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?!). Continue reading…