What Your Christmas Shopping Habits Reveal About You

A trip to the mall today proved that Christmas shopping is in full swing. Christmas is just days away and the mall is humming with activity, shoppers crowding the aisles and diving in for the best bargains. The mood was far from festive as weary folks wobbled under the weight of their shopping lists, juggling their budgets,and straining to keep their kids in sight. Yup, it's almost Christmas and most of the shoppers - and the salespersons- are too tired, too broke, and too busy to be buying so much stuff and feeling good about it. Yet Christmas shopping is about as American as apple pie and red, white, and blue stripes. You'd be hard put to find someone, even someone who doesn't really celebrate the season, who hasn't bought some kind of Christmas gift this year. Not everyone takes their shopping as seriously as today's tired toy-buyers. But I bet your Christmas shopping habits have a lot to say about who you are.
You shop all year round, starting the day after Christmas. You like to plan ahead. You have a secret stash of presents somewhere in your house, and you can shop from there anytime there is a birthday or special event. You are very frugal and save a lot of money by shopping throughout the course of the year. Although shopping this far in advance makes you seem organized, you have a habit of losing presents. You have a vague recollection of presents you set a side for a special person, but you can't quite remember. But it's ok.... you've got time to keep shopping! You'll replace those lost presents in no time, and at fraction of the price....

You make a list and check it twice. And a third time. And a fourth time.... You are a perfectionist. You want to make sure each person has the right number of gifts that they cost about the same amount, too. You are borderline obsessive compulsive for making sure that each person gets the appropriate gift at the appropriate time. You may be addicted. To shopping lists.

You agonize over every present and every detail. Even the bow. You make lots of exchanges before the big day actually comes. You buy things, thinking that you'll just exchange it if something better comes along. The local department stores have your picture on file, and they dread to see you coming in with a bag of things for them to exchange. They've got your number, and it says you are a commitment-phobe. But beware.... or you ll get flagged. By the sales clerk.

You choose presents on the fly. Then divy them up between the important people in your life. After all, it's the thought that counts. To you, presents are insignificant. Unless, of course, it's a big screen t.v. for you to watch the shopping network.

You always have an extra, just in case gift. And with your schedule, maybe it's a good idea. You always think of someone else to give a gift to, and you feel terrible if someone gives you a gift and you don't have one to give back. You have a strong sense of justice and what's fair, but you take tit for a tat a bit far sometimes. You really don't have to write a thank you card to say thanks for that last thank you card.

You never actually stop shopping. You just keep adding presents unitl Christmas day arrives. You are a perfectionist and a people pleaser. You just want every one to be happy. All the time. And you're afraid the gifts you already bought just aren't good enough. You're afraid they - and by extension, you - just won't measure up to their expectations. Just don't lose yourself trying to make everyone else have a great Christmas. Make sure you have time to enjoy it, too. After all, it is the thought that counts.

You do all your shopping on Christmas Eve. You work great under pressure and you love the thrill of the hunt. You're a major procrastinator, and do everything at the last minute. Be careful.... they may actually run out of toys this year!

No matter what kind of shopper you are, you probably always get it done in time for Christmas morning. Somehow, the toys get put together, the presents get wrapped, and everyone pretty much has a good time. Just be sure to take time out of your hectic Christmas season to stop and remember - and celebrate - the real reason we spend our precious time and money buying all these presents. We celebrate Christmas because God gave us His Son as a tiny baby. A baby who would grow up to change the world, giving us hope, love, and eternal life. Jesus, the Christ Child, is the best and brightest gift of all. Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!