SEPTEMBER — the prologue to Filipino Christmas. The start of “BER” months, as they say. This is the month when SM Malls hastily set up Christmas decorations in their malls and when Jose Mari Chan’s royalties spike up annually. This is also the month when the atmosphere starts to feel a bit cozier, enough to make you feel the lingering holiday breeze. 

     But why isn’t this the month people start buying Christmas gifts for their loved ones? With a hassle-free experience, decreased mall traffic, and a wider selection of products, it’s almost a no-brainer to start Christmas shopping as early as September. 

     Whatever the case may be, here is a list of reasons why you should shop early for this year’s Christmas season:

Less Stress & Hassle

     Picture this: It’s Dec. 19, a week before Christmas Eve, and your sister wants this book by her favorite author, Joan Didion. You go to every jam-packed mall, scour every bookstore in your vicinity, and wait for hours in line just for it to be unavailable everywhere. Frantic, you finally find it online and place an order. Come Christmas Day, and you’re left with a hot-headed sibling because your package didn’t arrive on time due to shaky holiday logistics. Early Christmas shopping helps you negate this scenario. Why wait until the very last minute to buy gifts when you had all the time in the world prior? Pre-holiday shopping helps you plan and purchase accordingly without the hassle and stress of everyone buying at the same time as you. 

Spread Out the Cost

     Economically speaking, spreading your Christmas shopping in the months leading up to December is helpful. Instead of dropping thousands of pesos in a singular shopping spree, you can allocate your budget every month to buying gifts on your own terms. In addition, this type of shopping also mitigates the risk of overspending, as people who buy gifts last minute tend to get overwhelmed by the holiday spirit and thus spend more money on presents than they should’ve. 

Intentional Gift Giving

     I have often faced the dilemma of finding a perfect Christmas gift for someone and then realizing that it’s still the middle of July. But to hell with that, why can’t we normalize Christmas shopping in the middle of July? 

     On a more serious note, early Christmas shopping enables spontaneity and intentionality when it comes to gift buying, as we are not pressured by the idea that we need to find a gift for all our loved ones in a short amount of time. You can find presents that may remind us of those closest to our hearts all year round; let us not limit ourselves to only buying gifts in December.

A More Relaxed Christmas

     Let’s face it: the Christmas season is as fun and heartwarming as stressful and tiring. From all the Christmas get-togethers you need to attend, the socializing and chit-chat, to the cooking, gift-wrapping, and everything in between, it’s a rewarding yet draining experience for everyone. So why add the burden that comes with last-minute shopping? Buying gifts early takes a thing or two off your plate when Christmas arrives. 

     Admittedly, there are reasons why people tend to buy Christmas gifts at the last minute. Maybe it’s because of their occupation, busy schedules, financial constraints, innate habits, or just they couldn’t be bothered, and I am not holding it against them. But there is comfort in knowing that early Christmas shopping comes with numerous benefits, and I hope people start considering it in their own lives.