Christmas Shopping

[Lamb]

Who has begun doing their Christmas Shopping?

My husband for the first time in ages has finally started putting together a list for things he'd like. That's HUGE in this household! I am the one who usually has to think of things for the family to buy for him.

I used to be done with all my shopping by Thanksgiving but now I'm lucky if I finish in time. I did buy 2 things for my daughter so far this year.

 

[Josiah]

One of the many BLESSINGS of marriage is that my wife handles all this......

I love her SO much.....

 

[psalms 91]

Done, because we dont have themoney to do it so its easy, no presents

 

[Imalive]

We never do that. 5 december santas spanish nephew comes and my rich sis is gonna buy loads of stuff for the kids.

 

[Albion]

I never start until almost the last minute. Actually, I hate doing it that way, but I procrastinate. I have made some good purchases at the last minute, so I don't think this relegates anyone to writing checks instead of giving a decent present. But anyone who has a large family to buy for probably couldn't get away with it.

 

[NewCreation435]

My wife buys almost everything through Amazon and all I have to worry about is getting her gift. She usually tells me what she wants to make it easy for me. I haven't asked what she wants yet.

 

[tango]

Who has begun doing their Christmas Shopping?

My husband for the first time in ages has finally started putting together a list for things he'd like. That's HUGE in this household! I am the one who usually has to think of things for the family to buy for him.

I used to be done with all my shopping by Thanksgiving but now I'm lucky if I finish in time. I did buy 2 things for my daughter so far this year.

Christmas shopping is easy for me. My wife does most of the shopping so all I have to do is figure out something for her, and then figure a way to hide it so she doesn't see it until the time is right. One advantage of the home renovations is that I've got all sorts of little hidey holes I can use that she'll never find.

I keep a loose eye out for things for her, and then ferret them away somewhere. Then I hope I don't forget about them before Christmas.

 

[Josiah]

My wife buys almost everything

My wife does most of the shopping

Aren't wives wonderful?

Of course, she needs to tell me what "WE'RE" giving ...

And yup, I have her gift to get. She gives me ideas so she makes that really easy for me.

 

[Romanos]

Haven't started quite yet, will wait till it gets closer in November.

 

[ValleyGal]

Question. Why does it always seem to be up to the women?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Question. Why does it always seem to be up to the women?

Who knows? It is probably historical. Women used to do the house keeping. Men did the hunting. Things have changed but some arrangements have remained in place. Men do the gardening and heavy work women the inside work and light work. That's probably related to strength more than anything else. There are also gender biases. People are still getting used to women working rather than being at home with the children. It all takes time to change. Culture moves slowly in some matters. That is why we don't have a Jetson's world with robots and flying cars.

 

[Lamb]

Question. Why does it always seem to be up to the women?

In my household it's because I have the most time to shop. In other households it could be because women have, in the past, been known to be the gatherers.

 

[Stravinsk]

I stopped celebrating Christmas in the commercial sense many years ago.

A card, a phone call, a meal with friends is how I celebrate these days. No pressure, no guilt, no competing or trying to outdo one another with gifts - and lots of satisfaction that any gift giving or charity has to be solely my decision - because I wanted to - without compulsion of any kind whatsoever.

 

[~Jo~]

I don't do much present buying anymore except for my immediate family and then its not much because we don't have the money anymore to buy big things sadly. I don't think about christmas anymore all seems a waste of time if I'm honest and so over rated, my family would prefer to eat than get some we don't want and no one comes here christmas anyway so all good to me..

 

[Josiah]

Question. Why does it always seem to be up to the women?

My wife enjoys shopping.

I don't.

 

[ValleyGal]

Okay. Makes sense for some. I was starting to think it was some kind of old-fashioned thread where people were perpetuating women's roles and men's roles.

MC - I grew up on the orchard and I worked at least as hard as any male out there, and I was just as strong as my father. And while he was busy with farming equipment, the women in my family were the ones who did all the gardening, canning, cooking, cleaning and yardwork. So... I beg to differ that women do the light work.

I hate Christmas shopping. I want it done long before the massive crowds of grumpy shoppers, and I definitely want to avoid the parking lots where people's nasties come out and they are driven to steal each other's spots, ding each other's car doors, or park so close that even someone size 2 can't squeeze into their car. People drive down the very centre of the aisle and won't move over, people leave carts wherever it suits them - including the middle of the aisle or the middle of the parking spot you have just positioned yourself to go into. And all that is before you even get into the store where there are people bickering over the last fad gift of the year, long lineups and over-priced gift baskets that serve no other purpose but to annoy the hostess who receives one.

But I love Christmas. I put a lot of thought into the gifts I give, especially if I'm limited on money - which is always. Sometimes I make gifts, and they are usually received far better than generic store-bought stuff that collects dust bunnies until it can be re-gifted the next year. I have started this year's shopping, and hope to be completely done around mid-November.

 

[MoreCoffee]

MC - I grew up on the orchard and I worked at least as hard as any male out there, and I was just as strong as my father. And while he was busy with farming equipment, the women in my family were the ones who did all the gardening, canning, cooking, cleaning and yardwork. So... I beg to differ that women do the light work.

My comment was a generalisation not a universal truth or something. Some women are stronger than some men. Some women in some families do gardening and outside work. Some men in some families do the cooking and the Christmas shopping. So as far as I can tell we were both speaking in generalities; you when you said "Question. Why does it always seem to be up to the women?" and me when I replied "Who knows? It is probably historical. Women used to do the house keeping. Men did the hunting. Things have changed but some arrangements have remained in place. Men do the gardening and heavy work women the inside work and light work. That's probably related to strength more than anything else. There are also gender biases. People are still getting used to women working rather than being at home with the children. It all takes time to change. Culture moves slowly in some matters. That is why we don't have a Jetson's world with robots and flying cars." Neither statement is intended to be a universal truth is it? I know that my reply was not intended as a universal truth.

 

[ValleyGal]

Okay. Just making conversation.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Okay. Just making conversation.

Okay. Same here. Just making conversation.

 

[Lamb]

Are women better gift buyers?