Shopping Woes [25/11/23]

25/11/23 ManchuCandidate 17

Tis the season to break out the body armor, football/hockey helmet and baseball bat as it is crazy holiday shopping season. The time to flip off grannies and shove strollers and become the worst of people just to get 25% off on a Juicero or semi-defective Panafonics TV Flat Screen TV as gift for that family member you loathe.

As some of you might have guessed from past NOTs regarding this shopping season, I don’t like this time of year and avoid the malls like CoVID (hello!)

Are you a planner or a last minute shopper?

I used to be a planner, but thanks to work and such that now I am a last minute (online) shopper. I still try to be thoughtful and I was in the past, but the last few years I’ve been sinking into gift card territory. My parents didn’t want much as they got into grump old people stage and my sisters usually buy what they want so it doesn’t leave me many gift options.

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17 Comments

  2. As I have gotten older and wiser, I’ve come to appreciate the wisdom of the obvious gift. If someone likes beer, get them a couple/few nice sixers. If someone likes to bake, get them whole vanilla beans. If someone likes to ski, get them gloves.

  3. I shop year round. I may not get the best deals but it’s less stressful. My nieces and nephews are at the age where I send food gifts. Usually fudge from the Trappist abbey or another Kentucky confectionery. Their children get Amazon gift cards to buy books. I know Amazon sucks but I don’t know what books they already have. I’m almost finished with my shopping. I just need to get some stocking stuffers. I’m going to hit Target on Monday for those. And a few presents for Fanny.

  4. I exchange gifts with 3 friends, a cousin, and my parents.

    I work really hard to get fun gifts for my friends and cousin. Usually I try to get the bulk of it at craft fairs, local stores, etc.

    My parents are horrible gift givers to me and tell me every Christmas and birthday it’s because I’m just so hard to shop for. I don’t try too hard with them. I’ll hit up Macy’s in a few weeks and pick out a shirt or wallet or something nice for mom, and then I’ll order some stuff on Amazon that my dad could use but won’t buy for himself.

  6. I don’t get anyone other than my kids gifts for Christmas. This year, I’m cutting back on buying stuff. Instead I’m crocheting them blankets in a theme of their choosing. Joke’s on me because the wool from a small business nearby is super duper expensive. At least it’s super amazingly soft and plush and contains no plastic. My strategy is to call them ‘heirloom blankets” so that my kids are guilted into keeping them for the rest of their lives. I can just imagine future arguments when they are teens/young adults: “I don’t care if there’s a Hello Kitty face on it and that you are no longer four years old! Do you know how expensive the wool was???” 😂

  7. that picture was me a minute a go

    zoomies have worn off now…..sorry about that

    anyways…i no longer do christmas shopping….no kids left to shop for and the adults have all agreed its better to not try to buy presents for eachother

    its all about christmas dinner now….and boozy coffee

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