Christmas Time . . .
It's been a while since the last blog entry so apologies all around, but I suppose I can blame it on a hectic schedule.
Obviously the rugby season "hotted up" with the Absa Currie Cup reaching its finale - a tournament I am very involved in - so there was pretty much only one thing on my mind!
Then it was a case of some personal time off to alleviate 20 years of pain - an operation, a life-changing one, has (hopefully) seen to that and while six weeks later I am still recovering, I believe I am on the cusp of something special!
But back to the theme - Christmas.
I am one of those people who really hates crowds and this extends very much to Christmas shopping. I really don't know why people leave it until the last minute to get their Christmas shopping done, either they were waiting for Christmas bonuses (in which case they're forgiven), or (and I am one too), they are bad procrastinators who believe that last year, and every other year's, lessons not to shop at the last minute may have sunk in, but have not!
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The problem with doing it last minute is the huge amount of wasted time spent in traffic jams as cars enter and leave (in a disproportionate quantity) shopping centres, the wait for a parking space, the mass of human bodies all buying the same things, the queues to pay, and finally, and at this time most importantly, the toll on one's already overburdened financial status.
Or the credit card...
The simple fact is that a bit of preplanning and foresight can make Christmas time a lot less stressful and here are a few ways to help you cope financially as well as maintaining your sanity!
1. Plan what you are going to buy each person;
2. If possible, make or create presents for people to save money (eg photos of grandkids for grandparents);
3. Shop online at places like Kalahari.net where it is totally safe, often cheaper and can be done with the minimum of fuss;
4. Buy presents throughout the year, a CD here, a DVD or book there, not necessarily all at once, but you will find come Christmas, you hardly need to buy any more gifts.
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