Dad’s Guide to Last Minute Shopping

Christmas falls on December 25th every year. Every single year. It never changes. Then why is it that as the date rapidly approaches dads all around the world find themselves with nary a gift? If you’re a dad and you’ve found yourself in this predicament (once again), follow this guide to getting your shopping done quickly.

First, fuel up. Put gas in the car and food in your belly. You might be in for a long day and it’s possible that you might be driving all over town today. Make sure your family knows you’ll be away from the home all day. (Be prepared for your wife’s disappointed look when you tell her it’s because you’ve waited this long to get your portion of the list crossed off.)

Second, try to hit as many shops at once. Malls can be a dangerous place as the 25th approaches, but it’s also a place with many stores and many sales. Be systematic about your shopping while all the mall. Start at one department store and make your way around the entire mall, one floor at a time, returning to the original department store you began at. Outdoor malls are a gamble at this time of year; if you live in a cold and snowy place you might find yourself wet and miserable as you trudge from place to place. While outlet malls might be a place to get great deals, they are often not as organized as traditional indoor malls, and right now you just don’t have the time to be getting in and out of your car to go from store to store.
Thirdly, as you’re shopping, think about purchasing gifts that the whole family can enjoy. Have you ever heard the expression, “Kill two birds with one stone”? At the very least, purchase gifts that 2 or more of your family members can use together. Some examples include board games, sporting equipment or electronic devices.

Next, if you’re unable to make all of your purchases at the mall location, think about a store that carries a large variety of items. Many retail mega stores carry toys, games, clothes, and electronics all in one location. Most of these stores even sell gift cards to other retail stores; you just have to ask the cashier to activate them for the amount you desire. Retail mega stores are also great for finding stocking stuffers such as accessories, candy and CDs or DVDs.

Finally, don’t forget that you need to have all of these items wrapped before Santa’s impending arrival. Some stores along the way might have offered to gift wrap them for you. This is a fantastic option, as long as there isn’t a long line of dads in front of you. Make a list of the gifts that still need to be wrapped. Think about their sizes of the objects and visit a dollar store. Purchase as many gift bags as you need for the items in your car. Purchase festive colored tissue to stuff in and around the bags. Gift bags are the quickest way to wrap last minute gifts! They’re also great because they can be used again and again. The tie your teenage daughter buys you next year might come in the same bag that held the perfume you bought her this year- now that’s recycling!

If you follow these guidelines, you might find yourself pulling back into your driveway before the sun sets on Christmas Eve. You better hope so anyway!