Do you love it or loathe it?
I hate it. Fortunately for me, this year almost everyone has asked for vouchers so I'm not dreading it for once.
I used to love going into Birmingham to the German Christmas Market, but the past two years there have been so many randos asking if I've £1 to spare that it's really put me off wanting to go again.
I hate it.
We have come to an agreement over the years, my wife buys me a work coat or a few boxes of bullets and she takes the credit card and buys a ridiculously expensive purse and shoes.
I’m a terrible shopper and I dislike crowds.
It is fine for me to do it together with my wife, but I like to have everything ready latest in November.
Here the Weihnachtsmärkte are going to be open in a couple of days.
You going to get a tannenbaum?
shareJa, about 10 days before Christmas. If a remember it correctly, you also buy one every year ..
shareNah, actually, I've never bought a tree, last tree was when I was a kid living at home.
shareI just do cash, so no shopping for me, but I entertain a lot over the holidays so I do shop for food, booze, decorations, etc.
shareI am usually done my shopping by this time of year, as I like to pick things up as I see them throughout the year. The last couple of years I stopped buying "things" and do more experiences for gifts. If I do buy things I'll get them at local markets in the next month.
shareI do the exact same thing. There are many sales being conducted all throughout the year. I have purchased gifts as early as February and stored them until December.
If more people would do this they would save a lot more money and not have to deal with unnecessary stress during this special time of year.
Save the holiday season.
I learned it from my mom who used to start her Christmas shopping on Boxing Day.
shareChristmas is not about materialism. I keep gift-giving to a minimum and don't ask for things for myself.
I keep an eye open for sales all throughout the year; if I see something on sale that I know someone would like as a gift, I will purchase it and store it away until December. I have found potential gifts as early as February. I find better deals this way and can have most of my shopping done before Halloween.
I avoid malls during this time of year. The only shopping I do in December involves perishable items which have expiration dates.
If more people would shop this way instead of waiting for Thanksgiving weekend and its bogus "greatest sales event of all time," they would save a lot more money and have less stress during what should be a festive time of year.
Save the holiday season.