The pressure is on now. Like some of you, I'm sure, I haven't started Christmas shopping, and I'm running out of time.
Working on a Monday through Friday schedule, I'm not willing to take to the stores on weeknights. So, that leaves me this weekend and next weekend to cross everything off my shopping list, which - to be perfectly honest - I have yet to make.
Hopefully, as you're reading this, I've got a pen in my hand, and I'm on the phone asking my loved ones what they would like for Christmas. But, that's probably not the case.
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Scott Shelters
Right now, there are exactly zero presents under the Christmas tree. I'm not sure how I got myself into this predicament, but it seems to happen every year.
It's not that I've been sitting on the couch doing nothing on the weekends. Another project or task always seems to come up, bumping the shopping onto the back burner.
I don't particularly enjoy tiptoeing through crowded stores, but if I know what I want to buy, it's not so bad. When I don't know what I want to buy, it's much worse.
The most difficult part of holiday shopping is coming up with the list, particularly when everyone on it seems to already have everything they need.
My girlfriend, for example, has more clothes, shoes and jewelry than she can fit in her closet. My parents and grandparents couldn't put more knick-knacks in their homes without knocking down walls and adding rooms. I've never seen my brother wear the "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" T-shirt I bought him last year, so he should consider himself lucky that I'm getting him a gift.
I suppose everyone on my list would appreciate a new car. The people who receive them on TV commercials always look really excited. Unfortunately, cars weren't in the budget last year, they're not in the budget this year and next year isn't looking good, either.
When all else fails, I guess gift cards work just fine.