Christmas gift shopping doesn’t have to be stressful if you plan your spree well. Three Brakpan residents share their tips on making your shopping spree stress-free.

Alichia Pieterse
Alichia (31) from Prince George Avenue advises shopping two to three weeks ahead of time, to ensure you get everything you need.

“However, if you have to do last-minute shopping for the aunt you may have forgotten, I’ll say you need to know exactly what you’re looking for so you can skip the long queues and avoid buying unnecessary items,” she says.

Hannelie Ferreira
Hannelie (54) from Gale Road in Dalview has discovered online shopping. “The younger generation already knew about this, but for me it’s quite the experience,” she says.

“In the comfort of my own home and on my own time, I can visit several different websites, which also allows me to compare prices and to have my items delivered.”

She also encourages people to plan ahead, and spread purchases over a longer timeframe so it’s less stressful, especially for items you prefer to view in person.

”I do my research thoroughly, know what I want to buy and also from which shop,” she concludes.

Leoné Kleynhans
Leoné (26) from Gladstone Avenue says to “plan, plan, plan” and to not leave everything to the last minute, as this just causes chaos. “Look out for specials, they help a lot,” she says.

“If you really have to, shop online. It’s much easier, and sometimes cheaper too, just be careful not to get scammed.

“Sometimes it’s also fun to rather gift someone an experience rather than an item, or even money. It’s the small things that count, not how many gifts you give someone. Have fun shopping, and enjoy the Christmas season.”