christmas (tat) number 8 - the shopping

Children first, of course. After that, there's always the old fallback, ask the people on your list what they DO need. Or make a charitable donation in their name. Or just tell everybody you're a Jehovah's Witness now. :-)

Hello, Judith. All my Christmas shopping was finished by 6th November, which was when we did the Santa Run in England. We don't exchange presents with our Spanish friends - we just get together for food and drinks, which is far more sensible and enjoyable. I've always shopped all through the year for Christmas, mainly because, as it's the second marriage for both of us and we both have big families, we need to spread the cost of the gift buying. And every December, I feel really smug with myself, because I'm not out there with the sharpened elbows.

I normally only buy gifts for my immediate family - my five sons and their wives and children. The four sons who have children supply a wish list from the children each year before Christmas, and add a couple of suggestions for themselves. Since I know what I am shopping for beforehand (with an alternative in case I can't find it) shopping is no hassle. My two young granddaughters always appreciate new dresses and like the ones I choose, so I keep an eye open for special ones throughout the year. I know that in a couple of years the older one (as did another granddaughter) will want to choose her own clothes, but at the moment she still approves of my selection. My two older grandsons and the other granddaughter have everything they need and are much more appreciative of money which they usually deposit in their bank account - so that makes it easier for me. Only the grandchildren receive birthday presents.

Do your shopping in September or so. That makes it a lot easier. You can get bargains then as well as now. GG TYVM

I handled it well this year and saved a bundle Two words: shop Amazon