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How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

How We’re Doing Christmas Shopping In The ‘Burbs This Year

in Everyday on 12/05/16

happymonday

Have you ever stopped and thought about the staggering number of special people in your life.  People that have touched your life, the life of your children, who make your day to day living just a little bit sweeter.  We are blessed.  When Christmas rolls around, you may find yourself counting them again.  Why?  It’s time to figure out who you need to buy Christmas gift for?

From teachers, to coaches, your hairstylist to the babysitter, the crossing guard at school, bosses and secretaries, all the way to the garbage man and Fed Ex delivery guy there are so many people you want to acknowledge at this time of year and it seems this list grows at a staggering rate.  So how do you go about making sure all the people who have touched your life in big ways and small know they are appreciated?  How do you check them off your Christmas list without going insane or breaking the bank?  I’ve seen a number of different approaches to tackling the “non-family list”.

  1. You can spend hours running through the malls in a panic trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on that list.  Personalizing every single gift to perfection and praying you didn’t forget anyone.
  2. Get your bake on whipping up homemade gifts for all (and then hope half of that home made goodness doesn’t end up in the trash?)  Hint:  It does.  Do you really thing Teachers can eat 30 gifts of homemade fudge?
  3. Just do cards.
  4. Be a Scrooge and acknowledge no one!  (like I could ever do that)

I’m afraid after all these years of making this crazy Christmas shop, panicking that I may have left someone out, and spending more money than I are to admit.  I’m over it.  And dare I say, I’m not sure some of those gifts I sweated about were even appreciated?  So this year, my plan is this.  KISS.  Keep it simple stupid.  Yup, it’s time to simplify baby.  My list of special people in my life is going to fall into one of two categories.

One:  Starbucks Gift Cards with handwritten thank you card.

Two:  LCBO Gift Card with handwritten thank you card.

Coffee or booze? If this is wrong I don’t want to be right.

All gifts will be purchased, “wrapped” and ready to go with two stops.

Fa lala la lala la.  Merry Christmas and Ho Ho Ho.  This is how we are doing Christmas shopping in the suburbs this year.

 

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    Comments

    1. sarah alexis says

      December 7, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      Ha ha. LOVE IT! I would be happy with either of those gifts… who wouldn’t????!!!!

    2. Hhoare says

      December 6, 2016 at 9:48 pm

      Love this – my husband wants to be in the LCBO camp!!

    3. loriag says

      December 6, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      Gift cards are always good. I like to give them and get them.

    4. Darlene Schuller says

      December 6, 2016 at 8:01 am

      I like the way you think…

    5. LeslieC says

      December 6, 2016 at 2:16 am

      I will try to not stress and simply KISS!

    6. Shirley S says

      December 6, 2016 at 12:28 am

      Christmas shopping can be quite stressful. Keeping it simple with gift cards is a good idea.

    7. Laurie P says

      December 5, 2016 at 7:32 pm

      …I gotta add a few teachers to my list this year, haven’t had to worry about that in years.

    8. jan says

      December 5, 2016 at 6:45 pm

      Oh I’d love cards for either coffee or alcohol – if only everyone were that thoughtful! 😉

    9. kathy downey says

      December 5, 2016 at 5:43 pm

      Gift cards certainly are the way to go.

    10. Anna Roszak-Robinson says

      December 5, 2016 at 5:42 pm

      You are so smart. xo

    11. Chandra O'Connor says

      December 5, 2016 at 1:06 pm

      I do baking for the unexpected gift givers.

    12. Heather S says

      December 5, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      Agreed coffee and booze is always acceptable gifts! 🙂

    13. Stephanie LaPlante says

      December 5, 2016 at 10:39 am

      I’m definitely doing cards with Tim Horton’s Gift Certificates to non family people I appreciate.

    14. Judy Cowan says

      December 5, 2016 at 10:35 am

      lol….definitely makes it easy! Gift cards are always nice to receive!

    15. Jay M says

      December 5, 2016 at 9:41 am

      Can’t go wrong with coffee or booze!

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    Travel addict, sun seeker, coffee drinker, fashion lover, picture taker. This is a peek behind the closed and competitive doors of the suburbs. A place to come to learn about the best places to travel with your kids in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and beyond! stephanie@sassymodernmom.com
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