November 28, 2007
Tis the season….to shop
Written by RobynDeHart in Jaunty Post
You can’t go anywhere these days without hearing bells and seeing Christmas decorations and every other sensory detail that envelopes us in the holiday spirit. I used to be an early shopper. I’d have my list done by early September and begin shopping by the end and I’d be done by Thanksgiving. That doesn’t seem to happen much anymore. Here we are a handful of days after Thanksgiving and I’ve barely begun. Now I could have gone out on Black Friday and fought the crowds and had a panic attack and come home with great deals. But frankly I’d rather poke something sharp in my eyes than go shopping on a day like that. The sales, the good deals, just not worth it to me. I tried it once with my sister (who is a perennial shopper for Black Friday) and it was honestly like the worst shopping experience ever. I ended up humming to myself and rocking gently in the car while she finished her task. For her it’s all about the challenge, the race to find the best deal and if it’s an item everyone wants, all the better.
A few years ago I opted to do most of my shopping on-line, thinking that if I bypassed the crowds all together I could get through the season unscathed. But you know what? It wasn’t any fun. I actually do enjoy Christmas shopping, picking out special gifts for my friends and family and something about browsing the internet isn’t quite the same. So now I just do a little on-line and then I hit stores during what I hope is down time to avoid most of the crowds. It seems to work fairly well and that way I get to keep my sanity while enjoying the actual shopping.
So how about you? Do you have a master plan or do you just hit the malls on Christmas Eve and hope for the best? Who’s your favorite person to shop for?
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Shana Says:
I’m like you, Robyn. I do some online and then the rest little by little. USF and I made a list with specific presents for everyone and where to go to get them, so when I’m driving by bed, Bath, and Beyond, I can pull the list out, consult it, and go in and get what I need. It’s still a little stressful when there are crowds or traffic, but if i waited until the last minute, I’d be a wreck. Plus I have to go out of town, so everything HAS to be done early.
My favorite person to shop for is my mom because I can always think of lots of things I know she’d like.
Taryn Raye Says:
This year we did all our major shopping online and I feel less stressed than I have in past shopping experiences. My husband ended up at the store on Christmas Eve one time to get something at Best Buy and he stood in line for about 2 hours just to purchase one or two items. If I’d been with him, I’d have been grumbling and ducking for cover under a shelf somewhere to hide. LOL
My favorite person to shop for would be my mom too. My husband is hard to buy for most the time and then the kids…oh wow…as if they need ANYMORE toys! LOL I dread the fall out from their round of gifts, not just from “Santa” and us, but from their 3 sets of grandparents…ack! I already know my husband’s mom has about 12 gifts EACH for the kids….EEEKKK!!
That doesn’t include what they’ll be getting from my husband’s dad and his wife and from my parents. Before long they won’t be able to get in their rooms for all the “stuff” they have…we need some major decluttering.
brownone Says:
I usually do most of my shopping on Black Friday. But then I always have the “Oh I forgot so-and-so” moments. I like shopping for the kids because I love seeing the looks on thier faces when they open gifts. And this year I have a new nephew to shop for and I’m so excited about that. My sister always treats my children like they are her own so I’m looking forward to doing something special for hers now.
Margo Maguire Says:
My favorite person to shop for … well PEOPLE to shop for … are my kids. They get so excited about everything you give them, and are truly appreciative.
I’m difficult to shop for, so I like to put together a “wish list” of things that my family can choose from. My husband always comes up with something original, though. I’ll let you know what it is this year.
Dev Says:
I’ve done the majority of my shopping online and then have picked up little things while I’m out and about. I’m done now.
My favorite person to shop for is definitely kiddo. I’m always excited when I pick up something for her.
Georgie Lee Says:
Usually I have something in mind for people and I start shopping in November and early December. This year I have no idea what I’m getting anyone so there may be some panic involved.
Dorothy Says:
I’m done with all my shopping. I did a little online and got the rest before Thanksgiving even. I knew I had to get it before it was gone! I have a few things to get, but that’s all.
Favorite people to buy for…definitely my kids. Love trying to get them something they might enjoy without buying the same old same old!
Lacey Says:
I accidentally walked into Walmart on Black Friday because I needed something stupid like toilet paper. Whoops!
Helen Says:
I have never liked shopping so I make a list and decide where to go and spend one day shopping with my hubby and get it all done as quickly as possible. I should be able to go shopping this Sunday and hopefully get it all done then I can concentrate on the baking.
I have 2 grandchildren that I love to buy for.
Have Fun
Helen
Shirley Karr Says:
Since this is a year of firsts for me, and I was awake anyway, I got in line at Circuit City at 4:45 a.m. Friday to get a Door Buster item for my mom. I used to think people were nuts to do that, especially since it was 35 degrees and it took almost an hour to get in the store once they opened, but it was actually kind of fun, in a football game tailgate party sort of way.
Despite the crowds and lines, I think shopping in person instead of on-line is like reading a book instead of an e-book — something about the senses being more fully engaged, much more satisfying, at least for me. I mostly browse on-line to research — compare prices, read product comparisons and reviews, etc.
Jenna Petersen Says:
This year was the first time I did Black Friday. My SIL likes to do it, so we went together. I felt pretty meh about it, I doubt I’d do it again. We actually found most of our gifts a few weeks ago. Today I did shopping online. I have one set of people left to do and then it’s just El Guapo.
As for who my favorite person is to shop for, it varies from year to year. I generally have a few easy people whose gifts are just perfect. That’s fun. And then I have a few people who are really hard. Not so much fun. LOL Unless I find something spectacular later or something.
This year, since we’re going to China in March, EG and I are putting a strict limit on our gifts to each other. So that should make it pretty fun to try to find great things within a lower budget than we usually use.