How We’re Doing Christmas Shopping In The ‘Burbs This Year

Have you ever stopped and thought about the staggering number of special people in your life.  People that have touched your life, the life of your children, who make your day to day living just a little bit sweeter.  We are blessed.  When Christmas rolls around, you may find yourself counting them again.  Why?  It’s time to figure out who you need to buy Christmas gift for?

From teachers, to coaches, your hairstylist to the babysitter, the crossing guard at school, bosses and secretaries, all the way to the garbage man and Fed Ex delivery guy there are so many people you want to acknowledge at this time of year and it seems this list grows at a staggering rate.  So how do you go about making sure all the people who have touched your life in big ways and small know they are appreciated?  How do you check them off your Christmas list without going insane or breaking the bank?  I’ve seen a number of different approaches to tackling the “non-family list”.

1. You can spend hours running through the malls in a panic trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on that list.  Personalizing every single gift to perfection and praying you didn’t forget anyone.
2. Get your bake on whipping up homemade gifts for all (and then hope half of that home made goodness doesn’t end up in the trash?)  Hint:  It does.  Do you really thing Teachers can eat 30 gifts of homemade fudge?
3. Just do cards.
4. Be a Scrooge and acknowledge no one!  (like I could ever do that)

I’m afraid after all these years of making this crazy Christmas shop, panicking that I may have left someone out, and spending more money than I are to admit.  I’m over it.  And dare I say, I’m not sure some of those gifts I sweated about were even appreciated?  So this year, my plan is this.  KISS.  Keep it simple stupid.  Yup, it’s time to simplify baby.  My list of special people in my life is going to fall into one of two categories.

One:  Starbucks Gift Cards with handwritten thank you card.

Two:  LCBO Gift Card with handwritten thank you card.

Coffee or booze? If this is wrong I don’t want to be right.

All gifts will be purchased, “wrapped” and ready to go with two stops.

Fa lala la lala la.  Merry Christmas and Ho Ho Ho.  This is how we are doing Christmas shopping in the suburbs this year.