Christmas is here again & soon frantic shopping starts. So often because we're all so busy these days shopping for gifts gets left to the last moment & then it becomes a headache rather than something pleasurable.
This year things are tough for a lot of people & many families will be looking for any way they can to save a bit of money on Christmas Gifts & toys for the kids.
Buying online is growing in popularity each year as the shopping experience becomes more secure, the choices increase & delivery is highly efficient.
The phenomena of online shopping has led to fierce competition amongst retailers & that's where the canny shopper can capitalise this Christmas. It's a double whammy for shoppers because not only do you get the benefit of being able to comparison price shop without even leaving the house, you also get lots of really good ideas for gifts while you're at it.
It also saves you lots of time as you don't need to spend time trying to find parking at the mall, going from shop to shop looking for inspiration & then getting your parcels back to the car & into the house.
Honestly, last year when I did some of my Christmas shopping online for the first time I could have kicked myself for not doing all of it & sooner. After having a really stressful experience at the shops as a result of parking dramas, crowds & snappy over busy staff in the week leading up to Christmas day - the very next day gifts I'd purchased online early that week arrived. A knock at the door & they were inside ready to wrap.
This year I got started early as money isn't what it was last year in our household. I was looking for the best prices & also interesting gifts for the kids & close friends & relatives. I do struggle each year to think of things to buy grownups, even my husband. Most people these days have what they need & simply buy what they want when they want it, so it's hard to think of useful gifts that won't be stuck in the drawer & forgotten.
I went from no inspiration to having too much choice. My brother is a mad golfer & last year I went to the golf shop but had no idea what most of the things were or if he needed or wanted them. This year I found a brilliant golf site & it had a Top 10 Golfing Wish List with a description of the items. Perfect. I then went to Amazon to price check, found what I wanted at a better price & added it to my list, so that all my purchases could be delivered together to take advantage of cheaper shipping prices.
For my nephews, nieces & grandchildren I found a vast range of Christmas toys at great prices this year. Bakugan is the craze right now along with Ben 10 for boys, plus PSP games for the older ones. The little girls all still love Barbie & this year I purchased 2 sets of Barbie Fashion Fever styling heads which can be made over with makeup & hairstyles. Then there were the little Fur Real friends realistic animals that the seem to be popular as well, & the nursery animals are well priced.
Maybe I sound like a scrooge, but we've had to tighten our belts this year & if I can save money then I can & do, but that's not the only reason I've loved shopping this way. I can get online at any hour of the day or night, when it suits me & that works really well for me.
I like to get up early & run, come home & shower before anybody else is out of bed. Early morning is a great time for me to get online while I drink my cup of tea. I've done all my Christmas shopping that way this year & it's been simple. Even though it's often taken awhile, that's usually because I'm enjoying myself & lose track of time.
I don't think I can ever remember actually enjoying myself Christmas shopping. When the kids were little it was something I dreaded.
I can still recall that sinking feeling of looking for a cabbage patch doll (yes, back in the olden days). Those dolls were massive that year & my girls wanted one each, but they were sold out everywhere when I went to buy them. I felt guilty because I'd left it until too close to Christmas Day to go & get them, not realising they were selling out. The girls were really disappointed on Christmas day & weren't consoled by the idea that they'd be getting one sometime in January, somehow it wasn't quite the same when they finally arrived.
So this year if you haven't already, have a think about doing a bit of Christmas Gifts searching & shopping on the internet. You'll find the prices are often as good if not better than the shops, the delivery times are quick & the shipping costs have come right down due to competition. If you like me get stuck for ideas, then take a stroll around Amazon & you'll be amazed (my husband calls it Amazazon) by the amount of choices of gifts & price ranges.
Of course there are plenty of other great Christmas Gifts Guide sites where the short listing of Top 10 Toys & Gifts has been done for you including the price shopping but I've got comfortable with Amazon so that's mostly where I do my buying in the end. The internet has changed our lives enormously in a relatively short space of time & big online stores like Amazon have worked hard to make shopping online a secure & easy experience.
This year take a look at online Christmas Shopping. You have hours of time to gain, money to save & nothing to lose.
Irene Walters is an amateur long distance runner & keen shopper. Irene is currently on a mission to be more economical & has started by doing her Christmas shopping online this year. Irene suggests the following sites for great inspirational Christmas Shopping ideas this year. Please visit Christmas Gifts [http://www.christmasgiftspresents.com/].
Or visit Christmas Toys [http://www.christmasgiftspresents.com/useful_christmas__resources.php] for children's toys ideas.
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