Stress
Free Shopping
Stress-free shopping – is
that an oxymoron?
New research shows that it’s women who are most stressed out
by Christmas – stressed women spend more than 48 hours shopping
in the building up to Christmas – more time than they spend
enjoying themselves. Despite half saying that it was their least
favourite task, women shoulder the burden of Christmas, trying to
please the whole family.
However the research shows that 47 million people across the UK
would rather have more family time and forgo some present if it
meant less hassle on the High Street.
The General Consumer Council has
drawn up a list of helpful hints to ease the stress of Christmas
Steve Costello, Chairman of the Consumer Council said: “Christmas
is a wonderful time of the year, but it can be expensive and stressful.
Our Christmas card contains simple, common sense advice that shoppers
can use at Christmas and all year round.”
To get the most from your
Christmas shopping, the Consumer Council is advising consumers to:
1. Start shopping early and spread
your spending.
2. Set a realistic budget and stick to it.
3. Make a list of what you need and who you need to buy for.
4. Shop around and compare prices.
5. Only take with you what you can afford to spend.
6. Get receipts for everything and keep them safe
7. Know your rights on refunds and exchanges
8. Keep gift vouchers safe and make sure you cash them in after
Christmas.
9. If you have anything left over after Christmas, why not buy next
year’s cards and wrapping paper in New Year sales?
10. If you do get into debt, try to pay it off as early in the new
year as you can
ALTERNATIVE
SHOPPING TIPS!!
[There’s the suffering that follows eating too much turkey,
and the suffering of watching the string of turkeys on the TV Christmas
schedule. But higher than both these, and sent to test our souls,
is the suffering we call Christmas shopping.]
The thing about Christmas shopping is that you must accept it’s
awful - stress-free Christmas shopping is a contradiction in terms.
What we’re talking about here is minimizing the pain, not
eliminating it.
So, some modest proposals, which you probably know already, but
being reminded should do no harm.
• hit the shops early. The shops won’t be empty when
you arrive, certainly not after the first fifteen minutes, but they
won’t be bunged either. You’ll resent the early start,
but it’ll be worth it.
• make a list of what you need and stick to it. Start with
the things you absolutely must get, and work your way down. In the
heat of shopping you’ll be tempted by things not on your list,
but resist them. This is the devil at work, trying to confuse you
and reduce you to tears.
• DO be like Gordon Brown – be prudent. Decide how much
you can afford to spend and then stick to it. Knowing this saves
hours of time looking at stuff you can’t afford. And don’t
worry that people will be disappointed by your gifts. They’re
probably disappointed you’re not a millionaire as well.
• DO ask about refunds and exchanges before buying. No matter
how carefully you buy, some of the things will be the wrong size
or simply not suit the people you get them for. If you’ve
checked before buying, you’ll be able to calm the disappointment
of the person they’re meant for, not to mention your own irritation.
• DON’T comparison shop. If you do, you’ll spend
three times as long darting between shops, and your feet and head
will really hurt. You want a bargain? Get it in the January sales.
• DON’T postpone deciding. If it’s on your list,
don’t be tempted to give it a think overnight and come back
tomorrow. If you do, next day it will be gone. This is central law
of Christmas shopping, so act now and avoid disappointment.
• DO bring a driver and two mobiles. That means when you’re
finished, you can phone your driver, he’ll pull up at the
shop door, carry your groaning bags to the car, and whisk you home
to rest and recuperation. Mobile phones may or may not be a radiation
risk, but after two hours in the big stores, you’ll be happy
to run that risk.
• FINALLY save time and effort and give a goat. Or a hen or
a beehive or any of the other life-sustaining gifts many big charities
will deliver to a family in the developing world on your behalf.
You simply get a card which you send to your friend or loved one,
telling them it’s been sent on their behalf. You’ll
feel good, your friend/loved one will feel good, the recipient family
will feel really good, and your head and feet will love you for
it.
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