Unclaimed Money

Twas almost the night before Christmas and all through the lands people were in a panic for their last minute Christmas gifts.

Time is running out for your Christmas purchases. The traffic is crazy. The stores are packed, and you can see the panic in peoples eyes, “We must find something, and find it now.” If you are feeling sucked in by the panic, stop, take a deep breath, and make a plan.

I personally don’t mind shopping in crowds on days like the day after Thanksgiving, or the day after Christmas, but I avoid the last few days before Christmas like the plague! People are too desperate. It is too crazy. If you don’t mind the craziness, there are deals to be had now. I’ve seen ads for some very popular stores offering 40% off winter clothing items and more. Some are even offering door buster sales this weekend. So, maybe procrastination does pay, and you can finish your shopping and save money.

If you want to avoid the retail craziness there still is online shopping. There is still time for express shipping on many items, but it will cost you; plenty! There are some other options that don’t require shipping. Here are some ideas for last minute gifts:

1. Restaurant.com
Buy gift certificates for restaurants that can be printed from home.

2. Video rental membership
Get a subscription from Netflix or Blockbuster Total Access.

3. Museum or zoo memberships.
Buy the membership online. Print out a nice shot of the museum with a note that the membership card is on the way. Put it in a little box to wrap and put under the tree.

4. Subscriptions to online or print magazines.

5. Home baked goods.
Whip up a batch of cookies or a loaf or bread.

6. DIY Gift Certificates
Make your own certificates for services you’re will to provide. You could offer babysitting, cleaning, cooking, car washes, or anything else you think the recipient would appreciate.

You don’t have to get sucked into the panic. Get done what you need to, and then enjoy your holiday with family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

This entry was posted on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 8:48 am and is filed under money. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.