My husband's holiday shopping rule: One store, one day

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

My husband ( a sweet, wonderful man who detests "shopping") a long time ago gave me his Christmas gift buying rule:

He would accompany me to one local store one time one day to make the majority of our gift purchases.

After a few years, I realized that he was completely right. Most stores had similar merchandise and there was really little reason to shop in 10 stores if one could fulfill most of our needs. I grew to LOVE his rule. One store, one time. It really worked and made holiday shopping simple and fun AND it keeps the money in your local area.

Try it, you might like it.

[Breeze54]

1. Shopping online uses less gas, better and more widespread selection, and shipping is free.

Shop in your PJ's while your hubby does the dishes, watches a movie or whatever. ;)

[Skittles]

2. I'd never take "rules" from a man

PERIOD

[flvegan]

3. Uh oh...

:popcorn:

[DS1]

4. And I never take periods from women

Rule!



:hide:

[OhioChick]

5. ......

:rofl:

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. The "rule" was strictly about his participation in the holiday gift buying

I was (am) not restricted in any fashion and could have done all the shopping on my own in a hundred stores or I could have purchased all gifts online if I had so chosen.

His point is, why torture yourself? Most stores offer similar items and you don't need to go to 10 to try to save $1.95 on the scarf and mittens set.

[IndianaJones]

6. wish my wife was so compliant. nt.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

7. Why do you go together? Just curious because the entire

thing was always left to me and I liked it that way.

[Bluebear]

8. "Honey, here's MY rule. You stay home, scratch your legs & watch TV. I'm goin' shopping!"

:)

[JVS]

10. I know people who would go through the whole mall, but they'd make huge 2 liter rum and cokes and...

got totally wasted over the course of the shopping. They said it helped with good christmas cheer.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Our shopping gets done right where I'm typing this reply.

No tax, no gas, no mobs, no chance of coming face to face with a republican.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. Yeah, me too. But have you noticed all your local retail businesses going under?

I buy much over the internet too, but what is the real cost?

Our cities towns and states are losing sales tax revenue. I would be fine with being charged a sales tax for my destination.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. What is dislike most is dealing with rude shoppers, indifferent store help, etc.

There are a few things I will buy locally, but once I've found quality items and efficient online service (LL Bean comes to mind) that's where my bucks will usually go.

And if my online purchases don't trigger a sales tax, that's another perk. It's really no different than shopping while traveling in another state. Some online businesses do add it in, and I don't mind that, either.

[Breeze54]

15. Technically, online purchasers owe sales tax to their home states

but most of the stores are national chains, not local retail.

But I do buy locally usually but I don't go shopping very much anyway.

[TlalocW]

13. My rule - One eBay

1. My money normally goes to individuals.
2. The shipping costs about the same as it would to go out driving from one store to another.
3. I don't have to fight the crowds.
a. This keeps me in the holiday spirit
b. I then have more time to make Xmas cookies
4. I'm well-rested for when I invariably do have to go out to the stores to pick up a gift that my mom wants to give a grandchild.
a. Being well-rested means I can do things like this: http://colddaypontooning.blogspot.com/2006/11/funny-christmas-story-from-years-past.html

TlalocW

[Fumesucker]

17. Seconded...

Not to mention that if you shop wisely on ebay you can save a lot of money over even discount retail.

I dislike going to the store but I really enjoy cruising ebay for bargains.

[ACTION BASTARD]

16. My wife and I trade Xmas Gift lists (Just suggestions of crap we want)

I don't play that game that she doesn't know WTF to get me. Uh-huh, that crap will not fly. I warned her that if I don't get a list, then she'll get the dreaded GC (Gift Card) the one thing most women don't want from their husbands. Wisely, she has never called me on this "challenge". And I for my part, has had nothing but sweet Xmas gifts year in and year out.

For my part, the list has links through Amazon/B&N/and LA Police Gear so she can order on line and leave me out of the equation to take her shopping.

It's WIN-WIN for me!

[Warpy]

18. I'll be going to a craft show on Friday

and that's where I'll buy what little I have to buy these days.

I support local crafters or make it myself.

[Lex]

19. My shopping, my rules. His shopping, his rules.

nt

[grannylib]

20. When I do go out Christmas shopping, that's what I do...I like Shopko

Although I'm not sure I should bring grandpalib...I like doing the shopping when they stay open 24 hours for a couple weeks before Christmas, and one year he said he wanted me to wake him and he wanted to come along, so I did, and he was so groggy he walked into an automatic "out" door and got clonked in the head and I had to take him back home, poor guy...
I usually do the shopping alone! He makes gifts in his workshop (my very own Santa *lol*) and I buy things here and there throughout the year, so I don't usually have a lot to buy at holiday time.
I do love to bake things to give as gifts, though, so that keeps me busy :-)