Deck the Malls and Shop the Madness
The turkey and sweet potato leftovers are still lingering but all I could think about this past weekend was shopping! I didn’t get up at 4 a.m. to venture out on Black Friday, but I sure did consider it. I added products to several websites’ shopping carts, but didn’t follow through on any. I put together a spreadsheet of gifts I need to get, but haven’t checked any off as of yet. Still, I can’t stop thinking about all that needs to be done.
What to get for this or that person, how to cut back on spending, where to find the best discounts, and should I or shouldn’t I take a chance buying gifts that aren’t found on someone’s wishlist. When did this all get so complicated? Maybe when I had kids, although I must say, buying for my own boys is the only fun part of the season lately. Besides them, I feel like I’m on the losing end of a deadline to buy meaningless gifts.
In moments of clarity, I remember back a few years ago when I never started shopping anytime before Christmas week. Now I start stressing once the Halloween candy is gone. Perhaps it’s because I have to worry about remembering to ask for gift receipts or end up reading too many online customer reviews before making a purchase. Maybe I’m trying to keep up with those friends and relatives who already have their shopping done and gifts wrapped (who are these people?!).
I want to find a day to go marathon shopping sometime soon, but there’s the lines, and the lack of parking spaces, and the fact that I have an infant to cart around with me this year. I also need to make it out of the mall by school dismissal time to pick up my big guy, which is tough. I guess online shopping will once again bail me out, but it takes away some of the fun. I love the feeling of spotting that perfect toy or sweater for someone much more than scrolling an online wishlist and clicking an already-chosen item into a virtual cart.
The point is I want to rediscover the fun holiday shopping sprees of yesteryear. I want my kids to see me excited about the season the way I saw my family enjoy it growing up. Part of that is shopping for gifts, but it was also spending hours in the kitchen baking cookies or making chocolate lollipops while we sang Christmas carols and watched “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In our fast-paced digital world always reminding us how few shopping days are left until Christmas, we need to slow down and kick it old school, if you will. At least I’m going to try.
Readers, what are you doing to curb holiday shopping stress? Please share your tips.
December 2, 2009, 7:24 am
I think you are very ambitious to return to the perfect gift hunt of yesteryear! We made it a rule in my family a few years back that everyone has to make their wishlist on myregistry.com by Thanksgiving so that shopping isn’t so stressful. I just pick an afternoon to do all my shopping in one sitting (usually on my couch!). Of course people are welcome to deviate from the list, but that’s just a lot of work for uncertain results in my opinion!