So do people really go Xmas shopping on the high street

[merrycompo]

These last 2 weekends before Xmas?
Don't you all do it online?
Why is the high street still so crammed ? It baffles me

[merrycompo]

For instance I can't imagine the hell that bluewater would be today
wouldn't it cost a fortune to go and do your Xmas shopping there?!

[Hassledge]

I still have a fair bit to get - have bought what I have so far online but won't risk any more at this lateish stage (fretting re deliveries etc). So yes, I braved the mall yesterday and it was truly hideous. I never really focus on Christmas until we're into December so always end up in shopping hell.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

normally i love going into town at this time of year. it's so festive with all the lights, carol singers, brass bands, and the christmas market. dd1 loves it too.

this year though i have 6 week dd2, who is a real unputdownable screamer, so am doing things the Amazon way for the first time. it's not as fun.

[ChasingSquirrels]

we have just been this morning, into Cambridge. It wasn't actually all that busy, at all - although we did go at just after 9am.

I brought my dad's present - but only cos my mum said as we were walking round "oh your dad would like an ipod" - WTF???? REALLY???? AN IPOD??????? Yes, he saw one for £12 on holiday and said he wants one. Ah, ok, not actually an IPOD then (although mind still boggling at him wanting one). And happened to be passing Maplin so popped in and sorted.

My mum brought a few things, mainly went cos we wanted to look for a dressing gown for me.

Am going into Newmarket this afternoon to pick up a couple of things I have on click and collect from Argos - because they are a significant amount cheaper than online.

And have just been online and ordered final bits for kids from Amazon.

[merrycompo]

The trouble I have is if I were to go into town today tge hideousness of it all would panic me into spending too much on stuff we don't need

[iTigress]

I LOVE the festive and panicked town centres! As long as I'm psyched up, have a list, schedule in pub/Starbucks breaks, it's my favourite activity. On my way now

I could do it online, but where's the fun in
that?I want elbows in John Lewis and frantic jostling for the last pair of men's PJs in House of Fraser!

[gregssausageroll]

I've done most of mine on line and hope it will all make it! With the number of white vans buzzing around today I do hope so!

I don't mind going into town but not when I HAVE to get lots of gifts. If I am in for a couple of things and I know exactly what for I don't mind but the enless wondering around not knowing what to get stresses me out!

[merrycompo]

Lol itigress , yes I do know what you mean. I'm working next week so will go out in my lunch hour and feel the Xmas fever

[tingletangle]

We buy on the high street. If you don't use it you will loose it.

[onimolap]

Watch the episode of The Good Life when Margot's Christmas isn't delivered. Then read OYSSK's posts on the chances of more big snowfalls in the run up to Yule.

I much prefer going shopping to shopping on line anyhow, but definitely think it's now to late to be relying on deliveries turning up as they should.

[ShanahansRevenge]

Merrycompo...some people have no choice. They're waiting for money which does nt arrive till' last minute.

I have been in that situation more than once and had to do it ALL on Christmas Eve!

But it's fun...and you get bargains. Luckily I am far more stable nowadays and do about half online and the rest in the last 2 weekends before the big day...it builds things for me and it's somehow exciting.

[nickeldonkeyonadustyroad]

merrycompo - our high street isn't heaving, come to sittingbourne!
I'm currently chewing my fingernails to the bone worrying about whether I'll survive this christmas.

takings are so very low, I'm tempted to beg my customers to buy more!

[mugggletoeandwine]

Town here wasn't busy today.

I have bought most online and picked up the odd thing on my way home from work.

I went out today to get a Greggs for lunch and to buy a new piping bag and some chicken livers.

I wonder if anyone can beat that for odness?
Greggs, chicken livers and piping bag.
They don't go together somehow!

[coastgirl]

I went today and it wasn't too stressful at all. Quite good fun really. Also if you work full time when you do get these things delivered that you order online? My post office is only open late one day a week and for about two hours on a Saturday morning to pick up missed deliveries, and I can't always make either of those slots. Other courier firms are a bloody nightmare to deal with and we don't have anywhere safe to leave parcels. I would love to do all my shopping online but until I can find a better way of actually getting the parcels I can't rely on it for time-limited things like Christmas presents.

[KangarooCaught]

Adore Bluewater

Miss decent shopping terribly, you don't miss it until you move to a 1950s backwater.

Oh, and Nickelbabe's children's bookshop is loverly.

[WanderingInAWinterWonderland]

We got a few things online but they took ages to come and it would stress me out waiting for everything to come, whereas if you go shopping it is there in your hand, ready to be wrapped.

I also love how festive town is at this time of year. I don't mind the hustle and bustle!

[PressureDrop]

The last 4 or 5 years, I've done one day shopping in central London or one of the big London shopping centres, but I've done it on a week day in November, before it all gets too crazy. It's been lovely and civilised

I've done everything else online, with a few last minute bits from my local high street.

My mum went down to Hamleys today. Crazy lady. Oxford St in Dec/Jan? It's a NO from me.

[larry5]

I am having to do shopping late this year as I had an op at the end of October and have been out of action.

On top of that when I did manage to go shopping on Thursday I had a phone call from DH to say that a stop had been put on my debit card because of suspicious activities (luckily they hadn't got any money) so I now have to wait 5 working days to get a new card.

I did wonder whether DH had done it to save me from spending money!

[nickeldonkeyonadustyroad]

Kangeroo who are you normally? have you been in?

[nickeldonkeyonadustyroad]

(shockingly excited at yet another visitor from MN, unless it's one who's already told me .... )

[SatinandTat]

I live in a predominantly Jewish area and Hannukah ended on Wednesday so the malls will be quiet today. I really miss everything iTigress mentioned.

[nancy75]

remember how everyone moaned when woolworths closed down? thats what will happen to all the shops if we do all our shopping online.

[KangarooCaught]

You put a link up a while back to your website & was v excited to realise I had been there with ds on a fleeting visit back to Kent.

Should have said "It is I, KangarooCaught," if I'd realised you were a fellow MNer

Sorry business is not what you would like, it's a gem of a shop, I suppose that's because Sittingbourne isn't a shopping browsing mecca, unlike Maidstone.

[merrycompo]

Coastgirl - get it delivered at work?

I use online retailer that are on the high street already so I'm not neglecting them don't worry