People gathered around a table making holiday gifts with decorations and a Christmas tree in the background.
Shoppers Report This DIY Holiday Shortcut Actually Pays Off
Written by Edwin Potter on 5/14/2025

Boosting Holiday Shopping With Gift Guides and Recommendations

What’s actually driving me nuts—no one sticks to a neat list anymore. I mean, last night, I watched people bounce from DIY candle kits to USB mugs to random gift guides. Is this even saving time, or just making it all messier? I don’t know. Maybe I’m just bitter.

Curating Gift Guides for Every Budget

My sister—who hates spreadsheets—suddenly color-coded a whole gift guide by budget ($25, $50, $100). I thought it was overkill, but apparently a third of shoppers plan and categorize purchases in October, according to the holiday shopper report. I try to make a “splurge” list, but let’s be real, it’s always wishful thinking.

People want shortcuts. Like, just give me a ranked list: do I need another personalized mug, or should I just get a weighted blanket? No one wants to sift through influencer “top picks” that only work if you’ve got a closet the size of a garage. The best guides are by budget and personality, not just “for her” or “for dad.” Retailers who nail this—visual, organized gift guides—get way more clicks and fewer abandoned carts. But, honestly, I once mixed up dog treats for a friend’s cat. Nobody’s perfect.

Personalized Recommendations Through Customer Data

The only time I find something that actually fits (besides panic-buying at 8:55pm) is when a site remembers I almost bought a zero-waste kitchen kit last month. It’s like, “Thanks for remembering my eco phase.” Retailers push AI-driven recommendations now—sometimes it’s cool, sometimes it’s just creepy.

But here’s the catch—personalization only works if the data’s fresh. If you’re still using last year’s wishlist, good luck. Segment by what I actually browsed this month, not what I thought I wanted last December. If I see another totally random gadget suggestion, I might scream. Retailers with access to all the weird little details—age, taste, cart abandonment times—sometimes get it right. Even if they miss, at least it’s not another fondue set.

Creative Ways to Earn Money with Holiday Shortcuts

Grocery bags everywhere, inbox full of “last chance” deals, and receipts multiplying like rabbits. Apparently, people are making extra cash from the holiday mess—no, not just flipping gingerbread kits on eBay. They’re turning regular shopping into real commissions. Didn’t see that one coming.

Commission Opportunities in Holiday Shopping

I’m running through Target, juggling discount codes, and those “invite a friend, get $20” banners are everywhere. Turns out, affiliate programs are everywhere too. I met someone who swears by cash-back and referral links—she actually paid her WiFi bill for three months off last December’s commissions. Wild.

Brands like Rakuten and Capital One Shopping just hand out recurring payouts if you’ve got friends who’ll click your links. Forbes even said people are making custom shopping lists for family, raking in little commissions on every order. Sounds like a pain, but I watched it happen. The best part? You don’t even need a blog. The Forbes holiday shopping side hustle guide shows how $50 here and $10 there can actually add up to something real.

Growing Average Order Value With Smart Strategies

Bundling—everyone acts like it’s new, but come on. My neighbor showed me his trick: stacking everyday stuff with trending seasonal things, hitting free shipping, and unlocking bonuses he doesn’t even want. Seriously, who needs another mug? US News & World Report said shoppers bumped their average order value up by 20% last year just by letting promotions talk them into one more item.

I tried splitting orders—no bundles versus bundles—and, wow, retailers love to throw in surprise gifts or loyalty points. That $55 order? Suddenly $75, and I didn’t even notice. If you’re strategic, rewards pile up, especially if you’re stacking with store cards. Not just for influencers—FinanceBuzz’s holiday hustle guide has regular people turning dozens of tiny purchases into big bundles for cashback. Still, I can’t explain why a pair of holiday socks always tips me into buying more every year. The numbers work, but my logic? Not so much.

Optimizing Holiday Marketing Strategy for DIY Success

Trying to track conversions and send emails that don’t land in spam at 3 a.m.—sometimes I feel like DIYers are supposed to be wizards. Everyone’s like, “Just pick the right channels and write good copy,” but, I mean, my uncle tried to sell woodshop crafts with handwritten flyers at church. He sold six. Not exactly a masterclass.