Christmas gift buying guide

Oct 27, 2011 by blackbook

Picture Courtesy of Christmas Stock Images

It may be a surprise to some but there are only 8 weeks left until Christmas, it was to me when I checked. I haven’t really thought about Christmas that much, normally I have an idea or plan of attack by now but this year I seem to be slacking! So whilst I start to put some thought into my Christmas gifts I thought I’d write a little guide to all of you!

To start out with, I write a list of who I have to buy for, then double check with my mum that I haven’t missed any family out. I then make a note of what gifts for birthdays etc. I have bought them this year so I don’t buy anything too similar. I also make a note of how much I am looking to spend on each person, couple or group.

Then this is where the internet becomes a life saver, Googling ideas and finding stuff to buy and the costs I can then decide whether I want to order online, checking delivery dates or in store. Buying some gifts now online should mean I am safe for delivery as long as the stuff I want is in stock, if not I would then check around for alternatives.

I also keep email references plus check returns, although I’d like to think no one would want to return my thoughtful gift sometimes this can’t be avoided.

Another part of gift giving is the gift wrap. This can be expensive if you want to go whole hog with the wrapping including bows and ribbon. However I have found buying simple brown paper to be quite stylish, as well as using brown luggage tags and simple red ribbon. To make them Christmassy I bought a robin stamp last year, so I use this to add a simplistic hint of Christmas, easy and cheap.

There are some bonuses to being organised and buying your gifts early, for one you can get the gifts you want for your family and friends, without resorting to something substandard that was all you could get on Christmas Eve. Also it’s much easier to keep on top of it all the Christmas period is always busy with some much to think about with the parties etc. so knowing gifts are already sorted should give you peace of mind. 

Most of all though make sure you have fun Christmas isn’t all about the material things it’s about family as well so make sure you enjoy it!

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Mid-season sales – Boom or bust?

Oct 19, 2011 by blackbook

It barely seems like the summer sales have ended and yet here we are again with the mid-season sales. Last week my inbox was full of emails advertising the beginning of mid-season sales, which I have to say normally do entice me to buy something I do not need nor really want. This time however I found some self-control and did not click onto the sales and instead deleted them out of my sight.

So are mid-season sales all they are cracked up to be? Well in the past I probably would have said no, a few years ago you would be hard pressed to find many bargains this time of year. Normally items found in mid-season sales were fashion pieces which hadn’t really taken off, now however it’s a completely different story.

Since the recession hit shops have been trying every trick in the book to encourage us, the consumers to buy. It has worked too, great discount on new season clothing, shoes and accessories would entice anyone who hasn’t got her winter wardrobe yet, or anyone who needs a new jumper for the cold weather!

Are there bargains to be had then in mid-season sales? Well a quick look online shows that the shops are pulling out all the stops with great offers, highstreet favourites such as M&S, NEXT, Debenhams and H&M suggest that there are deals to be found on items you actually need.

Whether a sale is boom or bust is for the consumer really, if you need something and its reduced then I would say it’s a boom! However if you merely purchase something because it had money off rather than needing it than that’s a bust!

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