Living Outside The Lines: Only Sixty-Nine Shopping Days Until Christmas!

by, Becky J Miller

Wait! What do you mean there are only sixty-nine shopping days left until Christmas!?!?!? It’s not even Halloween yet!! Starts to hyperventilate. Deep breaths, deep breaths. I don’t want to cause a panic, but while I am writing this column there are still sixty-nine shopping days left, but by the time it’s published, and you get to read it, there will only be fifty-eight days left. Screams and faints. 

Don’t shoot the messenger. Hobby Lobby started putting out their Christmas decorations in AUGUST!! And although they might not have been quite as quick on the draw, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam’s and Marshall’s weren’t far behind. Personally, I am a planner, but even for someone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, August does seem a bit premature for Christmas. Nonetheless, she’s coming ‘round the mountain at an alarmingly fast pace.

A dear childhood friend of mine starts counting down the days until Christmas on December 26. When she first started the countdown, it was kind of annoying, but I’ve come to appreciate “Nessa” and her enthusiasm. Plus, her periodic posts counting down the shopping days left until Christmas help keep me on my gift gathering toes.   

Every year my husband and I talk about opening a Christmas savings account, and every year, we fail. However, this year we did begin shopping in August. We have a pretty big family, and we still shop for all of them. My sister alone has seven children, two of which are married and have three kiddos between them. All total, excluding my children, there are twenty-eight extended family members to buy for.

As the family has grown, I’ve adapted my gift giving slightly to where we buy together gifts for couples instead of each individual. That cuts the number of gifts down slightly.  Still, all those gifts can get expensive, so we do set a per person budget and work hard to stay within that range. 

Last year for reasons I shall not disclose, I was feeling rather Scrooge-like. I bought gifts for all the kids still residing at home and decided to show up empty handed for everyone else. My family lives in Dallas and my resolve held until right before Waco. We ended up stopping at Kohl’s and buying last minute gifts for everyone else. I just couldn’t do it. I’m a giver. I love to give and no matter how black my mood, my inner generous nature triumphed over my hardened heart.

There are advantages to buying early; more time to hunt for the perfect gift. Sadly, I don’t get to see my sister’s family often, so I honestly don’t know what my nieces and nephews really like, all that well. I do try to pick up clues when we are together, but sometimes shopping for them is tough. I want to buy things they will love, truly appreciate and use. 

Yesterday we set out on a mission to secure gifts for four of the young’uns. I knew exactly what I wanted for youngest of the bunch, and was sure I would find that item with no problem. Four stores later, I remained empty handed. However, while searching desperately for his gift, we did stumble across gifts for three others and they were on sale for half off!!! Without the sale, the items would’ve been out of my budget, but instead I am currently $4.45 under budget!! Yay me!!

Don’t let the holiday madness leave you frantic, stressed, and out of sorts. There are almost two solid months left to shop, which for most of us means approximately four paydays (assuming a bi-weekly pay structure). Start with a list of who you’d like to buy for, set a per person budget and then spend some time really pondering what it is you’d like to get for each person on the list.  If you are crafty, good at sewing or baking, then tap into those skills!

Well, what are you waiting for!!! You’ve less than sixty-nine shopping does, so you best get to moving!!

Until Next Time,

Becky J Miller

“Warrior Princess”