So after wandering through Loblaws and Independent stores near my home, this time of year is schizophrenic since it is Halloween season. However, Christmas is here now. Christmas almost intervened into Thanksgiving. The Canadian Tire was putting their Christmas section in the Friday before Thanksgiving. Costco already had a Christmas section in September.
What gives? Can we not just enjoy Candy and Spooks for a while and then get to Christmas? Maybe start on All Saints Day (November 1st), better still after Remembrance Day (November 11th)? I am sure my Dentist would be much happier if we ate more candy. That is a cheap shot, but there is a group of people who must have a spike in business after folks eat those Orange Halloween kisses, and they rip out their fillings.
What is our absolute need to get to Christmas so darn soon? It is not like the ’50s, and 60’s, where if you wanted to send packages overseas, you had to have them in the mail for September, now with overnight delivery to most of the world, that excuse is gone too.
Why now? Better still, why so darn much? Why has a relatively crucial religious period (remember Easter is more important (sorry folks, those are the rules)) turned into an excuse to vomit money worse than someone who has eaten a one-month bad turkey?
Christmas Plans?
One thing you should have put together by now is your Christmas plan. Remember your project needs to include the whole season, not just the day because money gets blown on presents and food, booze, and travel (and sometimes that is more than the presents).
Are you going to travel? Do you have a budget set up? Are you driving? What is your guess on how much gas is going to cost? My guess would be at least $1.00 a litre, folks, keep that in mind.
The easiest way to hemorrhage money is to start Christmas shopping without a plan. Get that plan together and start planning for this happy season (ho ho ho and all that crap). Remember last Christmas?
Yes, I am grinchy. Hopefully, my heart will go three sizes one day!
