How to Avoid Panic Buying, and Pick the Perfect Presents Under Pressure

There is an undeniable love for the festive season, but after a turbulent 2020 Aussies want to feel certain that the Christmas gifts they are buying will be loved, not loathed.

With the silly season in full swing – Christmas catch-ups weekly, dinner parties, and office celebrations, the calendar can get a little hectic, and inevitably gift shopping gets pushed back. With only a few short weeks until Christmas Day, the clock is ticking!

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To help take the guesswork out of gift-giving, Kathy Sheeran, Shopping Expert, and Director at Shopping Confessions have teamed up with consumer psychologist, Dr. Adrian Camilleri to create the Mastercard F.A.B. Formula – to determine if a gift will be a hit.

Fashionable. Appropriate. Bespoke. A gift that answers yes to at least two out of the three means the gift is certain to be a success.

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How to Use the Mastercard F.A.B. Formula For Your Christmas Gifts

F – IS IT FASHIONABLE?

Is the gift relevant for contemporary times? By staying up to date with what is currently trending, selecting a fashionable gift will be a lot easier. Whether it’s scrolling your Instagram feed or doing some desktop research, being prepared with what is trendy is more likely to eliminate last-minute panic buying.

A – IS IT APPROPRIATE?

Is the gift appropriate for your relationship with this person? Depending on who the gift is for, make sure it’s appropriate. For example, the type of present you give your best friend or partner would be different to the present you give to your boss. Ensure your gift is relationship appropriate to avoid any awkward gift-opening moments.

B – IS IT BESPOKE?

Is the gift perfectly tailored to this specific person? Think about the person’s hobbies, what they love, their goals. Purchase a gift unique to that person. The key to nailing this one is being prepared – make a list of who you’re buying for, what you’re thinking of buying them, and then try it with the F.A.B. Formula. You will feel organised and won’t experience buyer’s remorse, a feeling we often get when it comes to last-minute purchases.

Tips and recommendations

Try not to leave your shopping to the last minute, as this can turn into overspending. Time restraints lead to thoughtless gifts just to quickly fill the void.

Gifting is not the only area Aussies can feel more certain in this holiday season. Using the F.A.B. Formula and a Mastercard card, Australians can purchase with confidence knowing their gifts will be a hit and their payments are protected. Through simple, smart and secure transactions, Mastercard cardholders’ payments are protected, no matter where they shop.