Ah December, I thought I heard you jingle into town!
I cannot lie, Christmas is possibly my favourite time of year. The twinkling lights, the colours and getting to spend more time than usual with the people you hold dear make the festive season one to love.
Last weekend, we decided to get our Christmas shopping done early. Being the practical people that we are, we figured we could get this done in a single weekend. I know, I know, it seems at first to be an impossible feat but one which we successfully accomplished!
I know there are many of you who would rather have your teeth pulled than head out into the wilds of Christmas shopping madness but if you follow this simple guide you could have your shopping done, wrapped and ready for giving in a single weekend leaving you with more time to socialise coming up to Christmas Day. You will feel less stressed too, which is always nice, isn't it?
Stage One: The night before the big shop.
What you will need:
- Comfortable pyjamas
- Christmas music
- Snacks
- Notebook/paper
- Pen
Steps:
- Get into your pyjamas, get comfy it will reduce the stress and make it easier to get your festive head on.
- Pop on the Christmas tunes, even the biggest Grinch out there cannot help singing along to 'All I Want for Christmas is You.'
- Start with a list of recipients, who are you giving to this year, do you have a 'Secret Santa' thing happening at work/school/in the family?
- Set your budget, you may need to make categories for this.
- Beside each of the names on your list, keeping your budget in mind, start brain storming some ideas. Think about what the person is into, is there anything you know they need or really want (within your budget).
- Once you have the brain storming done think of the shops you will need to go to. If you have decided for definite on a present for someone and you know where to go to get it then make those presents the priority, this will quicken the process.
- Check wrapping supplies, add them to the list if necessary.
- Set times and meeting points for:
- leaving
- brunch/lunch
- coffee break
- emergencies (if you get lost in waves of shoppers)
- home time
- Now get a good night's sleep!
Stage Two: The morning of the main event.
- Fuel up!! Have a good breakfast, it could be awhile until you eat again. Take it easy on the liquids though, try and strike a balance so that you are not dehydrated but also that you do not waste half your day in line for the toilet!
- Dress appropriately, today is not the day to channel your inner Lady Gaga. Keep it casual, comfy but not sloppy.
- Wear something comfortable and well broken in on your feet. There is nothing worse than getting blisters when you have to be on your feet all day so be wise with your choice of footwear.
- Make sure you have all your lists and money/cards sorted before you leave the house.
Stage Three: The main event.
- Stay focused, follow your plan and do not deviate, there will be time to look around idly after you have bought the presents.
- Try to avoid punching people who stop mid isle to chat, violence will not get you anywhere and will more than likely be counter productive.
- Keep ALL of your receipts.
- Keep tabs on money and time.
- Have a decent lunch, again, easy on the liquids, you still have a while to go before you get home.
- Relief, you have survived the shopping! Now for the wrapping.
- If you need to have some dinner before you begin,
- Get back into your comfy pyjamas, put those Christmas tunes back on.
- Get wrapping! Make sure you have sticky tape and a scissors at the ready.
- Put on your favourite Christmas movie.
- Put your feet up.
- Admire all of the beautifully wrapped presents sitting under your tree.
- Give yourself a pat on the back, you have officially survived Christmas shopping!
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