Coupon Saver

Dear Diary,

I know it’s not even yet Halloween. But does that mean that it’s too early to be thinking of Christmas? I hope not. As December looms, so does the nightmare of joining last-minute shoppers on Christmas season mall sales. Heaven knows how much I don’t want that to happen to me. I had a very bad and very traumatic experience last year. On Christmas Eve. At Sears.

So I am starting this September, about three months away. That way, I won’t be in such a mad rush to purchase items that are on sale. I won’t have to worry about parking space at K-Mart. I won’t have to keep revising my list or write people off of it. I won’t have to be at the tail-end of long queues, or frenetically redeem coupons just to match a hastily allocated budget. I won’t be suffering from any great imbalance between Christmas supply and consumer demand.

This year won’t find me procrastinating. Oh no, sir! Instead I will enjoy the relaxed, pre-December atmosphere of department stores and retail shops. Maybe I will even find items that are good for out-of-season gifts; by shopping early, I can buy anything that I want, without the rush of Christmas affecting supply or stock. Also, I’m guaranteed more time in December – time, that is, other than for shopping. What with parties, preparations, sending of greetings, house calls to friends and family, Christmas season can make one’s schedule very hectic indeed.

I can shop online, too, from the comfort of my own home. It is very convenient to do this, especially for Christmas, because I won’t have to worry about how to send gifts to recipients that aren’t exactly in close proximity. There won’t be any long waits at the Post Office; many online shops, after all, offer fast and free shipping according to delivery instructions. Also, I won’t have to be burdened by the weight of carrying so many shopping bags or make confused arrangements about shipping and wrapping packages.

Anyway, you get my point. I am planning early for Christmas shopping so that I will have a relatively stress-free holiday season. Relatively – because I don’t know what recipe ideas I’m going to have to come up with!