Holiday Gifts that Just Take Up Space

Aahh....'tis the season for giving. No item or service is off limits for holiday gifting. Geez, gleeful merchandisers are giddy about selling everything from $500,00 Rolls Royces to $2 Chia Pets...even that archived commercial for the Clap-On automatic lighting device where the old lady with the gray hair is still clapping has graced the airwaves again.
She's been in that bed for at least 30 years now, right?

And how many times do you feel pressured to get a gift - just to give a gift? Chances are, that gift will wind up in the back of the closet somewhere - never used, never appreciated. Well.....time to change the jolly ole' gifting game.
This year, vow to spend your hard-earned cash only on gifts you actually spent some time thinking about -those that people are actually gonna use; the wrapped treasures that will matter to them, not to you. Need a little help?

Here are my tips for holiday shopping: 

1. Make a list of gift recipients and what you're thinking of buying. DO NOT ENTER THE STORE WITHOUT A LIST!! The gifting police will politely be checking lists at the door and will escort you back to your car, if you're unprepared, young lady.
   
2. Forget the cute, "coochie-coochie-coo" money sucking crafty things. Leave those dust collectors, made in China things right where they are. (Christmas ornaments, dolls, seasonal snowmen and silly little stuff).
3. Don't get a gift that you wouldn't want for yourself. Come on, people......!
4. And just because you'd wear it, use it, love it - doesn't mean your recipient will. If you've never seen them in a pair of  zebra print leggings, don't think that they'll love them now. 
5. If you just don't think you have a "good enough" gift, try buying 1 nice inexpensive item (say a satin pillowcase) and then a couple of smaller items - like a Starbucks gift card, movie ticket gift card, a coupon to redeem for a concert, lip glosses, sexy nail polishes or  even a gas card.
   
6. The "early bird gets the worm". Try to get to the department stores first thing in the morning. Merchandise is folded and in order. People are more pleasant. Stores are less crowded and you can fa-la-la-la-la through your list in now time! 

Happy Shopping and  Smiling!