I stayed away from the malls but I went to Wal-mart early this morning and it wasn't that bad at all!! Probably alot better shopping experience than I've had on a regular day!!

I also stopped by Walgreens & CVS to see what they had and both were pretty 'bustling' but it still wasn't too bad. CVS had a "ton" of all different kinds of gift cards, so it was gift card giving Christmas for me!!

My visiting family went to the mall to window shop and then went to Wally World to pick up a few things. I was invited, but declined. Not my idea of a good time in the best of times.

I really didn't get much this year. I'm not big on gift giving an receiving. Every year, I tell everyone I don't need anything.

I have a job, independence and a loving family/a few close friends. I don't need anything else.

I have a job, independence and a loving family/a few close friends. I don't need anything else.

That's a great way of looking at it. I start to get a bit irritated from all the commercialism. It's like every other TV & radio commercial is about getting that perfect gift(you only got 5 days left, or four days, etc.) and I'm like enough already!! But I still find myself getting out there and shopping. I'm the same way you are with receiving gifts. I usually don't ask for anything. If I need or want anything, I could just get it myself.

My parents had their shopping finished by the 15th. Of course, this is
because my mother had to go down to Tennessee on the 18th to stay
for a month with my sick grandmother.

As someone who works retail, I HATE the people who come in at the last minute on Christmas Eve and keep me from my family. You have all year long to get your shopping done. Sorry, not trying to be rude, it's just how I feel.