‘Tis the Season

I don’t know about you guys, but Christmas is always very stressful for me. It’s not so much the money aspect, though when I didn’t have a job I was upset at not being able to buy presents for people. My main stressor is trying to figure out presents.

See, the hard part is not only picking out the right present, but also figuring out if they might already have that item. For example, if someone collects the Funko Pop figurines, of course you want to buy them one to add to their collection. Then you’re faced with the dilemma of picking out one that they won’t have. If you get them a double, will they return the gift? I know that they could exchange it for one they don’t have, but then it’s just not the same.

Then you have the people who are impossible to shop for. My father, for example, is the hardest person to buy a gift for. If there’s something he wants, he buys it. It doesn’t matter if it’s near Christmas or in June. This year, we figured out a good present to buy which I know he doesn’t have but would like, but this is the exception, not the rule. Though if you asked him, the present he wants is for me to finish copy-editing his book (I’m working on it, Padre!).

I’ve even tried Googling gift ideas, but the lists usually have things that are insanely expensive. I love my friends, but if I bought them all of the expensive stuff that I want to buy them, I would only be able to buy for one person. They need to have lists that are for people on a budget.

Luckily, I just finished all of my Christmas shopping. I still have some gifts to make, as I do crochet and knitting, but the stressful part is over.

I want to hear from you guys. What do you do for those who are hard to shop for?

-Jen