topic Re: Frantic last minute shopping in Community Chat

Frantic last minute shopping

Reever — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 04:05:52 GMT

Just got off the phone with a dear cousin, who states she will be out "all night" shopping because several stores are open 24/7 in my area including Kohls and Macy's, I couldn't believe that people shop like this. Who waits until the last minute? Years ago my Uncle would go to the local drug store on Christmas Eve buying all his gifts, it would drive my Aunt crazy when he would package up all the junk. In my opinion anyone shopping at the last minute hasn't put no thought into their gift giving and is in a state of desperation grabbing anything.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 04:17:16 GMT

I'm sure there are many reasons for last minute shopping. I had an aunt that just hated buying presents, and she always went out on the last day, spent too much money on random inappropriate gifts and ended up pleasing no one, not even herself.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

PinkyPetunia — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 04:26:37 GMT

Who cares if some people shop at the last minute? If the stores remain open, some will be there shopping. It doesn't bother me. People are different and not everyone is organized and gets shopping done on a schedule.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

jeanlake — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 04:30:03 GMT

Some people love the thrill of the hunt and the retail hoopla, which is fine. I'm not one of them.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

Noel7 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 04:52:13 GMT

Some people enjoy it. Johnny Carson once asked Ed McMahon why he waited until Christmas Eve to shop for his wife every year and he said it was his own ritual, he loved it.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

Kalli — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 05:01:49 GMT

Most of my presents have been purchased and wrapped but I have done some shopping in the last 2 days. I got an idea for Dad from his dr appt a few days ago so I picked that item up along with a few gift cards today. As I made my way to check out I grabbed the Despicable Me3 dvd from a display and added that as an extra gift for son’s gf’s children. I texted her to be sure they didn’t have it already.

I always like to get something in the last few days. I don’t know why, but I do. When it’s a gift card there’s no stress. I wouldn’t want to do all my shopping on Christmas Eve and definitely wouldn’t ever want to be in the position of having to find a special unique gift at the last minute.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

Snowpuppy — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 05:05:53 GMT

Years ago when I worked shift I often shopped late night or stayed up late and baked when I got home.

Nothing frantic about it at all. I did chores and errards around my work schedule.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

chrystaltree — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 05:11:28 GMT

I agree that last minute shoppers are not putting much thought into what they are giving but that does not mean that are not buying nice gifts or that they are buying junk. Some shoppers like the thrill of last minute shopping, it's as much a part of Christmas for them as putting up a tree and decorating and cooking a turkey. And there are some amazing deals in the stores. I did for years when I was younger, my kids were young and we lived on a budget. I'd be out there in the mall shopping right up until closing time on Christmas Eve when they'd practically be giving stuff a way for nothing.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

151949 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 05:17:06 GMT

I know a guy who shopped for a wedding gift between the wedding and the reception.Now that is taking it down to the wire!

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

nrm — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 05:40:39 GMT

We went to Kroger today so that my husband,a last minute shopper could pick up some gift cards for our son. We walked in and right back out! The lines were way too long. So he said that he’d get them tomorrow. I just rolled my eyes.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

beach-mom — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 06:04:08 GMT

DH ALWAYS shops on Christmas Eve! Because it's a Sunday this year, he went out today.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

Kitlynn — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 06:14:46 GMT

I think everyone has their own way doing things and what works for them. I personally like to have my shopping done the first week of December and the decoratind done by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. It allows me to wrap the presents at my leisure and to just enjoy the decorations with no stress involved. I cook for all of my family and they come on Christmas Eve so I know that the 22nd and 23rd will be really busy for me. I enjoy it though. I don't see anyting wrong with last minute shopping if people are able to get what they want to give others. I also was at the grocery store yesterday morning at 6:00 A.M. so I wouldn't have to deal with the crowd.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

Shorty2U — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 06:23:41 GMT

Oh my daughters not finished shopping yet, she needs one more thing. Not me, I'm done and wrapped 2 weeks ago (and that was late for me).

I spent all day cleaning and doing wash just so DH and I can go to the movies at noon Christmas Eve (before everyone comes Christmas Eve night,, lol.) Yes it took me all day because I have to take breaks for my bad back. I just got down now at 1 AM!

But Id be panicking if I had to shop and wrap and clean and everything at the last minute! We are having Italian food Christmas Eve, easy peasy. Christmas Day we go to DHs family.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

PodyPo — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 06:28:08 GMT

Some of my best memories are accompanying my Dad on Christmas Eve as he did his shopping. No crowds back then and we enjoyed our time together.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

homedecor1 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 06:59:41 GMT

There are many reasons people shop last minute, myself included!

Its ridiculous to say one puts no thought into the gift - I am just the opposite. I have a specific list (right down to the wrapping paper/bows).

I flew in at 11 last night for the Christmas holiday. My niece & I enjoyed a wonderful day of prepping, baking & visiting. I had my list in hand - we left at 9:30 pm to go do "my shopping list" for my family -

went to kohls - got exactly what we wanted (Caphalon pro series cookware set). Cuisinart food processor, 3 picture frames.

then off to Bed Bath & Beyond: oxo canister set, oxo measuring cups, scrub daddy set, bamboo utensils & cutting boards & a few other things.

Target: kids clothes, toys, wrapping paper, few misc things

Hallmark store: recorDable books

PetSmart: kitty & dog gifts

food store: for our Christmas Eve dinner items

I prefer to shop late at nite - its fairly empty & lots of cashiers/stock people around if I need help. I have to say got everything on my list less than 2 hours.

No shippng fees & can wrap & be done. Too expensive to ship from home to families

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

Moonchilde — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 07:03:56 GMT

People shop around their work schedule, as someone else said. Many working poor can’t do any shopping until they get paid, and some might not get paid, or get any bonus they might be counting on, until right before Christmas.

I think we all know the people (often male) who do the drugstore thing or the mall thing until 6 pm Xmas Eve and just thoughtlessly grab whatever is left, but that doesn’t mean that every last minute shopper is lazy or thoughtless.

I sure as heck wouldn’t want to be out there, though. I popped into a mall today, and a well-known large local bakery; the bakery was much more crowded and frantic than the mall, but the register lines in Kohl’s were from one end of the store to the other.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

libbyannE — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 08:22:09 GMT

I don't think your opinion matters. To each his/her own.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

missy1 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 08:44:44 GMT

Many people got paid on Friday and are on a budget.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

ID2 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 10:40:52 GMT

@Reever wrote:
Just got off the phone with a dear cousin, who states she will be out "all night" shopping because several stores are open 24/7 in my area including Kohls and Macy's, I couldn't believe that people shop like this. Who waits until the last minute? Years ago my Uncle would go to the local drug store on Christmas Eve buying all his gifts, it would drive my Aunt crazy when he would package up all the junk. In my opinion anyone shopping at the last minute hasn't put no thought into their gift giving and is in a state of desperation grabbing anything.

I feel the same about people that shop all year. I only buy what my gifters want. I just can't seeing giving someone something I found on the clearance rack in mid July. Gift giving is giving what the person wants not what you want to give that person.

Re: Frantic last minute shopping

gidgetgh — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 10:57:16 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
@Reever wrote:
Just got off the phone with a dear cousin, who states she will be out "all night" shopping because several stores are open 24/7 in my area including Kohls and Macy's, I couldn't believe that people shop like this. Who waits until the last minute? Years ago my Uncle would go to the local drug store on Christmas Eve buying all his gifts, it would drive my Aunt crazy when he would package up all the junk. In my opinion anyone shopping at the last minute hasn't put no thought into their gift giving and is in a state of desperation grabbing anything.

I feel the same about people that shop all year. I only buy what my gifters want. I just can't seeing giving someone something I found on the clearance rack in mid July. Gift giving is giving what the person wants not what you want to give that person.

@ID2- just a question- why do you assume that if someone starts their Christmas shopping early that it's something they found on the clearance rack?????

I've seen people post stuff like that before and I truly don't understand it. I shop for a lot of people. I start early (usually before July). I never give "clearance rack junk" for gifts. Never have. Why do people think that if you start early, you give junk?

Not trying to pick on you- I see stuff like that posted here quite a bit and I really don't understand it.