I am going to be honest… before I found my holiday shopping groove, my December looked like a festive version of pure chaos.
Picture me roaming through stores like a confused elf, hoping the perfect gift would jump off the shelf and say, “Pick me!” Spoiler: it never did. I would go aisle to aisle searching for inspiration, which usually meant I ended up with random gifts like mystery bath sets or those candles that smell like “winter forest,” even though no one I know has ever stepped foot in one.
It wasn’t until a couple of years ago—during the year I left everything to the last possible minute—that I finally snapped out of the madness. I was short on time, low on ideas, and dangerously close to giving everyone gift cards from the check-out lane. I grabbed a notebook, made a list of all the people I needed to shop for, and wrote one specific gift next to each name. No guessing. No wandering. No, hoping inspiration would magically appear. I just wrote what I wanted to buy, walked into the store, and got it done.
It worked so well that I said, “Okay… future me is definitely doing this again.” And I did. The next year I even started earlier, which made everything so much easier. Now it’s my go-to holiday hack. It’s incredibly simple, which means anyone can do it, and it makes such a difference.
Why a little list makes a big difference
Here’s the thing: making a holiday list is not some groundbreaking productivity trick. It’s literally the oldest idea in the book. But wow, does it work.
When you write down who you’re gifting and what you’re giving them, everything becomes easier. You stop doing laps around the store “looking for inspiration,” which means you avoid buying random stuff just because it was shiny or on sale. You also stick to your budget more naturally because you’re not panic-buying last-minute surprises that no one actually needs.
Starting early helps even more, because you can check prices, look for deals, or decide whether you want to shop online or in-store. But honestly? This little hack saves the day even if you’re running late. If you have the discipline to write the list, you’ll shop faster, spend less, and probably skip the stress entirely.
This tiny habit has made my gifts more thoughtful, my shopping more organized, and my holiday season a lot more peaceful.
How Shopkick turns your plan into a reward-earning superpower
Now here’s where holiday shopping gets fun. Once I have my list, I open the Shopkick app, which instantly adds a little spark of joy to the whole process.
Check where to earn kicks
If I already know the gifts I want, I use Shopkick to see which stores offer kicks for walk-ins, scans, or purchases. That way, if two stores have the same item, I choose the one that helps me earn more. It feels like leveling up my shopping trip.
Use the gift cards I already earned
Sometimes I forget I even have rewards saved until I open the app. When I see a Target, Walmart, or Amazon gift card waiting for me, it’s like finding a bonus holiday budget I earned just by scanning products while grabbing milk on a random Tuesday.
And the best part… Shopkick saves me when I have zero ideas
If I get stuck on a gift (and trust me, it happens every year), I open Shopkick and scroll through products with good kick offers. This is my secret inspiration tool. I can see what’s trending, what has deals, and what I can earn extra kicks on. Then I check whether the product is available online or in-store, which helps me decide the best way to shop.
Some of my most creative gifts have come from a quick browse through the app, which means Shopkick is basically my backup holiday brain.
Make it a calmer, happier holiday
At the end of the day, holiday shopping doesn’t have to be stressful. A simple list and a little help from Shopkick can save you time, money, and energy—so you can enjoy the actual fun parts of the season.
Whether you’re shopping early, running late, or somewhere in between, Shopkick helps you stay organized, discover great gifts, earn rewards, and actually enjoy the process.
Start earning kicks today, because every scan, walk-in, and receipt brings you closer to your next reward. Happy gifting!
Turn your holiday shopping into a kick-collecting adventure. Download Shopkick and start earning kicks every time you walk in, scan, or shop!
