It's strange, isn't it?: November 2014

Before you yell "BUT IT'S NOT EVEN HALLOWEEN/THANKSGIVING/MORTENS AFTEN/BONFIRE NIGHT/OTHER EVENT BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS", hear me out!

Christmas can be very stressing if you're not prepared. You miss out on the calm and lovely time Christmas is all about, because you're busy trying to find presents and shopping for Christmas parties and dinners and what not. So I'm here to help you!

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Basically, write down everything. What you're going to buy for Christmas parties, Christmas dinner, presents for people and whatever else you have going in December. Last minute planning can make the experience even more stressful, especially with presents. Things can be sold out fast, or not on offer any more or won't come back in stock until the 20th December.

With presents, have back up plans too. Want to give your mum a necklace you remember her drooling over a few months ago? That's great, but IN CASE they're sold out, write down a few other things that would do too.

You can even buy presents a month before if you're sure that's what they REALLY want. Then there's no fuss with being able to return items. I've already bought most of Sean's presents, and when I'm writing this it's the 22nd October.

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Positives about online Christmas shopping:

You can often find really good deals online
Saves you the fuss of stressing times at the shopping centre
No long queues to pay and get your items wrapped
Some websites actually offers to wrap your items
Items that are sold out in shops can sometimes be found online
Some online shops might do free shipping because of Christmas time (WOO FREE SHIPPING)
No rude people shouting at the poor shop staff that ruins your good Christmas mood

Negatives about online Christmas shopping:

Shipping might be delayed if you order too late
Items might break in transaction
Items might not be what you thought it would be
Not easy to return if the receiver isn't happy with the item
Order mix ups in general (it is Christmas times and even online shop people get confused)
Insane shipping prices

Other tips, check the online shops you're going to buy from (unless it's things like Amazon or Matas/Superdrug/Boots/Ulta/other big name shops you KNOW are fine because millions of people use them every day) I don't know if TrustPilot is an international thing, but you can always Google "Reviews on *name of online shop*" and see what people say about the sites. Christmas is also the time for idiots to be scamming, so watch out for your bank and yourself!

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Christmas can be a stressing time because you feel like there's 100 things to do in the span of a few days. But don't worry, re-fucking-lax. Plan out your days. When you've bought all the presents you need, take a day to find the wrapping paper and put on some good music and just wrap away. Need to bake? Devote a Saturday to baking, call your friends or family for a nice baking day together. It doesn't need to be stressing. So think wisely, breathe, plan and it'll be perfectly fine!

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No one can deny it. Christmas is bloody expensive. But it doesn't have to be that way!

Set a price limit for presents for people. I could be 200 kr (£20, $40, whatever currency you use) for each person you need to buy for. And remember - it's not the price of items that matters, it's the thought
Stop with the impulse buys. "IT LOOKS SO CUTE!", yes it does, but do you really NEED it? No? Put it down!
Stick to your lists as much as possible. It's okay to go away from them if things are sold out or are not as expected, but sticking to it will also save you from going all over the place with your buys
Check catalogues and online catalogues to see what's on offer. Sometimes it's worth going to certain shops if things are on a discounted price.

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I'm a bit crafty myself. I can sew, cross stitch, glue things together. And I personally love to receive things I know others have taken the time and thought to make me. Not that buying someone a present is a bad thing, but we are some souls out there who cannot help but adore the charm of home made presents. It can be anything from pillows for their new sofa, a blanket for the bed, a painting of someone/something they love, jewellery, a scarf, anything your heart desires!

I hope these few tips could be a bit helpful for the coming holiday season! And please don't kill me for this ;-)