Dec 22 2008

Holiday Shopping Shininess Agenda

Posted by admin in Money
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I hate holiday shopping, its a fact. People are always in my way, I can never find a parking spot, and usually get hit at least twice on any given trip with a stroller. The malls are a little less crowded this year (at least in the US) due to the crappy economy that has sprung up, but that doesn't mean I enjoy the annual trip to get gifts for the relatives.

With saving money always on my mind, and ever more so now that the holiday bizarre is here, I tried my best to get everyone what they wanted, or at least reasonably close. Lets just say I fell short of being Santa this year. People have developed what I like to call Shininess Agenda around gift giving and receiving even more so.

Shininess Agenda is what comes over most of the industrialized world when we realize that whatever costs the most and looks the coolest will make yourself feel like you've gotten the best ever, and beat all your friends in the process. Now this also means that usually this gift is priced so high that all but the most wealthy of your family can get it for you. If you do this year after year, eventually you will price yourself out of any possible gift that any of your friends or family can buy for you, and make them feel like crap because you do not like whatever gift they tried to give you that was closest to your wish.

So suck it up and enjoy life - not the gifts themselves. Obviously getting gifts is fun, but truly take a few minutes and spend some time with the person giving you the gift in the first place. Put your Shininess Agenda to rest for a few weeks and you just might enjoy the holiday season a little more.

For all of you that are still looking for the best shiny gift ever - try some of these ideas: