Holiday Shopping Rules That Should Exist

[jeffrey]

So, after seeing that Halloween candy is already going up, I started to think about my informal holiday shopping rules. For example, I refuse to buy holiday themed stuff until 2 weeks before the holiday (a month for Christmas) although I usually but it all after the holiday is over for the next year when you really can get the best deals.

So, what holiday rules do you have and what holiday rules do you think should exist even if they don't?

[lorraineb]

Holiday music should only be allowed to be played the week before the holiday.

[kork13]

I'm a little more lenient, I'm okay with holiday music/decorations/marketing up to about 3-4 weeks before the holiday., and for no more than a week afterward. That goes for Christmas & Thanksgiving, and also Valentine's, Easter, July 4th, St. Patty's, and so on. But I do agree, seeing Christmas decorations in October is shameful. (For laugh, this topic reminded me of a pretty funny song: "the Christmas Can-Can" by Straight No Chaser)

Also, I would like to see all of these holidays as actual days off, when everybody has them off and only essential-to-society people go in to work. Not just in respect for the religious obligations that some of them include, but more just because NOTHING ever gets done if you're working on a holiday, so it's pointless anyway. Even something as meaningless as St. Patty's or Valentine's day, half the people at work do nothing except talk about their plans for the evening and running around getting stuff done for that, or small office parties, and so on. Minor peeve, but whatever.... hahaha

[phantom]

I would just like it if retailers would hold off on selling for a holiday until it's the next holiday in line. I don't want to see Halloween candy before Labor Day. I don't want to see Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. I don't want to see Valentine's Day chocolate at Christmas time. It can be hard to enjoy the moment when someone is pushing you to prepare for the next holiday before the current holiday is over.

[bjl584]

Do your holiday shopping now. And, do as much of it as you can online. I refuse to deal with traffic, crowds, lines, or any of the insanity that goes with the holiday shopping season.

[ua_guy]

My inlaws have instituted a law of "no gifts." It's truly wonderful. We don't have to guess what they might want, or buy them something just to buy them something to say we did, and needlessly spend money. No endless shopping, wrapping, hauling presents with us on our trip over. It's pretty easy since there are no school-aged children to celebrate with. The holiday truly becomes about celebrating time together as a family. Removing such a minimal (but very expensive) piece of the holiday equation is quite liberating, and it's something I'm gently trying to push with my side of the family.