The Rule of 3!!!

November 19, 2014 by Ray Morgan

So, people say expectantly, have you done all your Christmas shopping? Yes, I say smugly, and I have a spreadsheet, just sayin'. *hair swish*

When I was a little girl, my sister and I would stand outside the living room door on Christmas morning impatiently waiting for my dad to put the tree lights on and tell us that "he'd been!" It was excitement like no other, and the door would swing open to reveal what seemed like mountains of presents. Now, growing up we weren't well off, but my parents worked hard to make our Christmases full of gifts and joy. As we grew up and moved out, my sister and I have our own festive traditions but the living room of my parents house is still a magnet for gifts on the big day. I mean seriously, you can barely get the door open. You wedge it open a few inches and are attacked by a glossy display of red, gold and green wrapping under the artfully decorated tree. It is INSANE.

This year, as my sister and I are both in our thirties and the first grandchild is on the loose (not my kid, how'd you think I have time to write these blogs?) my family has decided on a THREE GIFT MAXIMUM per person. That doesn't sound bad at all right? Three gifts each, lovely. But see now, I have to break out of the 'excess' habit. I can't panic buy at tills, because I'll use up my three gift allowance for people too quickly.

I blame my mum for this. She is an outrageously generous woman, and delights in topping up a main gift with what can only described as a bag for life FULL of extras. "It's just bits!" she cries as I unwrap five bottles of nail varnish, note books, socks, posh shampoo and gin and sit amongst a heap of discarded paper. It is just bits, and it's lovely, but this year, we're bringing it back. Keeping it real.

I'm aware how thoroughly capitalist this makes us sound, but from the comments about how y'all love supermarket Christmas ads on my Facebook timeline, I think you can handle it. Giving at Christmas is fun - it gives a lot of joy and I grew up just as grateful for a puzzle book or bag of sweets masquerading as fruit pips as I did a new bike.

So now it's down to three gifts apiece, the challenge is ON!

My top five Christmas shopping tips

1. Ask people what they want in October. By the time they're stuffed with sherry on 25 Dec, they'll have forgotten!
2. For goodness sake make a list, then there'll be no regretting or forgetting
3. Book off a day midweek so you can shop without screaming blighters at your feet
4. Make sure you buy a little something for yourself to keep momentum going. New jumper? Don't mind if I do
5. Don't forget to support your local shops for gift ideas. Amazon is great for movies, but don't forget the real shops. They're still there you know!


This article is by Ray Morgan
https://twitter.com/raypoetry