Holiday Shopping…My Way!

Dressed to a T

11 years ago

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First and foremost, am I the Only person who is driven Crazy by Christmas Ads and displays in the stores? I mean, for Pete’s sake..it’s not even Halloween yet!

So…back to the blog… Holiday shopping done my way…and how I keep my sanity.

That’s not really the secret…but, it really doesn’t hurt. 🙂

I am usually done with Holiday Shopping by Thanksgiving. Don’t hate me. It’s just the way I survive. Holiday shopping looming over my head drives me nuts, so I try to be efficient, organized, and have most of it done by Thanksgiving.

I handle the holiday shopping 2 ways…what I buy in the stores, and what I buy online.

I write a list, check it twice, carry it with me at all times from September on, of who I buy for, and when I find something that I love, I buy it, and cross it off the list. This works for those on my list, who don’t provide me with a wish list. It’s important to find items that “move me”, and when I’m out shopping and see something I think someone will Love, I get it. I loathe Christmas shopping from Thanksgiving – Christmas Eve. I have friends and relatives who Love shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I’d rather stick needles in my eyes. I don’t do well with crowds (unless it’s a Bears game, or a rally for me) so for those items that I need to “browse” for, I do that from September – November. Easy, painless, and I give myself ample time to fill those lists.

Now “Santa” shopping is a bit trickier, because Santa has to wait for the kids to give him their lists…Let’s say for others who give “me” their lists, here’s what I do. I check the internet first, for everything on the list. And then I check it twice. Most items on these lists can be found online. And, it’s really easy to track, because you receive a confirmation email. The boxes can be shipped to your home, or somewhere else…and can be opened when “others” are not present. And, if you are concerned about shipping costs, (I mean, who isn’t?) you can check out www.couponcabin.com, or retainmenot.com, for lists of shopping discounts. Many, many retailers during the holiday season offer free shipping. Plus, shopping via the internet, you can check to make sure you are getting the lowest possible prices. And, you aren’t driving to the crazy malls, trying to find parking, and trying to find that specific gift, which you would have gotten online anyway!

A fatal mistake would be ordering many times, from the same retailer, and paying that $8 or $12 shipping cost more than once. Make sure when ordering online, you are ordering everything you want from that site/store, to alleviate numerous shipping charges. And, if something isn’t correct, you can wait till after the holidays to return the item to the store (when it’s not a mad house at the malls), so you don’t have to pay the return shipping fees.