Only 6 shopping days left ‘til it’s too late and you’re totally screwed

The thing that really chaps my hide about Christmas shopping is this: I wait until the last minute every single year. How does this happen? Christmas falls on December 25 EVERY YEAR, so it’s not like I can say I thought I still had a few weeks to get to it (as I do with Easter, every year). This ridiculous procrastination means I end up spending more than I should on useless crap that nobody wants because I’m in such a dither by the time I hit the stores I can’t formulate a rational thought.

Kind of like my old pal, Clark W. Griswold.

Here’s my number-one last-minute Christmas gift rule, that when I remember to adhere to it, saves me from complete and utter gift-exchange humiliation:
Go for the gift card! BUT, gift cards can be given only if you’ve spent at least two minutes thinking — really deep, contemplative thoughts — about the person who will receive it. Otherwise it’s just a half-ass bail out that’ll make you feel thoughtless and lame. Gift cards only work if they’re redeemable at a place your recipient would actually shop. So either choose a place where the receiver blows too much money all the time anyway (this is the practical method), or a place you know they’d like to shop but don’t (because it’s too frivolous, too expensive, too out-of-character, or too mortifying … hello, Castle Super Store!).

It’s my belief that people will try anything once, so long as they have a good incentive. A well-chosen gift card can offer the proper motivation to get someone living outside the box, even if it’s only after dark when they think no one is watching.