Your Stress-Less Holiday Shopping Checklist (Curated Picks, Smart Tips & Time-Saving Tricks)
This blog post is about my holiday shopping checklist. The holiday season is officially upon us, and if you’re anything like me, your list is long, your calendar is full, and your bank account is quietly asking, “Ma’am, are we doing this again?”
Yes. Yes, we are. And we’re doing it smarter this year.
I’ve spent months researching, testing, comparing, and purchasing a whole bunch of products so you don’t have to wander the internet wondering what’s worth it. Everything I recommend lives on my Amazon and Walmart storefronts—fully curated, updated constantly, and organized so you can find exactly what you’re looking for (even the “I swear I didn’t forget Cousin Shannon” last-minute gifts).
Before we get into the checklist, here’s a quick note on how shopping through my storefronts works—because people ask all the time:
-
I can’t see who buys what. Promise. No names, nothing personal at all.
-
I simply get credit for sending people to Amazon or Walmart when they shop via a very small commission so you really help me just by shopping through my storefront links which simply bring you to Amazon and Walmart. You can shop for things you want using the search bar as usual.
-
So if you’re already shopping at either store this season and want to support my work, start with my link. It really does help!
Now, let’s get you organized and knock this holiday shopping out with confidence (and maybe even a little fun).
Holiday Shopping Checklist & Planning Guide
1. Make Your Master List
Start with:
-
Who you’re shopping for
-
Your gift ideas (or the general vibe—cozy? beauty? practical?)
-
Your budget for each person
This keeps you from going rogue at 11 p.m. and panic-ordering novelty socks that absolutely no one asked for.
2. Check Your Calendar
Think:
-
Gift exchanges
-
School events
-
Secret Santas
-
Work parties
-
Shipping deadlines
Mark everything down so you know what needs to arrive when.
3. Shop Smart With Curated Picks
I’ve done the browsing, comparing, and test-driving for you—truly.
My storefronts include:
-
Home favorites
-
Beauty and self-care go-tos
-
Kitchen gadgets that actually earn their keep
-
Gifts kids won’t immediately abandon
-
Fashion, accessories, stocking stuffers, and more
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/livingwithdana
Walmart Storefront: https://walmrt.us/43tZ0tq
Browse, save your favorites, add to cart. Your future self will be high-fiving you.
4. Choose the Right Delivery Method
Walmart Pickup (my favorite time-saving secret)
If you haven’t tried Walmart’s online order + store pickup… it is a holiday miracle.
-
Order online
-
Someone else gathers everything
-
You stay in your car
-
You drive away feeling like you won the efficiency Olympics
They’ll also ship many items right to your door—sometimes ridiculously fast.
Amazon Delivery & Easy Returns
Most items arrive quickly, even without Prime.
And yes—returning Amazon items at Kohl’s is still a thing in most locations!
You just:
-
Scan the QR code
-
Walk in
-
Hand it over
-
Walk out feeling like a magician
No box, no tape, no wrestling with packing materials.
5. Track What You’ve Bought
It sounds small, but it’s huge.
Keep a simple list:
-
Purchased
-
Wrapped
-
Delivered
No more discovering a gift in the closet on January 3rd.
6. Wrap as You Go
Future you will thank present you.
No frantic Christmas Eve tape-gun battles.
No missing scissors.
No glitter explosions. (Well, hopefully.)
7. Give Yourself Permission to Keep It Simple
Not every gift needs to be handmade, monogrammed, or imported from a mystical land.
If it’s thoughtful and it brings joy? It counts.
You’re doing great.
Happy gifting, happy saving, and happy simplifying!
If you’re shopping Amazon or Walmart anyway, I’d love for you to start with my links—it’s the usual shopping for you and incredibly helpful for my work. And I promise to keep curating the most useful, pretty, cozy, and clever finds all season long.
Let’s make this the least stressful holiday shopping season yet. You’ve got this. xoxo, Dana
Also visit my earlier blog post about fun holiday things to do: https://livingwithdana.com/2025/11/fun-holiday-things/
