The gradual and gracious approach to shopping (Tips For Hassle-Free Christmas Shopping)

Member Name: Daves

Product:	Tips For Hassle-Free Christmas Shopping
Date:	06/12/01 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Take your time- you won't get stressed, You'll have money in December, You can buy people the gifts you want them to have

Disadvantages: Your closet will be filled to the limit

Every Christmas I go through the same routine- typically wait until the first week of December and then go on a whirlwind around the shops after work. This causes me stress and I end up typically settling on things just so I can stop the madness of shopping.

This year, I decided to break the vicious cycle. I started keeping an eye out on pressies early- back in September in fact. I decided that it was best to buy items as I saw them and keep them in my closet.

I have found some special items including some very rare books for my parents (ones that they remember reading to me as a child but have since gone out of print- I went to zshops on Amazon for that), for my sisters I personalised some mobile phone covers and added photos from last xmas on the covers (went to www.virgin.com/createacover for this) and for some friends I have accumulated some autographed books by the authors which adds a very personal touch (Selfridge's books dept is good for this).

Another great aspect of my new buying strategy is that since I've been buying things gradually (and spending my money gradually), I am not going to feel the great Xmas pinch which usually plagues me at this time of the year.

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