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If you are like me, you enjoy Christmas shopping. This time of year, there is always something in my mind that pictures it being like it’s shown in the movies. You know, a crisp, winter day – Christmas Eve, of course. Everyone is dressed sharply as they bustle through the shops and streets to pick up that last gift. All the sales people are pleasant, informed and helpful. Best of all, NOTHING is “out of stock” or hard to find. The winter storms don’t keep anyone from getting home in time and the families genuinely seem to enjoy all the time they are together. OK, so that’s not really the way it is!
More than I want to receive the “perfect” gift (whatever that is), I want to have some fun while I am shopping during the season. To make that happen, I am employing these 5 ways to make shopping this year as enjoyable as possible. Feel free to use them and enjoy your shopping too!
1. Think like a child. When I shop with my children, I see things completely differently. I find that they experience many of the trappings of the holidays because they are not focused on shopping only. They actually see and enjoy the decorations. They get excited when its cold enough to “see their breath”. They enjoy seeing Christmas lights and store windows and yard decorations. As for shopping, I find them to be generous and thoughtful about the gifts they choose not to mention they are genuinely excited about giving them.
2. Buy locally, when possible. With the economy in the shape it’s in, it’s probably safe to say that buying anything from anybody will help. If there are stores (and storeowners) that need a good holiday season to make it, do what you can to buy from them instead of from a big chain or online giant. The personal service is definitely better and you will know that your money is staying close to home with folks that will spend it in your community.
3. Stop searching for the “perfect” gift. Chances are good that such a thing does not exist anyway. Not to mentiona, you can relieve yourself of LOTS of shopping pressure if you don’t start the journey to find it.
4. Change your perspective and don’t view it as a “chore”. Whatever our financial circumstances, we are wealthy in the eyes of so many others (in our nation and around the world). If we can see our ability to give gifts (of any size and description) as a blessing and not a chore, we are bound to find ourselves smiling through our shopping trips.
5. Be personal, thoughtful and creative. Instead of roaming the stores looking for something to buy for everyone on your list, try to think of something specific that will appeal to each person. Take some time to be creative and personal with the gifts you buy. It will be much more fun to shop (and to give) when you know the recipients will have something picked especially for them!
For other thoughts on holiday shopping and gift giving…
50 Ways To Simplify Gift Giving This Holiday - Tess @ The Bold Life
6 Holiday Shopping No-Nos @ Being Frugal
5 Ways To Stay On A Budget During Holiday Shopping Season - Jayne O’Donnell @ USA Today
Even though I will probably be late getting there this morning, I am thankful for my CBS (Community Bible Study) Class. It is a group of women committed to the Lord, learning about His word and caring for each other. It is truly my privilege to have a place like this to go each week!
See what others are thankful for today at Rebecca-Writes!
Outside my window, it’s raining. Again. It seems like it has been raining forever. In reality , it has only been raining more than usual for the last 2-3 months.
When I am completely honest, I have to say that I don’t mind the rain. I love hearing it outside the windows and on the roof when I can curl up with a book or take a nap and just listen. I love the way the trees and grass and flowers look when they are well watered. I love NOT having to think about making sure everything is watered regularly when it hasn’t rained recently. Even the kids enjoy the rain…they like to play in it and watch it hit the ground.
It is tempting, though, to complain because we have had SO MUCH RAIN. In fact, we have had so much rain that we have all but forgotten that, just about a year ago, we were complaining because there was not enough rain. We were conserving water and paying extra if we watered our yard too often. We were watching and reporting our neighbors if we saw them watering too much or on something other than the “designated” day. We were gathering for special prayer meetings to ask God to send us rain. We were seeing brown, dusty landscapes where our yards and flowers should have been. Our government officials were fighting over control of water sources and we were paying higher prices for products that were affected by too little water.
Even when I tire of the rain, I don’t want to be one of those people that complains NO MATTER WHAT. I have more success with that on some days than others. Today, though, as I search for my umbrella and head out to run my errands, I choose, like Paul, to be content with whatever the rain gauge registers!
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