmade, or otherwise find more interesting items at a big box store than I am.

Although want to support small business, I have been doing my holiday shopping in big malls or Amazon. This seems to be the time of year already busy enough I crossed out all the names in the list of the most convenient way.

However, this year I decided to go the extra mile and vowed to do my holiday shopping small business. Here’s how it went.

How I shopped in small Almost all

I did eventually get from Amazon two gifts: a device for my stepfather, because he is notoriously difficult to store names, and my sister a “strange thing” hoodie, she really wants. There are some items that you really can not get from small businesses.

That being said, I found all the small shops. For books, rather than orders from large retailers, I ordered them online from Powell, local, independent bookstore. I even saved money, because I can buy some of their use. Etsy is all helpful socks from custom wall art and jewelry.

Gift cards to local businesses is a simple and flexible option, especially for people who are difficult to buy. I got my dad a gift card Mediterra NEAN local restaurant, he always wanted to try, my mom got the local nail salon gift certificates.

I came out ahead …… if you do not count shipping

By shopping small businesses rather than big box stores, did not expect to save money. However, I ended up with this year’s gift cost $ 29 less than I did last year, I do not think my gift is not of any significance. If anything, they have more personal and thoughtful. I also used the best rewards credit cards all my holiday shopping this year, so I am now one step closer to using my credit card points for free travel.

I also ended up shipping cost $ 32 this year, and last year I bought shipping through Amazon or in personEverything cost $ 0 and fled. Most of the PLA CES I purchased online holiday deals on offer to free shipping if you order over a certain amount, but there are two items that I purchased last minute and needed to be rushed, resulting in higher transportation costs.

Next year, I will try to order everything by the end of November, in order to avoid paying the courier. Cyber ​​Monday is a great day for gifts online from small businesses – sell on Monday surprised me, even the smallest online sellers and artisans to provide some network this year, which also saved my money craft fairs.

Holiday market and is the perfect last-minute gift

I have a lot of people shopping little more trouble than I was on the Internet, which makes it difficult to pick up last-minute gifts. I spent two weeks leading to Niubi Ø Christmas to visit his parents who live in the suburbs, this means a lot of malls and shopping centers almost entirely accommodate large chain stores.

Fortunately, I found a great craft fair take place the weekend before Christmas, the content is dozens of artists and manufacturers. This is what I picked up my final gift, including a local winery, a hand-carved wooden cutting board, and produced small quantities of gin from a number of prints by local artists. My family and I also found a holiday market, the end of the selection has a wonderful handmade gifts.

Shopping small is difficult, but more valuable

There is no doubt about the Amazon or ordered all run to the mall, do all my shopping in one go it would have been easy. I spent a lot of long-life R key to find the right gift for everyone on my list, because small businesses do not tend to have a large chain stores that offer a variety of choices.

On the other hand, take the time to find alternatives to pick something common, they might have made a more special gift for each of the perfect present for everyone. Some have found that I could not be more perfect, they are I would never have found in a large chain of gift items – and items, they may not find themselves either

More importantly, I have a lot more fun holiday shopping this year than I was last time. I was afraid of shopping all year round, but during the holidays they are particularly terrible. But is more enjoyable browsing craft fairs and festivals market.

TotalOf, I’m glad I holid result Alas, this year’s shopping and will try to make all my holiday gift buying again when the holidays roll back small businesses around. With a little planning, I hope I can save more money next year can still get their love everyone.