Christmas shopping can be an exhausting and time consuming activity. Whether you prefer to shop online and avoid the crowds, or you like to get right in the thick of it by visiting each store – there is usually more stress involved than necessary.I suggest that you start your shopping early. If you see something that you know someone will like, pick it up! Even if it’s October, if you know that person will like it than buy it! I started buying Christmas presents last year in September and even sent a few out in October. Sometimes you can be a bit too prepared, but it gets some of the shopping out of the way super early. Especially if you are sending items abroad- never depend on the postal service! This will make your life lot less stressful when December 23rd comes around and you already have your gifts purchased, wrapped, and labeled.Online shopping is much more relaxing, you can sit on the couch in front of the television and be in the comfort of your home rather than trying to squeeze onto the tube with all of your purchases. Whacking people with your giant bags and constantly apologizing gets old very quickly. But the downside of online shopping is buying the correct size, how does the fabric feel, does it really fit that way in real life. All things to consider when shopping online. When it comes to handbags, good companies will send you swatches of leather. This way you can feel the leather and see the colour with your own eyes as sometimes the pictures on the internet just don’t look the same. Some pictures don’t do justice for the products either, when they are much nicer in person than in a photograph.Either way, don’t wait until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping. If you are brave you can hit the Black Friday sales. Be prepared to push and shove and maybe even elbow your way through. Stores are way too crowded the week before Christmas and sometimes online retailers will either run out of stock, or you risk the chance that the gift won’t arrive in time. Take last year for example and that crazy snow we had. Gifts were delivered late due to the weather; so don’t leave it to the last minute! The early bird catches the worm is a perfect saying for the Christmas period.