Why You Should Start Your Christmas Shopping Now, According To Our Astrologer

While Christmas in July is almost as ingrained in our society as Christmas in December (hello, Hallmark movies galore), Christmas shopping in July is a step too far for some. However, expert astrologer and author Susan Miller, founder of Astrology Zone, advises that leaving your Christmas shopping until November and December is a bad move in 2024, and we have planetary activity to thank for it. 

"Two days before Thanksgiving in America, Mercury goes retrograde, and stays retrograde until December 15th," Miller explains in an exclusive conversation with Glam. "That's the shopping season. That's Black Friday and Cyber Monday." In layman's terms, this means that Mercury, which usually orbits more quickly than Earth around the sun, slows down until it orbits at a slower rate than Earth. From the Earth's perspective, it seems like Mercury is orbiting backwards (even though it's just slowed down). This is believed to cause an energy shift which can have significant impacts on everything from your mood to your fortune. In particular, the coming retrograde may lead to delays, feelings of being stuck, and unfortunately, money problems. 

And to throw another spanner into the works, 2024's festive season will also see Mars in retrograde from December 6 to February 24, 2025. "When Mars is healthy, he takes two days to go one degree," Miller explains. "A half a degree a day. At the beginning of December, it takes him 18 days to go one degree. We are walking through glue." Thankfully, she has one firm recommendation to cope with this double whammy of astrological activity: "Everybody should shop for Christmas now."

Mercury isn't the only planet that goes into retrograde, but its change in pace is the most notorious. Astrologers believe that when Mercury goes in retrograde (which happens up to four times a year), people can lose control of everything from communication to planning. Even technology can misbehave. Frequently a time of disorganization and disorder, Mercury's retrograde is often accompanied by warnings not to initiate new projects or attempt to tick items off your to-do list, including Christmas shopping. Meanwhile, Mars in retrograde can cause widespread feelings of irritation and low energetic vibrations, and has even been known to bring the drama. "You can't get from A to B to C," Susan Miller explains of this season. "You can't even get from A to B."

But it's not all doom and gloom. While Miller recommends Christmas shopping in July, she confirms that December will be a good time for reflection. "You just have to be content to do a lot of thinking, looking back, tweaking," she tells us exclusively, adding that it will be a particularly fabulous time to do a "wrap up" of your year. "It's a time that actually gives you time to think," she adds. In particular, it can help to brainstorm all the things that went well in your year, along with those low points you aren't looking to repeat come January. 

And though December will likely be frustrating, the good news is most signs are in the same boat. "We're all in this together, although Aries and Scorpio will feel it more," Miller admits. "It happens every two years ... it's normal. It gives you time to take a deep breath and think about things."

Susan Miller also recommends Christmas shopping in July because money problems could arise closer to the holidays. "I think budgets will be low, maybe because of inflation or maybe we'll have a few supply chain problems," Miller shares exclusively with Glam. "You know things are just going to slow down, and Mercury is making it worse."

Getting ahead on your shopping might not sound like the right move if you're anticipating a financial rut, but Miller reassures us that it's not necessary to go spending more than your means. Showing that you thought about your loved ones means more than splashing lots of cash on a performative gift. "You don't want to get them any old thing — you want to get them something really exciting that they'll love, even if it's not expensive," she says. You can begin by purchasing for children and the most special people in your life, and then move on to others. 

The other problem that comes with Christmas shopping too early is figuring out what to buy five months in advance (and making sure it will still be relevant in December). To combat this, Miller recommends buying the ever-versatile gift card. And if you just can't get in the zone for festive shopping in summer? Try rocking some festive makeup looks or indulging in another holiday-themed activity. "I find some people like playing Christmas songs and that gets them in the mood in July and August," Miller suggests. "It is what it is!"