I've come across several reviews about Internet Christmas shopping, so thought I'd share my chosen websites with you! Although I have done some shopping on the High Street - mainly in The Works, but also in Boots and Woolies (for the last time!) - most of my Christmas shopping has been done online.

Personally I hate shopping (except food shopping bizarrely), and hate the crowds, so love shopping from the comfort of my own home (or work if I'm being naughty!) I get all of my Internet orders delivered to work (obviously as I'm at work there's no one at home to answer the door) and I think that the postroom at work are starting to hate me - but I really don't care!

So, here goes with where I've bought my Christmas presents this year:



----www.amazon.co.uk---

No list would be complete without Amazon, the site on which I have spent thousands over the past 8 years. This year I've bought loads of presents on Amazon as usual - DVDs and books mainly. I have bought my fourth copy of Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, so fingers crossed my friend reads it - it works for some and not for others. It can't hurt anyway, and I think he'll appreciate the thought. I have also (as usual) bought myself 2 moose calendars. Don't think I need to say much about Amazon really - everyone knows already!



---www.ebay.co.uk ---

This year I was involved with an Internet Secret Santa and I didn't know much about my person except she likes cats, pink, and purses/handbags. So, I went on eBay and found a pink cat purse. I hope she'll like it - I'll be amazed if she doesn't. EBay is great as you can find pretty much anything you want. And if you have a friend who likes moose......hint hint hint......



---www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk---

I was fairly lazy with Christmas shopping this year, and browsed the Internet looking for ideas, decided that gadgety type things are the best for people who already have everything. I have used Firebox in the past, but have found that most things can be found cheaper elsewhere. I came across Find-me-a-gift which I have used in the past (as I found when I came to set up an account and found I already had one) and ordered over £100s worth of stuff - it was free delivery over £100. I got loads of things including a "Create a Morph plasticine /DVD set" for my sister, Sylophone for my brother, 2 adopt a vine sets (for my dad and my alcoholic friend), racing nuns, a grow your own tea/coffee set (for hubby), and loads of other gadgety stuff. Then last week I did another order for presents I still hadn't got. Find-me-a-gift is an excellent site, and customer service is good (they did miss out my racing nuns, but following an email they resent straight away). Well priced, and there really is something for everyone!



---www.oxfam.co.uk---

I have bought Oxfam gifts in the past, so when the catalogue came through my front door (I wish they'd just email me) I went onto the website and put in some orders. My secret santa at work was for a lady who likes gardening, so I bought her a charity gift which gives seeds to people in the third world (I also bought her some real-life bulbs as well). I also bought my mum a tree, and school dinners for 100 children for my brother's kids and my sister's kids. The school dinners one cost just £6, and I thought it was a way of letting the children know that there are people less fortunate than themselves - I did get them other presents too though. With Oxfam gifts you get a card and a magnet, so that's all very nice for the receiver.

Charity gifts (I think) are a nice idea for people who have everything, and it's a way of thinking of those less fortunate than yourselves at Christmas! As well as Oxfam some other charities do these gifts - Christian Aid is one.



---Finally---

I think they're the only 4 sites I used this year for Christmas, although recently I have used www.carouseltoyshop.co.uk for buying toys for nieces/nephews as they have a wide selection. I know you'll all have heard of Amazon and eBay, but perhaps you won't have come across Find-me-a-gift, and perhaps you hadn't considered charity gifts before.

Happy Christmas everyone :o)