As the 2021 end-of-year holiday shopping season begins, experts are concerned that a number of unfavorable conditions could converge to create the perfect storm for the consumer. The global impact of COVID-19 is still crippling the shipping industry, creating a shortage of workers and vessels, which is driving up costs and creating lengthy delays. This fracturing of the supply chain could also hurt retailers, making it difficult for them to get the merchandise they’re counting on for sales.
To ensure you get what you want, when you want it, at the best price, the top strategy for the 2021 holiday shopping season is to start now. To help you out, we’ve put together this handy guide.
Holiday shopping tips for 2021
Do your homework
If you don’t know what something normally costs, it’s impossible to know whether you’re getting a good deal. A savvy consumer follows prices all year long to learn when it’s truly the best time to buy.
Buy early
If you’re interested in something that must arrive on time, like an Advent calendar or holiday decorations, the best way to ensure that happens in 2021 is to buy early. Additionally, if demand goes up and supply goes down, the price may increase as the holidays get closer — giving you another reason to get a head start on your holiday shopping this year.
Ship direct
If you have friends and relatives scattered about the country, don’t have their gifts shipped to your house. If you do, it means you will need to unbox them, wrap them, rebox them and pay for shipping a second time. Instead, have your gifts shipped directly to the recipient. This will not only get them there faster and cheaper, but also will be kinder to the environment.
Buy last year’s model
If you don’t need to have the latest, greatest everything, consider purchasing last year’s model. Typically, the previous year’s model is substantially discounted when the new version comes out. Even better, the stock might not deplete as rapidly because more people will be interested in the newer model. As a bonus, you won’t have to wait for Black Friday because last year’s model is available right now.
Subscribe to Amazon Prime
If you’re a frequent online shopper, you’ve probably discovered that shipping can sometimes cost nearly as much as the actual product. The simple solution is to subscribe to Amazon Prime for free shipping. With Amazon Prime, you can also get streaming benefits, access to Prime Day, subscription discounts and more. You can even link your Amazon Prime account with one other adult to share the savings.
Best products to buy during the 2021 holiday season
PlayStation 5 Console: available at Amazon
To play your best game, you need the best system. The PS5 console gives you lightning-fast gameplay speeds with a custom CPU, GPU and an ultrafast SSD with integrated I/O. The adaptive triggers, 3D soundscapes and haptic feedback provide total immersion gaming.
Ring Video Doorbell 4: available at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot
The latest version of the popular Ring Video Doorbell offers color pre-roll video previews that let you see what happened leading up to the time you received an alert. This model can either be connected to your existing doorbell wires or powered by a removable, rechargeable battery pack for ease of installation.
Echo Show 15: available at Amazon
If you crave the latest, greatest tech possible, Amazon’s Echo Show 15 is currently only available via pre-order. This new version places your entire smart home at your fingertips. It has a 15.6-inch full HD smart display with a 5 MP camera. The unit works in either landscape or portrait orientation and can be mounted on a wall or a stand.
Apple iPad Mini: available at Amazon and Staples
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The Apple iPad Mini is a high-end compact tablet that has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and wide color for an exceptional visual experience. The unit has landscape speakers, connects with ultrafast Wi-Fi 6, offers up to 10 hours of battery life and works with a 2nd generation Apple Pencil.
MasterClass: available at MasterClass
If you’d like to enrich your life, MasterClass is the way to go. A subscription to this service gives you access to classes that are taught by celebrated individuals who are highly successful in their chosen field. For instance, you can get tips on filmmaking from James Cameron, learn how to cook from Gordon Ramsay or select whatever class you’d like from over 100 instructors.
Fitbit Versa 2: available at Amazon, Kohl’s and Macy’s
Besides helping you to stay in shape by tracking steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes and more, this Fitbit includes Amazon Alexa. The large display and the “always on” option combine to give you information at a glance, whenever you need it.
American Tourister Fieldbrook XLT Softside Upright Luggage: available at Amazon
If you’re planning on traveling this holiday season, you might want to get yourself some new luggage. This five-piece option has multidirectional spinner wheels for mobility and an abundance of interior and exterior pockets to keep you organized. The 10-year warranty provides peace of mind.
Cosori Air Fryer Max XL: available at Amazon, Home Depot and Staples
An air fryer is an appliance that evenly cooks your food by using circulating hot air. This one-touch model by Cosori has 13 different cooking functions that allow you to easily cook anything from bacon to vegetables. The included book has 100 recipes so you can make breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert.
De’Longhi Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine: available at Amazon and Wayfair
This machine lets you enjoy barista-quality single or double espresso and cappuccino in your own home. It has two thermostats for water and steam pressure and is manufactured using high-quality stainless steel for durability.
Brita Soho 5-Cup Water Filtration Pitcher: available at Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot
Instead of drinking bottled water and creating waste for the planet, filter the water that comes out of your tap. This 5-cup filtration pitcher from Brita eliminates 98% of the lead that may be in your drinking water. It can also reduce the amounts of copper, mercury and cadmium to give you a fresher, safer way of hydrating.
Exploding Kittens: available at Amazon and Kohl’s
This hugely popular card game has sold over 10 million copies. It is best for ages 7 and up and features kittens, laser beams, explosions and goats. The goal is simply not to explode and you can learn to play in just two minutes.
iRobot Roomba i3: available at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot and Wayfair
The three-stage cleaning system on this model can give your home a thorough vacuuming. This intelligent machine maps and learns your home’s layout, listens to your voice commands and can tell the difference between hardwood flooring and carpeting so it always delivers optimal performance.
Theragun PRO: available at Therabody
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Powerful, quiet and effective, the Theragun PRO can enhance muscle recovery, soothe discomfort and release stress and tension, whether from an intense workout or too many hours spent sitting at your desk.
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