Manic December shopping parks!

[Gemini]

As you know I aim to have my shopping finished by the end of November each year, or at least the vast majority of it. I get some good bargains, have plenty of choice and if shopping in person rather than online, don't have to battle the crowds.
This year is the same. Most is done, but I have some small things to buy for OH, and some of my mums shopping. I get hers as soon as I can but she never tells me early enough. Yesterday I decided to finish the shopping for mum that I knew about (still a couple more to get next week!) She needed some vouchers from Accessorise/Monsoon and M&S. Both in separate shopping parks. The first was completely full, so I had to park at Asda. Not a long walk, but if my knee was bad or I had lots too carry it would have been.
Then into the next one. Massive car park, full also, almost. There is a car park to the side that most people don't notice, where you can usually find a space. This is early December. Who are all these manic shoppers? What will it be like just before Christmas?
I needed to go to Wilko for mum too (busy car park but I found a space) and the shop was packed and the queues horrendous. Shopping in December is enough to make anyone Bah Humbug!!

[Oma]

That's why I get all mine in early Gem . Our shopping centre if you go later than 9 you can't get a space and the queues are insane, your lucky if by 2nd week of December Argos has any stock left and I refuse to queue in there they usually out the door ,
Our Wilko has put a snake queueing system in supposed to make you feel your not in line too long well it doesn't work as out of 10 tills they never have more than 2 on and one of them is click and collect and returns

[Gemini]

Our Wilko has done the same Oma.

[Daisy]

Gem - that sounds horrendous. I haven't even started shopping yet, but I will do most of it online. I avoid Saturdays and Sundays like the plague though, when I do go into town. I also use small nearby towns rather than battle into Southampton and Bournemouth. I hope your knee was ok after all that, plus getting the car into and out of car parks is hard on the knees. x

[Nanto2girls]

Pleased to say our shopping is done. Got a large Asda delivery coming in the morning, last few pressies in the order.
Just some ladies and gents toiletry sets in the order.
Christmas cards were posted last week,just a few to be hand delivered to the neighbours.

[Glammanana]

I am fortunate enough to have my day off work on a Monday so have been doing what is needed then when everyone is having a rest from week-end shopping and children are back at school I get there as soon after 9am and wizz about like a swirling dervish.This morning I had been to the bank got some pennies and paid balance of March holiday then did Morrisons
and B&M and was back home for 10.30,just have to do one more Monday shop and I'm all done that is only for DS1s birthday present on 15th I don't know what to buy him what do you
buy a boy who has everything you can think of ????

[Plantaholic]

All done, just started cards, need a few more and the stamps, then just need SIL to get decorations down from my loft. I hate wrapping presents

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, the parking sounds like a nightmare.

[Oma]

Out of necessity all our Christmas presents were bought before hubby went in Hospital , everything is wrapped cards written and sent apart from neighbours I will do them over the week , Very little food shop will be done as only me in the house , at DD Christmas day ,then friends Boxing day , I will get a few treats in but not getting loads only to be wasted

[Plantaholic]

Dentist for me tomorrow, a very long and expensive job

I have an appt. with a cardiologist next Monday, hope he can get to the bottom of why I am having these falls

[Mimi]

Plant hopefully you will get some answers and the issues with your health will be solved.

Fingers crossed I can finish the Christmas present shopping today when I am in town. I have done the majority of it on line. I am a big online shopping fan, I will spend ages looking for what I want at lots of websites to get the best buy. I always make sure they are trustworthy sites, I'm very cautious about where the items are coming from, my shopping is usually UK based.
Every year I buy a big box of Christmas cards and every year I have to go and buy some more as I've run out. I did know I knew so many people.

[Elisi]

I do try to do most online. I'm allergic to crowds Everything we need is here in the village we've just moved to so we are lucky.

Plant, hoping the hospital can get to the source of your falls and offer some positive help.

[Oma]

Plant I had a 90 minute appointment with Dentist a couple of weeks ago to repair my front teeth I broke when I fell in the door , expected it to be about £200+ but it wasn't as bad as I expected 😊

[Nana]

If I go into town to shop in the day/wk I catch a bus. Up to now tho OH hasn't found parking too bad. I only need a few bits so will go into town tomoro, (I'm also at the dentist Plant). The bus stops in the shopping centre so it's not too bad.

[Daisy]

Plant - after the dentist and then the cardiologist, you'll be a new woman. xx I do hope the dentist isn't as expensive as it sounds. Do let us know what the cardiologist says next week, won't you.

The hardest thing I find about shopping is carrying things. I try and get OH to come along as well. He really hates shopping (so do I but someone has to do it) so he usually finds somewhere to sit and read the paper and I keep going back to dump the shopping on him. But nowadays I do most of it online or locally.