{"id":4275,"date":"2011-12-05T11:54:26","date_gmt":"2011-12-05T11:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwithkids.co.uk\/?p=4275"},"modified":"2013-06-24T13:05:34","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T13:05:34","slug":"once-more-unto-the-fray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidstart.co.uk\/blog\/once-more-unto-the-fray\/","title":{"rendered":"Once more unto the fray…"},"content":{"rendered":"Today\u2019s the day I start my Christmas shopping – I have a budget, a list, and am full of good intentions…what could possibly go wrong?\n\nI am determined to get everything ordered, bought and dare I say it, wrapped by the time the children break up from school. This is an annual mantra, but this year I\u2019m serious. No I will not be flying onto the night bus panic buying in Selfridges at 10pm on December 23 – that way lies madness, empty bank accounts and disappointed children.\n\nSo, today I start with the teenagers – I will begin by working out who gets what, whether I can get vouchers for any of them, and then if possible order things online (maximising my Kiddy Bank account by buying it through KidStart of course). Then when I absolutely have to buy it in person, I will make a guerrilla raid on one or two shops for specific items only! Repeat after me: \u00a0I will not be distracted into buying boxed sets of anything, however desperate my stash of presents for’ awkward -to- buy -for men’ \u00a0looks, nor will I be tempted into buying\u00a0 Danish \u00a0snowflake sweaters<\/a> of any description, or wandering aimlessly into Lush without a list for protection.\n\nSo here are my three do\u2019s and don\u2019ts when Christmas shopping:\n\nDo\u2019s\n\n1. Do insist that each member of the family writes a list but leave them a week to sleep on it\n\n2. Do work out how many presents you are getting each member of the family and stick to it – it\u2019s easier to work out than restricting yourself to an equal budget for each\n\n3. Do shop strategically – it can take you an entire morning to track down one thing so don\u2019t panic – yet!\n\nDon\u2019ts\n\n1. Don\u2019t pop into Covent Garden \u201cjust for some inspiration\u201d save that for a congratulatory coffee with your mates once you\u2019re done\n\n2.Don\u2019t max out your credit card – share the load otherwise your credit rating will look very sick come the New Year\n\n3. Don\u2019t buy generic emergency catch all presents just in case – they always look like an after thought and once you start you won\u2019t know when to stop.\n\nI will be tweeting from Oxford Street – keep me company!\n\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Today\u2019s the day I start my Christmas shopping – I have a budget, a list, and am full of good intentions…what could possibly go wrong? I am determined to get everything ordered, bought and dare I say it, wrapped by the time the children break up from school. 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