……..Just stay home!
Yeah, actually those three words are my best advice about Christmas shopping. Trust me, I know these things! After sixty-one years of marriage and the age that implies, I have tested all methods of Christmas shopping. Of course, that was before online shopping, which I love. Back to the subject.
I love numbers. After my husband served 6 years in military service; after 5 years of his undergraduate studies; after many years of his graduate studies; after 3 children, (all this time with 0 discretionary funds), I finally began to notice a singular truth about my shopping: If I went out of the house I would spend money! That’s it! It was as simple as that! To resist the urge to shop, I would make a cup of coffee, grab a cookie, and wait for the urge to pass….and it would pass. Yay! Just think how much money I saved today, I would think. Perhaps the thought of taking three little children along with my shopping trip had something to do with deciding to “…just stay home.” Maybe.
Fast forward to today with the convenience of online shopping at my fingertips. Remember I said that I love it. Well, I’ve learned something about that, too; If I fill out all the necessary information in the Shopping Cart…i.e. the mailing address, credit card number, on and on, I’ll probably make a mistake and have to delete the whole thing. I’m usually so aggravated and bored by that time, I go find something else more fun to do. Yay! Just think how much money I saved today.
Recently while shopping online at a fancy store website, I came to the final bottom line stating the cost, it was really low….yes LOW! I thought how can that be? I just ordered some expensive items, jackets, sweaters, etc. I pondered this for a while and decided to start over by going back to the home page of the store. Oh! I see it now….in big bold letters it read “EVERYTHING 70% OFF TODAY.” That answered my question and confirmed my growing suspicion that I am the world’s worst shopper. Yes, I started over and bought all the same things I wanted as before. Oops! I didn’t save any money that day.
You might also find it helpful to know that if you are traveling with all your children and you are on a tight budget……don’t stop the car.…..ever! It will cost you money if you do. I’ve tested that theory before, in fact, we’ve lived it. However, I’ll admit it is a little difficult if you are trying to get to Lubbock, Texas from Houston, Texas in one day. At last count it is almost 600 miles.
So Friends, that is the extent of my shopping advice gleaned through hard-earned experience and a lot of fun. Get a cup of coffee and a cookie….and wait.
Merry Christmas!
Our tiny kitchen Christmas tree!
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory,
the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
Letters From Adele 
I am TAKING your advice! I’ve done all the shopping I can STAND, and I’m staying home to recover. The family will be here Saturday, and our big Christmas celebration together will be next Sunday afternoon. So for now I’m going to try and take it easy as much as possible and oh yes: eat a cookie…:)
Good for you, Becky. I’m happy you are taking my advice. Cookies are a good thing.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting your blog.
I noticed that you signed up for Leslie Saeta’s 30 in 30 challenge. I’m one of the challenge artists too. Isn’t it exciting she’s doing it again?
If you want to limber up for it, I’m currently running a less stressful ART PARTY over at my blog. You can post any painting that fits the theme, any day till December 24th. Each daily link is open for posting for 24 hours. If you don’t want to post you can have fun voting for your favourites.
Hope to see you there.
Sign up with instructions is here
http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/2013/11/gifts-and-decorations-art-party-begins.html
Once you register you can post your work any day here
http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com
Thanks for the nice words about my blog and for the invitation to visit your blog. Your “Art Party” sounds like fun and I’ll certainly check out your blog. Since it is such a busy time it would be difficult for me to do much painting before Christmas, but I’ll give it some thought. Thanks again.
You’re welcome. By the way it doesn’t have to be a painting, all kinds of art including gift wrapping, cards, cookies whatever … and it doesn’t have to be new work. The only criteria is that it fits the theme. There is also an opportunity to vote on the entries and perhaps win one of the top 3 spots on each daily entry. Thanks for takin the time to visit. 🙂
Thanks for the tip about posting all kinds of art.
Wonderfully stated Adele! Merry Christmas to you and David!
Melanie Bankston, NCTM Maple Manor Piano Studio ♪♫♪♫ 281.358.1464 – home 832.216.8685 – studio
Melanie, We wish you and your wonderful family a Merry Christmas, also.
Love your idea. I am not physically able to get out there and shop too much. My daughter and I have done some shopping on line for me…. You are right, if you leave the house, you are going to spend “some” money, maybe too much….. LOL Love your kitchen tree….
Hi Robbie, After posting this blog it occurred to me that I had actually “saved” money by shopping online that day. Of course, it was completely accidental. Merry Christmas, sweet lady!
amen!
Yes, Kathy, great truths deserve an “amen”.