Christmas shopping fills me with dread and depression.

[Globalti]

Every year it's the same, Christmas shopping rears its ugly head and I get exactly the same feeling of impotent dread as I used to get when faced with a maths exam paper. I am such a reluctant shopper (except of course for bike parts, DIY stuff and Land Rover parts) that entering shops actually brings a feeling of imminent doom over me. If they are full of clothes and shoes and there's loud music blaring, I feel even more hopeless and I stand for ages, rooted to the spot and unable to function like a normal human. The only place I can tolerate is M&S late on a weekday evening when it's quiet and I can recruit an assistant to help me; I am still wearing the same two pairs of M&S cords that I bought about five years ago even though they are threadbare.

Now Mrs Gti says she wants some books off her Amazon wishlist though I mustn't buy them from Amazon (after THAT documentary) and some extravagantly expensive night repair cream for her face. Apart from those I have no idea at all what to get her. With kids it's easier because they always have long lists of gadgets they want.

Last year in desperation I went and walked around a store searching for inspiration, something I always tell myself you shouldn't do. Eventually I found a nice wool shawl, which I though she'd like in a sort of mushroom colour. When she unwrapped it she said nothing, looked at it, then spotted a pulled thread and declared she would need to change it. Next thing I knew she was cross because she'd gone back to the shop and found that since Christmas they had put the blasted shawls in the sale at £2.99.

Anybody else suffer this feeling of dread when Christmas comes around?

 

[Markymark]

If you see something nice throughout the year, buy it and hide it, then there's no stress in the run-up to xmas.

 

[asterix]

A bit early isn't it? I usually do the shopping on Christmas eve.

 

[dan_bo]

I must admit that simply approaching the Trafford centre at this time of year makes me feel a bit.....well.....

 

[slowmotion]

Snap! The only solution that works for me is to buy absolutely everything online. Wandering around huge stores seeking inspiration just doesn't seem to work for me. Last year, I was foolish enough to head for Westfield seeking presents. I ended up buying a single book in Foyles...for myself. EDIT: Oh I forgot. I came out of Westfield with a box of porridge as well as the book.

 

[tyred]

Online shopping is mostly the answer for me. No queues, no parking problems, can be done from the comfort of my own armchair without my ears being assaulted by Shakin' Stevens, Roy Wood, Slade or Bing Crosby.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

You need a wife like mine, she does all the Christmas shopping :-) I have to get just one present and this year not even that cause she found something she liked and she bought it as my present from me to her. I will have to get something cause there must be an element of surprise I think.

 

[Beebo]

I'm rubbish at buying presents, but also rubbish at receiving them too.
I hate to see people waste money buying me stuff I dont want or need, and I am a very poor actor when it comes to faking my delight.

 

[numbnuts]

For the last couple of years I have given M&S gift vouchers, it's easy for me and they can buy something they they like/want, OK it is not much of a present on the day, but I don't have the hassle of shopping.

 

[Spinney]

Last year in desperation I went and walked around a store searching for inspiration, something I always tell myself you shouldn't do. Eventually I found a nice wool shawl, which I though she'd like in a sort of mushroom colour. When she unwrapped it she said nothing, looked at it, then spotted a pulled thread and declared she would need to change it. Next thing I knew she was more than usually rude to me one evening because she'd gone back to the shop and found that since Christmas they had put the blasted shawls in the sale at £2.99.

That's a bit unfair - you thought she'd like it!

Anybody else suffer this feeling of dread when Christmas comes around?

Yes. My siblings and I agreed many, many years ago not to do presents any more.
OH usually gets his annual supply of aftershave from me from bodyshop.
I usually get some stuff from my Amazon wish-list, plus he occasionally picks out other books from a real shop that he thinks I might like (and he's usually right). But unless Mrs Gti is the sort of person like me who thinks you can never have too many books, this probably doesn't help you much!

She needs to let you know what she wants!
You could just get a really nice big bunch of flowers? They would at least be 'reassuringly expensive'.

 

[Aperitif]

Shouldn't this be in 'Health, Fitness & Training' ?
Get over it - someone will be happy, and then it will be Spring!

 

[Aperitif]

Snap! The only solution that works for me is to buy absolutely everything online. Wandering around huge stores seeking inspiration just doesn't seem to work for me. Last year, I was foolish enough to head for Westfield seeking presents. I ended up buying a single book in Foyles...for myself.

Ha ha. I went to Westfield (I was on the hunt for dodgy blokes exiting off-licences, Martin ) a couple of Saturdays ago...and I exited after being overwhelmed by the giganticism...with one book, from Foyles...That place must be like some sort of people-masher when the Seasonal spending ramps up - shall we go for a pint round the corner?!

 

[dan_bo]

I'm rubbish at buying presents, but also rubbish at receiving them too.
I hate to see people waste money buying me stuff I dont want or need, and I am a very poor actor when it comes to faking my delight.

Yeah me too. Otherwise known as miserable twunt syndrome.

 

[Fnaar]

Mrs F's family all get presents for cousins, cousins kids etc...adding to the complexity of the task. I hate the shopping angle too, so I usually do any online stuff plus send card (diminishing number, in this electronic age).

I have (on occasion) bought people some very nice presents from charity shops, and simply not let on where they came from
I've got Mrs F a nice pres this year though.

 

[asterix]

Shouldn't this be in 'Health, Fitness & Training' ?
Get over it - someone will be happy, and then it will be Spring!

That's what I like about xmas, it means the days are gonna start to lengthen. I can't help feeling they ought to chuck all this Christianity stuff* and make it into some kind of festival celebrating nature and all that.

* whaddaya mean, 'What Christianity stuff'?