Carols, Tree, Turkey, presents and. . . kisses under the mistletoe! That's what Christmas is all about (Are you an impulsive shopper or a conscientious buyer?)

Member Name: karimkha

Product:	Are you an impulsive shopper or a conscientious buyer?
Date:	19/12/08 (354 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Month of the year, family get together, lots of good food

Disadvantages: Spending too much money, the mistletoe

It's nearly Christmas and we all know what that's means! Am I excited? Erm. . .Well. . .

December . . . the closing stages of the year . . . The month of celebrations and festivals, a holy and sacred month as we label it. We are all waiting keenly for Christmas to come by (or maybe not!) it is the month when Jesus was born(?) and also . . . My mama's Birthday . . . and my parents wedding anniversary which means . . . pay . . . pay . . . and more pay!

When I was a little girl; I couldn't sleep the night before Christmas and I had an advent calendar for Christmas with a picture of a reindeer as a background (the main deal of the calendar was the chocolate, lol), I day-dreamed of that day throughout the year, especially of waking up the next day looking under the Christmas tree, finding presents from my parents, uncles and aunties and a very extraordinary present from my grandparents wrapped in a very traditional way . . . all brought by Papá Noel through our chimney!

I still remember how my parents started to write down a (very organised) visitors list, food list and the presents list (We are a very big family!)

From the very first day of December, my mum started to rampage around the shops nearly every day until the big day . . . buying all she can: food, drink and presents for our family and our cousins; and every night she sat with my dad with the calculator which had became a part of the family particularly in this month! I did not know before why they became very frustrated every Christmas, but now, after all these years, I realise how hectic and tiring Christmas can be; it is not only jingle bells and Santa Claus!

Now . . . I'm old enough to buy presents for the family and with three occasions on the most costly month of the year.

I can feel the pressure: financially and time consuming - and every day after work (and especially on the weekends) from the beginning of this month is a shopping day for me until the Christmas day, so I can't rest until this Christmas day is over!

I always keep wondering who invented such a custom. the Bible to waste all your hard-earned money on one month!
It's not fair to have the joy of shopping for one month and live in debt for the rest of the year! Where did this tradition come from? Does anyone know? If you know please feel free to leave a message in my guestbook, I really want to know!

~~~Christmas in Spain~~~

Christmas in Spain is considerably different from the UK; it officially starts on the 8th of December. We do have something in common such as gift exchanging, the turkey, Christmas tree, and Christmas decoration. However, here in Spain Christmas is more than presents and food; it is a very religious occasion and people still going to church on this day, teaching their kids about Jesus and Belen (Bethlehem), some kids dress up for this event. Schools perform the same old traditional plays. We decorate our houses from inside and outside not forgetting the mistletoe, which became a new feature on Spanish Christmas beside our traditional oil lamps!

Gifts are necessary in Spain and buying presents starts very early as shops and super markets start to display gifts from the end of November!

However. . . when comes to spending and buying gifts, I keep asking myself. . .
"Am I a crazy shopper or a conscientious buyer?"
I guess I am a bit of both depending on how much money I have and how I feel! When I was in England and before the credit crunch and global sudden poverty, I used to be a crazy and a mad shopper in some way. . . I lost it when I saw new and attractive things (particularly when buying presents for my distant family)! I let my heart and my love and passion to my family shop for me instead of my mind and pocket (believe me this kind of shopping exists!)

I can say that I am a careful and conscientious buyer during the rest of the year but when it comes to Christmas, sometimes I totally go astray! Maybe it is because of supermarket chocolate and gifts displays, Boots "3-for-2" offers or Wilkinsons huge reductions; I really don't know! The Christmassy atmosphere and shops decoration or the TV ads (and missing my family) all have messed with my head and seduced me to spend and spend with out thinking of what will happened later; I also blame credit cards and mail order Christmas shopping as well (and 0% APR for the first year)!

On the other hand, when I look around, I see that I'm not the only one on this planet who has been dragged into the "Christmas spending" trap: almost 90% of individual spending is on the last two months of the year!
Now I'm back home with a very tight budget . . . however I still have that child inside me . . . and I think . . . I'm going to waste all my earnings at one go . . . AGAIN!

~~~Christmas is not a religious event anymore and we are aware of that. . .~~~

My mum said to me that Christmas in her days (as a child) was all religious, with Christmas songs, special dances on the streets and humble but beautiful homes and street decoration. At home, a simple home decoration and food; kids all gathered in front of a fire place and an older person (grand parent) talked about the story of Jesus and Belen while kids listened carefully and imagined the incidents. After having the Christmas special dinner, kids waited impatiently for Papa Noël to arrive with presents, very simple, no PS games or ipods!

~~~Why I am saying that?~~~

We cannot only blame ourselves for over-spending; life has been changed over the last 15-20 years. People's attitudes have been changed; showing off has increased; everyone want to go on a holiday during the holidays. Kids want the latest games and devices but never have enough; women are never satisfied with just a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers, while men are big kids themselves! In addition, what get us into debt and big spending in the first place are the banks and personal loans, and of course buy-now-pay-later not forgetting to mention commercials and special offers!

~~~My typical Christmas shopping plans . . .~~~

Now . . . my circumstances have been changed since I moved back home; so have my spending habits. I live with my parents; however that doesn't mean that I don't pay my fair share: Christmas decoration (interior and exterior), food and drink are divided between the three of us; while gifts are bought separately.

This year I'm going to enjoy Christmas properly . . . it's my first proper Christmas, as an adult, with my family and my mum's birthday as well (the poor woman; being born with the same day with Jesus can be a disadvantage)! She is going to have her Christmas present as her main birthday present, but I'm going to buy her a nice, extra present before her birthday so she won't feel it is unjust!

After finishing dinner, we are going to watch the street-dancing festival and surely, there will be money wasting then as well.
This time, I'm going to be in the middle, I cannot be tight fisted and I can't afford to waste a lot of money or to be dragged into debt. I want to enjoy Christmas, and then start a new year with fresh and clean days to look forward.

~~~I have a cunning plan! How to avoid over spending. . . ~~~

* Always write down a list, a list for what presents are you going to buy and for whom, a list for food and drink and other things. You will be more focussed during your shopping trip and it will limit your spending and spare your time and energy!

* Set a budget for your purchases and try to work around it. Don't try to spend an extra penny above the budget. It can be hard for some but this technique always works for me.

* Always buy suitable gifts for every person. Don't buy unsuitable things for people and you know they won't like it because it's reduced, cheap or on offer: it's money wasted, and you will end up with a grumpy and ungrateful look on their face!

* Write down everything you have bought and keep receipts in case you have changed your mind and want to exchange and return a gift. Many shops refused to do so without receipt especially on this high season.

* Buy your presents and party food in advance (maybe weeks before the big day); don't wait to the last minute so you feel pressurised and don't find what are you looking for . . . and therefore you will feel obligated to buy anything . . . at any price.

* Christmas cards . . . and wrapping papers . . . I don't like spending a lot of money on Christmas cards; they always end up in the bin or at a recycle point, so a budget box of cards for most people on my list, E cards for "internet" people and a couple for very special people. As for wrapping papers, don't go over the top; at the end of the day the wrapper, expensive or cheap will be shuttered into pieces!

* Look for special offers, 3 for 2 or BOGOF or ½ price offers BUT don't get over excited, otherwise you will end up with long bill to pay!

* Look for after-Christmas sales and buy things for next year, some people feel ashamed to do so but it's not a sin to save money and I don't think crackers, candles and Christmas decorations will run out of fashion next year!

* Look after your Christmas decorations and store them safely after the event is over; I saw some people throw away decorations after Boxing Day, which is a total loss!

* Think carefully before buying . . . always ask yourself, do you really want it? Will the other person like it?

These were my top tips. . . But am I going to follow them religiously?

Erm . . . at the moment, I'm doing very well but I'm not sure if I am going to be a good girl for long!

Merry Christmas everyone . . . enjoy your shopping trip and spend wisely. . . and remember, Christmas isn't about how much did you spend or how expensive your decoration. . .lightening your house with 1000 volts won't make it the special house in the neighbourhood! It's all in here (Pointing to the heart) give love, cuddles and singing carols with your family gathered happily round your charismas table is priceless . . .

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all Dooyoo-ers


© Karimkha . . . DECEMBER . . . 2008 xx


This review was slightly altered and posted on ciao under the same username.

Summary: Feliz Navidad xx