If you’re anything like me, the run up
to Christmas can be a little stressful.
I like to be organised. I dislike
last minute surprises. I am a huge fan
of lists. Although I still manage to
forget one child, a different one, each year.
I am not one of those last minute shoppers.
Today is the second day in December and I
still have a few bits and pieces to collect.
This is the stuff that can ruin the
whole thing for me. When I am finished having
everything wrapped and labelled with nice, thick, black lines drawn through my
list of lists, I literally feel my lungs open up and air filling them. Relief, the release of tension, all of it
leaving my body to make room for some Christmas anticipation and dare I say it,
excitement?
This morning I forfeited my precious
child free three hours to do just that – make a deliberate effort to slough off
the Christmas tension.
Here are my 5 tips to, hopefully, make
the last minute Christmas shopping easier.
Make
a list. It works for a reason.
Make one and most importantly stick to it!
I would even go as far as listing shops in order of preference or
convenience. For example, I enjoy a
cappuccino on the way home so I put the place where I like to buy it, last on
my list. Another idea is to write the
name of each shop you intend to visit on that list and underneath, outline all
you need there. If someone is lucky
enough to be on the receiving end of your purchasing, include their name and
the gift you intend to buy.
Go
early. Possibly the best move you
can make. You will beat the crowds and
also avail of easy parking. It’s a joy
to enter a store and find you have it practically to yourself. Another upside to an earlier visit is
merchandise being on the shelves and not all over the floors which can be the
case as the day moves along. Is there
anything nicer than moving quickly through the aisles and the sheer luxury of
your car parked closed to the building and not half a mile across the parking
lot?
Go
alone. Leave the kids firmly and
positively at home. At the risk of
offending them, I might also suggest that partners are left there too. Trying to shop with small children in tow is
a nightmare at the best of times. Never
mind when you are trying to pick up last minute bits and pieces that you don’t
want them to see. Shopping alone is
actually fun. No-one complains about
being tired, bored, hungry or worst of all, needing the bathroom ten minutes
before the next one does. I suppose this
is where your partner comes in handy. If
he hasn’t wandered off that is.
Give
yourself a time limit. I knew
I had exactly two hours this morning and I made the most of them. I found myself picking up things that caught
my eye but were not on the list so I was
ruthless and put them back. On my way to
the ATM I passed the Wet n’ Wild make-up stand and I was irresistibly drawn
towards it. But I clamped down hard and
walked around the other way on the way out.
It can be done. Reach for your
inner strength. It also meant I hadn’t eaten
into my finances with make-up items I did not need.
Bring
cash. Leave the credit card at home, in the
drawer, in the car. Taking cash means
you are forced to stick to your list and budget. You can’t be tempted by that “unbeatable” completely
unnecessary offer if the drastic plastic isn’t with you.
When
you’re done, you’re done. Know when to quit. Don’t keep going back for more. Even if you have a half hour to spare. And a few bob. And if you do happen to have some cash left
over, will you please contact me and tell me how you managed that part? Please and thank you.
Enjoy the last minute panic and be
careful with that trolley!
No comments:
Post a Comment