Christmas shopping - when where and how?

Posted by: Caféstudy

17th Apr 2014 12:12pm

We wanted to know how, when and where you do your Christmas shopping! Do you plan ahead, or are you rushing around the local shopping centre in a panic on Christmas Eve? And are you buying online or do you like to see what you are buying in the flesh?

From what you told us, Christmas shoppers are split between those who plan and buy carefully throughout the year, and those who save it all up until December. And then there are those of you that try to plan, but invariably end up buying everything at the last minute. Molly says “We try to buy or make gifts throughout the year, but we often still wind up with a mad rush in the week leading up to Christmas!”

Many of you are indeed moving online to get your Christmas shopping done. As well as avoiding the crowds, online shopping, according to kimmaree84, “allows me to get exactly what people want, and it allows me to compare prices easily without having to go to a number of different stores to do so.” And for those of you living in rural areas, online shopping often gives you access to a wider choice than local shopping options too.

Some of you have the opportunity to wait until the Christmas sales to buy gifts; particularly if you are buying for family or friends who you aren’t seeing until after Christmas, it makes sense to take advantage of the sales if you can. Other organised folk are using the post-Christmas sales to buy next year’s gifts.

Whatever your choice, it is clear that cost is top of mind for everybody. Advance planners save by spreading the cost throughout the year, and picking up bargains when they see them. Online shoppers search around for the best deals with the added advantage of avoiding the crowds. However good intentions only go so far, as the temptation gets too much for some. Jess312 says “usually buy Christmas presents a week before Christmas or a few days before because in our family, we always say that we’re not doing presents this year until one person accidentally buys them. And then everyone does last minute shopping!”

drcrpsych

21st Apr 2014 07:45am

Online shopping has become a fav of mine, it's easy. can be done in my own time and i'm not having to deal with the push and shove of finding a carpark (which in bigger cities can take over an hour - costly in terms of fuel, time, energy and stress levels particularly if kids are in the car), negotiating the crowds, getting assistance, paying (repeat several times) and then negotiate your way back to the car this time with arms (or unruly trolley) full to the brim, exhaustion levels going thru the roof and you still have the traffic etc to negotiate before getting back to the comfort of home....
Maybe a tad antisocial, but for me it's easier to stay at my pc a bit longer (using reputable online organisations of course) and have the products delivered to the door.
BUT then again there is always the urge to embrace the Christmas spirit and join the crowds.. so a combined response provides for me a joyous and engaged experience after having done the 'main bit' over the period just before Christmas.