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Every year that goes by finds me doing more and more of my holiday shopping online. I have never in my life enjoyed shopping per se such as going to a mall or department store so when I joined the internet community about ten years ago, I was thrilled with the shopping opportunities. Suddenly I was not forced to go to a mall or department store because I needed to buy a gift. I could go when I wanted to leisurely look around and that made the whole concept a lot easier.

The online shopping trend continued to grow every year since I arrived online and I found that my own shopping habits followed the trend. Ordering Christmas gifts to be delivered to the door via the regular postal service, UPS, or Fed Ex became so easy and familiar that fighting the mall crowds in December now feels like a total no-brainer in my own case.

Shopping for clothing online is a bit different than shopping for things like books, toys, and music, however. If there's anything worse than waiting half an hour in a store line in the middle of December, it is discovering that an article of clothing you ordered online isn't the right size and needs to be returned.

Children's clothing sizes are more universal but the number one rule for shopping online is to check the sizing charts. I was very surprised this last Christmas when I found out how different the charts can be! I haven't had the nerve to buy much clothing online in the past so it came as a complete surprise. Very fortunately everything I bought was exactly the right size, so taking the time to check the charts was definitely beneficial.

If you are shopping for men's clothing, watch the charts but you will generally know a size such as 38 or 40 or 42 and that can easily be checked against the sizing chart in the particular online store at which you are shopping.

That brings us to clothing for girls and women. There is just no way around it. You simply need to check the charts. A lot of the clothing I bought this year was for my daughter. I would be doing a lot of returns if I hadn't checked the charts! One store's medium is another store's large and still another store's small. I am not making this up! For the same size young lady I bought 3 different sizes depending upon the store. Her size was small at one place and the store where I bought a raglan hoodie had the same size listed as an XL.

I realize that some of the difference is between junior and regular sizes, but you still need to check the charts so that you know what "section of the store" you are shopping. That is one thing that's easier in a brick and mortar store . . . at least there are huge signs hanging that say "Junior," "Misses," "Plus Size," etc.

When you sit down to do some clothing shopping online, it is usually a good idea to have not just sizes in mind that you know the recipient wears, but also measurements. It takes a little longer, granted, but it has saved me a lot of time with avoiding having to return things.

Another important aspect of shopping online is to check the net for discount coupons. When I shop, I have a second browser window open that when I find something I want to buy and am ready to check out, I put the store's name into a search engine with the word "coupon" or "discount." I have been amazed at how many places offer discounts for first time shoppers, free shipping, etc. It truly adds up and makes a difference.

Don't be so fast to throw away what you consider spam mail, either. I have been guilty of that in the past, but this year I caught a 40% discount coupon in my email that could be used on any item at Lerners. I was apprehensive all throughout checkout but chose a really great crocheted duster for my daughter. She's wanted a black duster for years but they're always so expensive. I was thrilled after checkout to find that yes, the discount really did work for any item in the catalog and the 40% made a very nice difference.