Top 10 Christmas Shopping Tips

The thought of Christmas shopping is absolutely daunting me.  I am absolutely petrified.  I have never been Christmas shopping to buy for everyone before in my life.

Each year Caroline was so organized that she would have Christmas nailed by February.  I’m sure that in the first week of February Caroline would be in front of the queue at the Boots “sale and double points day”.   In fact despite Caroline’s illness earlier this year she had been as organized as ever buying 15 pairs of pyjamas for children and grand-children of friends and family plus various other presents and gift sets.  My problem was I didn’t know who any of the presents were for!  I had to resort to asking Katherine, Caroline’s friend, to pop over to identify the owners.

However, there are still plenty more presents to buy and cards to write.  Having started my quest these are my top tips for Christmas shopping are:

1. Speak to people who know what they are doing when it comes to Christmas shopping.  Consults experts.  You wouldn’t go into a jungle without a guide.  Women’s knowledge of shopping and shops is unbelievable.

2. Compile a list of people you have to buy for and match them with appropriate presents.  Again a woman’s insight is invaluable.  Karen, Caroline’s sister, vetted and changed by list.

3. Get as much as you can from the internet.  No queues; no getting bumped about by elderly ladies in Marks and Spencers; no having to carry around heavy bags.  Do your shopping from the luxury of your own home.  All the main stores will have an online store and then there is always amazon

4. However, its very unlikely that your going to get away with doing everything from your sofa.  You will have to venture to the local mall at some point.  Shops tend to open quite late this time of the year – some to 10pm.  By shopping late at night you can avoid the crowds and the queues allowing you to nip about quickly.

5. If you have to shop during the day remember, “keep calm and carry on”.  Make sure you take your list and take it easy.  Plenty of chill time in the coffee shop and keep smiling when you’re stood in the 15^th queue that day. 

6. Like so many families a tradition in my own family is the Christmas stocking.  Caroline was so insistent that the stockings were from Santa Claus himself.  Caroline would remind the kids and me every year  “if you don’t believe you won’t receive”.   Around 15 low value type presents packed in a stocking made there way from Lapland each year to the bottom of our beds.  By any measure truly a miracle!  I heard a rumour that Santa can often be seen in Superdrug, Boots, Waterstones and much more beside

7. As we are all suffering from the state of the UK economy there are plenty of bargains about making our well earned money go that much further.  There are also the discount stores such as Lidl and Aldi, which are offering superb value.

8. Family hampers and tins of biscuits can be found in Marks and Spencers and John Lewis. 

9. Other ideas for presents are the Gift Experience ranging from “red letter days” to “pampering” to “days for two of you”

10.Don’t forget all this has to be gift-wrapped and it has to be different paper from that used by Santa!