Christmas shopping fills me with dread and depression.

[Sandra6]

I am the youngest of 4 brothers. From a very young age, we have had a great arrangement whereby we do NOT buy each other presents at Christmas or birthdays.
We also have a long standing agreement that all nephews and nieces fall off the present list at age 21 (which means most of them now).
Given that I am without a woman this year, my Christmas present shopping list amounts to about 5 people. Most of that will be smelly stuff for testosterone fueled teenagers, and/or cash.
Friday is xmas shopping day with a couple of friends. Half an hour in the hell that is Glasgows' Sauciehall Street should do it, followed by much needed stress relief in the form of an afternoon session in the Horseshoe Bar .

Mr 6's family had a similar arrangement that I was introduced to when we got together, whereby they only buy presents for the children in the family - at that time it was just the one nephew. Strangely when my children came along only his sister and eldest brother bothered to buy presents for them, and the brother stopped about 10 years ago. I don't think he understands the post office or the idea of sending a present, or even a card. We've reciprocated by not bothering to buy presents for either of his children since they came along a couple of years ago.
In my family you drop off the present list at around 18, which is a bit awkward with eldest son not getting anything now but the younger five still do.
I stopped buying a present for my nephew when he joined the army and started earning more than me!
With my own children we've started a tradition of secret santa, so between the eight of us we each buy one small present and then on xmas eve they try to guess who bought what. I cover the cost for those without income and the older ones are expected to take responsibility for their own shopping. I'm hoping it's something they'll continue as they get older rather than feel pressure to buy each of the siblings, and significant others, presents as they come along.

 

[Arch]

You may know somebody who has had a bad experience with a certain product but that's one in thousands of consumers who happens to be allergic or sensitive to one particular raw material. This can happen

Hence the advice to check, which seemed perfectly sensible. I'd be a bit stupid buying a cream filled cake for NT, since he's lactose intolerant. I'm sure for every one of him, there are thousands of people who are fine with cream, but that doesn't make his allergy any less real.

 

[Maverick Goose]

Christmas shopping getting you down? Time to ROCK!
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utj7MgslLOs

 

[Brandane]

Do they really? The industry wants you to believe that so they can sell you overpriced "hypoallergenic" products but how many people do you know who have actually broken out in a rash after using a skincare product or perfume?

Me! I was baffled as to what was causing me to come out in a rash occasionally. A few trips to the Doctor later, and soap powder was suggested as a possible cause. I now use Fairy which helps matters. I then found that my smelly stuff was causing skin irritation in the form of redness and itching. I stopped using my range of CK products and all was fine.

 

[slowmotion]

That's pure Spinal Tap! Excellent.

 

[stowie]

Went to Westfield (Stratford) at the weekend. I cycle there so at least I get some exercise out of the whole debacle. I got there and it really wasn't too crowded - and then I realised the reason was because the shops didn't open for an hour. By opening time it was heaving and generally really unpleasant. I lasted about an hour and a half before dashing for the exit. The place has no natural light, is rammed full of people, the exits are overcrowded, the toilets always seem to be broken and they were playing Slade on a seemingly never ending loop. It isn't fun.

 

[Maverick Goose]

I feel your pain....

 

[Shut Up Legs]

More than just the shopping, Christmas in general fills me with depression . It just seems so pointless, at least the way it's done now.

 

[the_mikey]

I'm happy if I get to enjoy the day with some good company, and a few cups of tea. I don't like it when that is hijacked by other family members expectations, they can plan the life out of Christmas.