The holidays are coming up, so that means shopping! I personally don’t really enjoy shopping for clothes or being at the mall in general, but I love shopping for gifts. It’s so fun to find things that other people will really like. Start by creating a list of all the people you would like to remember this holiday season. (You can also keep a list of their birthdays or other special occasions). Next, create a budget, and keep in mind that the best gifts are usually handmade. Don’t think that you need to spend a lot of money in order to buy the best gifts.

After you create a list of friends and family members, start shopping! Choose stores that have special meaning to you. I like to choose stores that have American-made products, are owned by someone I know or who live locally, and stores that handmade or unique gifts. Some of my favorite shopping sprees have been spent collecting a sampling of items and putting them all together into one gift bag, such as local honey, dishes from my favorite artisan, and homemade bread. Be creative when you shop! Don’t fall for the same old products that everyone else purchases.