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The Procrastinating Shopper
One of our more endearing Xmas traditions is the last minute gift. Possibly
not the noblest of traditions but surely common enough to ellicit a
comment or two from anyone who has had to line-up at the check out counter of
any retail establishment.
As long as we've been buying presents for family and loved ones, there
are some among us who just can't seem to get any serious Yuletide
shopping done until the last possible minute.
Indeed, I would wager that the money side of Christmas counts on the last
minute gift buying free-for-all for a large portion of their sales. As for me, My brother is to blame...
You see, my brother promoted last minute Seasonal shopping to an art form.
To watch him weave his way through the multitudes was poetry in motion. It was
hypnotic. And as he's my older brother, I admired him
in every way.
If that is how he did it then that is how I was going to do it. Still, not all of us
are 6'4"and 225lbs so here a few hints to help you produce your own last
minute miracle:
Get prepared. You're going to be standing in line soon enough
so fight the impulse to rush out the house. Make a list, no matter how
general or short.
Understand just whom you are going to be buying for. There's very little time left and
you might just have to shorten your list. If you must shorten, you can
give them a New's Year gift instead. It will still be thought of as kind.
The most important question, of course, is what to get. Let's begin with where
not to go. No matter how convenient it may seem, avoid the "Big Box" superstores. By
now, they'll be picked clean and full of irate Shoppers.
By avoiding the superstores, you must now move outside what might be your comfort zone.
Think of the likes and dislikes of whomever you're buying for. If
that draws a blank, think of their friends and the things they have in
common between them. If that doesn't produce an idea or two, think of the
work they do. If you're absolutely out of ideas, you can always lean on old
faithful. That is, you can go with male or female.
Stop for a just a sec right here. If you've not got a list, start
over! If you do, awesome! You're on your way. Take your list, which must
include names, gifts and possible stores. Head for the door knowing
you've done most of the hard work already!
One last thing before you hit the stores. Get some cash! You can figure
on credit card machines and ATM terminals not working at the most
inopportune times. And besides, there's nothing like real cash to
speed-up check-out.
Once you're in the store, don't browse. Don't forget, you're on a mission
and the clock is ticking! Either it's there or not. Your list should be
fresh in your mind so if you see something that is close to
something on your list, buy it!
Of course, a little practice goes a long way. By the time you're in
your second or third store, you'll have it made.
The best part of looking for a last minute present is the experience itself.
There's not much to tell about buying a Yuletide gift in August! However
you'll bump into all kinds of characters if you venture forth sometime
around December 21st. Oh, the tales you'll be able to tell!
And what better gift can you give than a smile?
Be brave my fellow procrastinators! There's no need to hurry - You've
still got plenty of time...
About the Author: Melissa McMaster is a frequent writer for Christmas Gift Ideas and a serious eleventh-hour shopaholic.
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