It seems that the previous media doom and gloom has given way to a slew of stories that can’t seem to make up their minds. One says things are looking up, one says things are getting worse. One story scares us with a 10% unemployment rate, and the next claims that new jobs are being created as we speak.
Don’t get me wrong, I realize that that is the way the news works. Things will be swell in one area, and dire in the next, and all of the stories just get intertwined after awhile, especially in my overworked brain.
Being a small business owner, I’m always thinking about the state of, well, spending. I hear from people every day that are either looking for work, glad to still be employed or scared that tomorrow they won’t be. Of course, it’s always been this way, but it seems worse this year. Is it because of the actual economy, their personal situations, or the media pushing the panic button? I’m guessing that question will be answered differently by each individual.
So, here is the meat, so to speak, of this post; What are your spending plans for the holidays?
Some people started months ago, and accrue the necessary items over a period of time. I see this a lot, but it always backfires when I attempt to do the same myself. If I start too early I find myself finished too soon, and I can’t keep myself from continued buying, probably just because I’m already in the groove and can’t stop till the evening of the 24th. Some people wait till after Thanksgiving. I like this approach because it means that these people have set a delineating line between the two holidays. Even if the frenzy starts at 12:01 on ‘Black Friday’ they’ve set the line… yea, I like that. Then there are those that put off the entire project till the day before and brave the sea of like-minded people in a blind rush to finish before the ominous deadline. I could never even attempt this shopping style, as the stress would simply make me explode in a mist of coffee and frustration, accomplishing nothing.
What is your fool-proof, never fail method for achieving perfect holiday shopping nirvana? Or at least, how do you manage to keep you head attached till the whole thing is over?
Admin Note: By writing this post, Alice also supported Veterans via the Donation to Veterans for Your Post offer for Veterans Day. Alice is the owner of The Shadow Domain in Idaho Falls and a regular contributor to this community website . Thank you Alice!
Popularity: 1%
Related posts:
Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
:@:)
Loading ...
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I for one am a list minute shopper. 5 days before Christmas I’m making my list and running to the store. Probably not the most efficient way to shop, but it makes sure I get what I need and have collected all the “what would you like for christmas” questions necessary.
I’ve already started my Christmas shopping. Started today, in fact. I avoid Black Friday like the plague, and like to have my shopping all done by then, so I can just enjoy the holidays.
Ca-Ching! $2 donated to support Veterans as a result of Alice’s post above.
I’m a last minute shopper too. Phenomenon like the whole “day after Thanksgiving” rush are a big turn-off for me. Its filled by people who apparently list “shopping” as an enjoyable activity or hobby. That’s not me – going to a store (at least a large crowded national chain) is a means to an end, and I want out of there as soon as I pick up what I came for.
So for better or worse, I’m part of a different mob: the last-minute rush. At least with that rush I’m kept company by others who don’t want to be there.
There are some local small businesses I like going to though. As a rule, I always avoid Wal-Mart and it’s the absolute last place I’ll look for something (and most everything can be found somewhere else). But this year, I’m avoiding the national chains altogether. Instead, I’m going to seek out the local shops in Idaho Falls.
Small local shops thank you.
Will I be looked badly upon if I place a small mention here of MY local shop? Maybe that would be a good direction for this post to go… we could list small local shops as WalMart alternatives?
We are cutting back on the amount of what we spend for the holidays this season, not because of the economy, but because we are tired of the materialism. ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas!’ has it right.
Good idea Alice, I’ll just mention it for you: Alice’s shop is
The Shaddow Domain – “Curious Things for Curious People”. More info at:
http://www.shaddowdomain.com
In addition to commenting on the post, does anyone have any other favorite local retail shops/businesses?
Been in to Shadow Domain a few times… Always wanted an independent sort of music store here in IF ( or in Idaho period) that wasn’t afraid to carry a good dose of controversy. I soooo wanted to all out support and give my left arm for the place if it was just that, and would have actually. I have travelled to SLC Utah to Raunch Records – Nope can’t count on them for such, been to The Metal Shoppe in Boise Idaho – too weak to even dare to carry anything like such so I would love for their place to be like that.
If you are wanting some occultist and or wiccan etc stuff or the latest Type O – cd, sure. You’ll find it. But if you are wanting some place with some testicular fortitude that’s willing to be a safe haven for non-PC music regardless of what the local PC crowd thinks, keep looking.
I have had a few people ask me about hard-to-find cd’s, but I’m not really interested in being a music store.
Will CD World (another great locally owned store, by the way) order the cd’s that you need? If not, maybe this is a niche that needs filled.
That does bring up a question that has boggled me for some time. Why does Walmart sell ‘R’ rated videos, but they whitewash all of their CD’s? Just wondering…