Last Minute Shopping Tips

I'm short on time, but long on advice today. I've got other posts bouncing around in my head, but things are too rushed to deal with most of them just yet. (The best part¹ of that is that the reason I'm busy has less to do with holiday preparation than with work items that fall under "must be completed by the end of the month" or "by the end of the year", both of which are the same thing now.)

As you rush out to do all of your shopping (because I'm sure that you, like me, have been procrastinating and will find yourself paying $700 in shipping to send a toy that cost $15.95 and make sure it is there by Christmas) remind yourself of the O. Henry story, "The Gift of the Magi." For those of you who have forgotten², the story deals with a couple for whom money is scarce, but who wish to show their love through presents. Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair, and Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch. Each gives up something they value greatly to buy something the other will cherish.

There are a few things to be gleaned from this story that will help you shop:

• When shopping, try to stay within your means. The memory of Christmas will fade fast when the bills come due in January.
• Don't sacrifice something everyone knows you love to buy presents. You never know when you might be getting that great accessory you've been eyeing.
• Finally, take the time to make sure what you are buying is something the person actually wants or needs. Selling your watch to buy combs for someone who cut off her hair to buy you a watch chain just leads to that awkward moment when you both realize you were left with nothing but worthless junk and your unselfish love for each other. Like anyone really needs that.

^1. And I mean that in the most sarcastic way possible.
^2. I refuse to post a spoiler warning for a story from the 19th Century. If I just ruined the story for you, don't blame me, blame your Junior High English teacher for not making you read it like the rest of us.