Right, right – you shouldn’t be shopping on Christmas Eve in the first place, but . . . stuff happens. So you may find yourself on your way home from work on the 24th with one or two or all of the presents on your list still unbought, and the thought of the crowded mall looming in your mind like the Ghost of Christmas Past.
It doesn’t have to be like that. There are plenty of places to shop that are quiet, even peaceful, on Christmas Eve. You can get your shopping done without wrecking your nerves. How do I know? I visited a dozen retail outlets on Christmas Eve between 10 a.m. and four p.m. Here’s what I found.
First, you’ll have to give up on the idea of finding the perfect present for anyone – but by Christmas Eve, you probably already have. Tell yourself firmly that it’s the thought that counts, and try one or more of these places.
And then, you can say proudly, along with the late Stan Rogers: “At last I’m ready for Christmas, with nearly two hours to go!”
Jane Wangersky is the author of In Small Packages: Gifts You Can Mail at Canada's Lowest Postal Rates, available for $3.75 at http://www.smallpackages.ca |
The yuletide season is here once again and part of the magic of Christmas is the gift-giving. Well… it is easy and fun to receive but absolutely hellish and difficult to give, not because you don’t want to but because you can’t!
In addition to the fact that you must have big savings on your bank account come December in order to buy everything on your Christmas gift list, you also need to have the fortitude and the courage to go to malls and squirm your way through the throngs of people. Holiday shopping can be a jungle with people all trying their damnedest to complete their task.
Below are two tips that can help you avoid the Christmas rush and spend your shopping days in leisure.
1. Shop early
If you have the time and the money to spend, do your Christmas shopping early. That way, you can avoid the melee of people all trying to buy the same things on your Christmas list. Since there is no rush as Christmas is months away, you are not pressured to buy the first items that you see. You will have more time to choose. Also, by not pressuring yourself to buy on site, you can look for items that are cheaper or prices that better fit your budget.
Another advantage of shopping early is the fact that you can take advantage of pre-Christmas promos and discounts. Most stores put their old stocks or old collections on clearance sale. They do this in order to prepare for the coming season, where new collection will be displayed. This can help you budget your money better especially if you do not have that much to spend.
2. Make a list
Although it may seem a bit old-fashioned to make lists of all the people that you are going to give a gift to, it actually works especially in organizing your shopping routine. For instance, you can group your list according to age and then to gender. That way, when you are in one section of the store, you are able to find items that you can give to a certain group.
Otherwise, you will have to come back again to the section of the department store, which is a serious waste time and energy. If you already know what you will give them, all the better. Indicate the target gift item in your list so that it will easy for you to find them.
Low Jeremy maintains christmas-gift.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.
There’s no denying that Christmas time is fast approaching. Aside from Christmas decors, one of the most popular items purchased during this special season include a wide array of Christmas gifts. Being a major attraction for everyone, Christmas gifts are anticipated by everyone especially those by families and family members.
CHOOSING PRESENTS FOR THE FAMILY
Christmas is indeed a very special time for families all over the world. Bringing the joy and excitement of Christmas time into its fullest form are family Christmas gifts and presents. Each and everyone of us would want to give our parents, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, husbands, wives a special family present.
Like finding that elusive gift for a girlfriend or a boyfriend, choosing the perfect family Christmas gift can be a strenuous and tedious task. To help you find the perfect gift for your family members, here are some gift ideas and presents that will surely make their Christmas season merrier.
Among the so many family Christmas gift ideas out there, handmade family Christmas presents always top the list. Aside from being unique, various selections of family Christmas presents also reflect the value of the recipient.
Hand-made Christmas gifts may include a special painting of a family, a sculpture that symbolizes family unity, or pieces of clothing that embody familial spirit. Family picture or a picture of a specific family member placed in a special hand-made frame is also an excellent choice.
If you’re on a tight budget and would still want to provide something for your family members, worry no more because family Christmas gifts need not be expensive. All you have to do is to know the interests of each family member and personalized something for them.
Inexpensive family Christmas presents may include customized Christmas cards and home-made cookies, home-cooked meals and delights, a personal shopping spree for them or a day of special service. Remember, when giving gifts, the monetary value of the item of the present counts, it’s the thought behind it that really matters.
But, if you really want to give something concrete for a present, here are some unique family Christmas gifts you can choose from:
1. One-year subscription of the family’s favorite magazine or newspaper. If the whole family is into reading a specific magazine or a newspaper, why not surprise them a year of subscription? Aside from helping your parents out in cutting expenses caused by subscription, this is also a practical idea because all of the family members will benefit from it.
2. A new Bible. If your family is Catholic, a new Bible will definitely be a prized possession. You can buy a newest or latest version in hardbound or if you want to be somehow techy, an audio Bible is perfect for the whole family especially for those members who love to drive.
3. A music CD. If the family loves to listen to a certain artist or inclined to a specific music genre, a music cd will definitely be a hit.
4. Lots of video or DVD. If almost all of the family members are movie buffs, it would be a pleasant surprise for each and every one of them if you buy quality movies in DVD. Aside from being able to share it with everyone, copies of timeless movies can also be an investment in the future.
5. Fun stuff and games for the family. If you’re family is into playing a specific game together for a bonding, then fun stuff and games such as board games, projects, and activities will be appreciated.
Low Jeremy maintains http://christmas-gift.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.
If you need more gift ideas for mom; please visit the Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom section in my website. You can also find Christmas Gift Ideas for Teens on my website.
Is it already Christmas again? It seems to sneak up on me every single year. The leaves start falling and soon the Christmas aisles are full and you hear Christmas carols piped through all of the stores. Christmas time is one of my favorite holidays, simply becaue it is a time for my family to gather together. Eating all of those wonderful sweets and foods just raises my spirit. One thing that does not thrill my soul, however, is Christmas gifts shopping. What new things will my children want this year? My children are alreay checking out all of the commercials on television and making their lists.
What Christmas gifts have your children been dreaming about? Have you checked out the hottest new toys? How do you choose which gift your child will really like when they are constantly changing their minds and their lists? This is one of those difficult questions that parents face. If you can determine what your child will enjoy before the Christmas rush, however, you will find that your Christmas gifts shopping will become much less stressful. The new, hot toys are most likely going to sell out before Christmas even gets here so that is why you need to know what your child likes so that you can buy it as soon as it comes out. Children usually get their hearts set on one or two specific toys and being aware of what they want in advance will allow you to buy early. This also helps to cut down on disappoinment. October is a great time to start that shopping because most people are concerned with Halloween at this point and have not even started thinking about Christmas.
If, however, you still are unsure of what toys should should buy for your children's Christmas gifts, you can look online. Searching on Google.com for a specific toy is the simplest and easiest way to find that Christmas gift that you are looking for. Your search results will most likely include Amazon.com. They usually have anything and everything that you want and need. All you do is click and pay. How easy is that? Christmas gifts without the stress of the mall! Merry Christmas!
Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of many resources published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A website with tips on ornaments and Christmas gifts ideas.
Finding great Christmas gifts for women is a tough job for many men. You think, plan, cancel plans, make new ones, and then buy a gift which you think the lady would never like. Why not think a little beforehand and then act according to it. What you need to think about is what the woman is most specialized in or how she enjoys herself the most. For example, if she likes to try new fashions and colorful clothing items, then you can buy a wonderful scarf or a muffler for her. Even sweaters, stockings and shawls are liked by many women.
Think of what might be useful for them in their household. Most women like to receive Christmas gifts which will help them decorate their home, especially the bedroom and the kitchen. They like to try out new machines, choppers, blenders, juicers etc. These machines can prove to be good gifts for women. For the bedroom she would love to have elegant lamps, mirrors and rugs. If you want to have something smaller and more stylish you can also look for decorative stuff, for example candles, and fresh flowers. Even perfumes and body accessories are loved by many women.
Humorous gifts also tell woman how much you care for her to have thought of such an idea to make she smile. It is always very touchy to give something out of your own possession which woman may have admired or appreciated at some point. Polish it a little and wrap it in a beautiful Christmas gift wrap to give it a new look. Buy something nice for the bedroom or living room and help her in deciding where it should be placed. Try to have everything in perfect harmony so that nothing may look out of place or disoriented.
Finally, an idea every woman would love, is to receive a shopping voucher as a Christmas gift. All women are shopaholic whether they admit it or not. You can also surprise your lady with a surprise dinner at her favorite restaurant. Women love it when men remember their favorite hangouts and other things they might have told them at some point in their lives. If you can think back to an old occasion the both of you enjoyed, you can bring back that time by making everything look the same again and surprise her. Believe me, this is going to take her breath away.
George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including lowers and purses site. If you want to read more about Christmas, click over to George Christmas site.