Christmas - Shopping Madness

Did you ever watch a cockroach race? It's amazing how after you open up the gates those little things start running all over the place as if their heads were on fire and they were looking for a fountain of water to dive into, not realizing that they'd be jumping to their deaths. Well, that's kind of what it's like to do Christmas shopping. Let's face it, we all wait until the last minute. It's December 24 and suddenly we realize that we have 100 gifts to get and 1 hour to get them. What on Earth do we do?

Christmas shopping madness. And make no mistake about it, madness is exactly what it is. The lines at the malls at the checkout counters go around in circles multiple times. The parking lots are so stuffed that you need to put your car in another time zone. You'll get more exercise walking to the store than you got all year doing your food shopping. The rudeness borders on the criminal. And if all that isn't bad enough, you've got cosmetic girls stationed five feet apart, all trying to sell you the latest perfume, whether you're male or female, old or not even old enough to shave. Doesn't matter. There's money to be made.

But believe it or not, there is a way to avoid all this. Christmas shopping doesn't have to be an adventure in jungle warfare. You don't need to take your life in your hands on the roads or in the stores. There is a better way. Okay, so just what is it? When is the best time to do your Christmas shopping? Are there alternatives to trekking out to the malls?

The best time to do your Christmas shopping is right after Thanksgiving, but not the very next day. Most stores will have their first Christmas sales right after Thanksgiving and the sales usually last for the whole weekend; Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The day right after Thanksgiving is as bad as Christmas Eve. Everybody is running out to get those great deals. But by Saturday, or even Sunday, the rush has died down considerably and you can get the same deals without too much hassle. This way you save money and at the same time beat the crowds.

If saving money isn't a priority and you really want to have empty stores to go to, your best shopping times are between December 1 and December 15. You're sure to find that you're about the only one in the store at this time. The roads are pretty clear too.

What if you don't want to go out shopping at all? No problem. Today, with the Internet being what it is, you can do your Christmas shopping online. Many companies even have special delivery terms where they promise that you'll have your order before Christmas. Some even offer next day shipping for a very reasonable fee.

Shopping at Christmas time doesn't have to be a royal pain in the neck. With a little planning and a lot of alternatives, Christmas shopping can actually be an enjoyable experience.

That's until you get the credit card bill in the mail.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Christmas

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