Yer what

?, well it was a stupid question

Why shop? I really don't understand this urge to go into crowded shops when most of us have just been in crowded shops for the last few weeks.

They are shopping for next year's Christmas presents and hoping to get a bargain, or else they are masochists with nothing better to do.

They also don’t have family who work in retail and struggle to have a Christmas break. If people saw the harm it does they wouldn’t go. Won’t go near a shop on. Boxing Day on principle.

I was in Boots for medication but the busiest part of the store was the gifts sale section. It was packed. People in the queue had basketfuls of gift sets, presumably for next Christmas? I usually steer clear of shops and sales from November to mid-January.

Kitty, the news report came from Southampton. West Quay shopping Mall is a stones throw from the Solent. I find it perfectly feasible that the shopper was rewarded with a gust of fresh sea air each time the doors of the centre opened.

My granddaughter has a holiday job in a large store and yesterday she served a couple who bought lots of perfume, gift sets etc and said they were buying all next year's Christmas presents at reduced prices to 'get it out of the way and save money'.

Its odd to me but lost of people regard shopping as a leisure activity and I suppose big shopping centres are sort of warm and you get to se other people. Also the thrifty buy up bargains to give next year - none of this is for me. Wont be going near the shops for some weeks.

Nor me, we haven’t even been out food shopping, although will need to by Friday.Went out for a long walk by the river on Boxing Day.

I have a husband, children, grandchildren, godchildren, foster children, assorted in-laws and friends to buy for at Christmas (and birthdays). I have never got into debt by buying beyond my limited means so the only way I can afford their gifts is by buying them throughout the year. I also hate shopping and cannot bear to join the post-Christmas scrum, so I take advantage of whatever sales I can and chip away through the year, buying as much as I can locally. Anything electrical has to be bought near to the time so that guarantees and warranties are still in date. Fortunately the house has plenty of storage space so things can be put away. I have already bought gifts for my grandchildren who have birthdays in January, February and March. I have just bought (online) two Christmas gifts for next year, both heavily discounted, but very popular and they will most likely be full price for the rest of the year.