Done shopping.... don't make me go back out there!

I have spent the past 2 weekends putting the final touches on everyone's gift... I think I've gotten everybody. Please don't make me go back to THAT!!!! I am fortunate and avoided all the crazy places (i.e. Best Buy, Somerset Mall, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc...). 'Tis the season to punch someone in the nose for cutting in line... Or purchasing the last $100 digital camera!

The holidays have completely gotten out of hand for me. I get my xmas check from the parents (they are too lazy to go shopping for me... plus it is just easier in the long run, now that I don't have to go back and return half the things they have gotten me), then I go out and spend that money on gifts for everyone else. It is depressing. Every time I go shopping, I see my checking account dip lower and lower... closer and closer to the drafting fee they will pull from my savings when I run out of money in my checking. Since I'm not exactly rolling in the $$$ at the moment, the holidays can become overwhelming.

I have tried to remedy this by putting limits on how much my sister, friends, etc can spend on me (and me on them). I'd aim for the $20 for my first offer... the counter offer my bid w/ $40... then usually I can get them down to $35. But $35 times my sister/friends is a L.O.T. of money! I know I know... gifts and shit isn't what xmas is about... but in our society, who are we kidding? Xmas is ancient sandscript for "Give me all your money- Love the Big Corps." Can't we take a friggin' year off??? I'm not in any way insinuating the suspension of gift giving for a year... I'm not THAT charitable. However, I do think some things need to be scaled back. More Secret Santa groups between friends need to be formed thereby limiting the number of gifts being exchanged, and the added mystery of who has whom. More creative/meaningful gifts vs. pricy flashy gifts.

I guess I am still just trying to get my financial bearings in this cruel consumer's world of ours... boo to that!



P.S. Let's pause for a moment of thanks and reflection for my favorite one-stop-shop.