Scabette's Guide to Xmas Part 2

Now, here is the really important, meaning of Christmas stuff: SHOPPING!

Xmas shopping can be both brilliant fun, and a terrible ordeal. Searching every shop in existance for an elusive suitable gift is possibly the most disheartening experience known to man. Shopping is hard work. My own preferred strategy is massive amounts of stimulant drugs, but coffee, Red Bull and sugar also work well. Now that the shops open late to catch the desperate and time-poor Xmas shoppers, you do not have to wake up early to fit in a full day of shopping. However you still have to make sure you leave enough time. Two hours is not enough to buy considerate gifts for everybody. Unless you are one of those people who just buys everyone a box of chocolates, but then, you don't need this guide.

REMEMBER that there is an evil law working against you at this time of year. During all other months, when you are in any kind of retail environment, you will see a lot of things which you will look at and vaguely think about how they would make a great gift for X person. When you are actually looking for X's present, then nothing with appear remotely suitable, and you will have to search high and low for hours. Learn to accept this. There is nothing you can do to change it. While you are present shopping on a tight budget, you are also guaranteed to see thousands of things which you desperately want. If you have been searching for a nice top, then only now will you find one. Set aside some money for this eventuality. If you follow my budgeting advice, then you may have enough to buy yourself a small treat. However, this may mean sacrificing an intoxicant or two. Your choice.

NEVER leave your shopping to the last minute. Christmas Eve is not a good time to do anything except get drunk and watch stupid Christmas films. Oh, and in our family, we always eat pork on Xmas Eve. It's a good tradition. But no, you idiot, unless you are only released from prison, or an 18 hour workday on the 24th of December, do not hop now. Indeed, try and get your shopping mainly done by about a week before Xmas. Then bask in the freedom of the holidays.