Whether you’re shopping for a gift or something you need around the home or office, shopping ahead of time offers a variety of benefits. Knowing what you plan to purchase allows you to source where the product is made, how far it has to travel to get to you, and if better deals are available. 

When most people shop, the tendency is to make a purchase last-minute. Market research shows that as many as 79% of people do last-minute shopping for gifts. The problem with waiting until the last minute is that you may end up paying more, as retailers are known to raise prices in the months leading up to the holiday season to be able to claim price reductions once the holiday shopping season begins. 

Dressing your best and feeling good about it shouldn’t be anxiety-inducing and emptying your pocketbook. 

In other words, you may pay more in November and December than if you shopped in the summer months. Also, the rush of people waiting until the last minute can impact more than just your bottom line. With a huge spike in carbon from driving to stores, the impact of shopping at the last minute can have long-reaching implications. 

Don’t Shop Before You Know What You’re Buying

Consumers don’t realize that a lot of what is purchased has used a lot of natural resources before they even make the purchase. From production to packaging and transportation, just in gas alone, it requires a ton of resources to produce.

These impacts produce added greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, which accelerate climate issues, and climate has been shown to affect overall respiratory health in people significantly. 

You can shop in big box stores without any idea of the environmental impact that those items make, or you can educate yourself about different types of products that are sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.

Ethical shopping is defined as buying products that don’t exploit people, animals, or the environment. With the definition in hand, how you determine how to shop ethically, you need to consider buying fewer items and more locally produced products. 

Being a conscientious consumer is a buzzword that gets thrown around without most people understanding what it means. 

Being a conscientious consumer implies that a person is aware of every detail of how the product is made and delivered before purchasing it. 

Shopping conscientiously means understanding that the products you buy should all avoid exploitation of any kind. Products that highlight the following are made ethically;

• Fair Trade
• Sustainable Products
• Cruelty-Free
• Carbon Neutral 
• Eco-Friendly Packaging

Products that display any of those traits focus on minimizing their impacts in production, packaging, and delivery. 

The first step in ethical shopping begins by educating yourself about the products and the manufacturer. 

Once you understand where your product is coming from and its production, the next step is to shop early rather than wait for the last-minute rush like most people. 

Shop Early To Be More Ethical

When you’re looking for gifts, shopping earlier in the year gives you a better chance of finding ethically sourced items. 

Once the shopping madness begins, especially around the major holidays, if you start researching holiday gift ideas for 6-months or longer, there’s a better chance of finding matching gifts but ones that are ethically produced. 

Another advantage of shopping months early is finding better deals and promotions. For example, you may be able to find discounts for products from glassware to personalized gifts. 

For the more “particular” person you’re shopping for, the benefit of shopping early is that you may find specific brand coupons like Nike or FragranceX coupon codes online, which serve two functions. 

First, you find a deal for a gift that may be out of stock during the holiday rush. 

On the other hand, you may also find a limited-time discount that won’t be offered later in the year. 

You can save money and the environmental impact by educating yourself about how and where your products are produced. Finding ethically sourced gifts is intelligent and could save you time and money, especially during the holiday season. 

Shopping ahead of time allows you to find a unique, memorable gift that guarantees the product is in stock and minimizes any negative impacts on the environment as well. 

It’s the socially conscious thing to do.