Avoid the Malls and Shop in Odd Places for Christmas

Black Friday is coming, everyone is beginning to take Christmas shopping seriously, the count down will begin any day now. Do you want to be stuck on long lines, spend hours looking for parking or deal with inept salespeople? I don't. Think outside the box. Obviously, there is online shopping, that is certainly an easy out you can order items, win them on Ebay or purchase gift certificate. I do some of that . of course, some of the people I have to shop for live too far away for me to consider buying and mailing things and I certainly want to avoid the Post Office this time of year. The following are some super places to shop and not deal with a mob.

Car Wash:For people I don't have to mail items to I hit some odd places. You must have a car wash near by. This is an excellent man shopping location. You could get a voucher for a number of car washes or you can order up a coupon for having his car detailed. That's always a pleaser, no worry about fit, color or returning that gift! If you're having your car washed look around the cashiers area. They have endless cute things for cars that will make excellent stocking stuffers. You can get little scented items, ones that plug in or hang from the rear view mirror. One even comes in new car smell. If you can't get your guy a new car get him new car smell. Flares are handy. SUnshields ar always good. They have those tiny round mirrors to paste to your guys side mirror, just the right size to stick in a stsocking. They have change holders, drink holders and more. All are very reasonable and will be real guy pleasers. my sister just got a new car so some of the stocking stuffers I get her will be from a car wash.

Hardware Store: You can find something for every member of the family in a hardware store. For the grand kids each one gets a little flashlight. Flashlights are fun and they can keep them next to their beds in case of scary dreams. The flashlight makes it easier to find their way to Mom & Dad's room in the dark. A rain measurer is nice for them, gives them a little peak at Science and Nature. For Dad, a larger flashlight, a tool kit, one of those divided plastic see through boxes with every sort of nail or screw. A really good hammer makes a nice, practical gift. A log carrier for the fireplace wood worked out well. You can pick up some great bird feeders or squirrel deterrants. A nice outdoor thermometer to hang outside the window can be practical. For a Mom there's usually some really nice door mats, bird houses, wrought iron plant hangers, nice new ceramic letters or numbers for the front door, a really super malbox. I picked out a great mailbox with a three dimensional black and white cat perched on top of it for my son and daughter in law. they have those rural mailboxes on a post. In our hardware store they also have painted mailboxes and seasonal pieces you can use all year on the mailbox. There's never a parking problem at the Hardware Store.

Ice Cream Stores: Always good for gift certificates

McDonalds/Burger king: Again great for gift certificates

Drugstore: Take a stroll around the drugstores, you'd be amazed at all the goodies. Great little travel sizes of everything, super stationery, it's certainly a good place to browse. Have a photo or two blown up and framed in the photo shop area.

Grocery store: This time of year there are always nice displays of things you can give as gifts. Our store has rolled up plush blankets in all kinds of patterns, some really cute ones for kids. You have to go grocery shopping anyway so keep your eyes peeled for some interesting items to give as gifts. again a grocery gift certificate is good.

Dollar Stores: I'm a big fan of Dollar Stores. We also live close to stores here. Places like these often have great kids games at much lower prices than K & B or other toy stores.

Super Cuts, Beauty Parlors, Sally's: Gift certificates or super hair products can be picked up at beauty parlors, Hair dressers or Sally's Beauty Supplies. Many beauty parlors have lilttle gift sections as well. Then again, there's the gift certificate.

Work out, Gyms: Places like these will often give you a week's free trial or even a month free trial. So that would be a gift that costs nothing.

Zoos and Museums and Movie Theatres: You can order someone a membership to a nearby Zoo or Museum or a coupon for several visits to the local movie theatre.

Staples: Staples carries more than just stationery and pens. Both of which would be nice little stocking stuffers. You can purchase cameras, desk organizers, and they always have a good clearance area. I've picked up great leather day keepers. They have calenders, frames, travel clocks and all sorts of gadgets to gift people with.

Starbucks: Starbucks always has wonderful seasonal items, travel mugs geared toawrds kids a well as adults, thick seasonally themed cookies for kids, grat CD's, games, Expresso machines, French drip coffee makers. You could shop for aa lot of people here and enjoy a nice hot cocoa while shopping.

Frame It Yourself: These are wonderful stores for having a nice picture framed up for people in the family, it could be a nice portrait of their favorite pet or your children or just a nice scene. You could also pick put a nice frame and have a mirror put in it. Several tiny frames with mirrors in them look nice together and you do the framing so it isn't expensive.

So think outside the Mall and save a lot of aggravation and some money and time as well.