How do do my Christmas shopping if all the shops are shut?

[Sarasand]

I know somethings I can get online but others I prefer to see in the shop. Hopefully things will open on Dec 11th but how shops will be mobbed. I've only just got the money for shopping sorted and now this!

Go tomorrow or Thursday. It was obvious this was coming.

Wait. Dont worry about it. Xmas presents aren't really that important.

We went to get some things on Sunday and Monday when we could see this coming. I've bought other things online.
You've still got until Friday 6pm.

I think lots of folks won't have the money until the end of the month and/or work during the day so are pretty screwed for actual shops unless they are close enough for late night shopping - does that still happen? Are we not all supposed to be tucked up in bed with a cup of hot milk by 7? Police patrolling the streets to make sure we've got our lights out and Nicola changing the password for the internet after dinner.

Are we not all supposed to be tucked up in bed with a cup of hot milk by 7? Police patrolling the streets to make sure we've got our lights out and Nicola changing the password for the internet after dinner.

Adjust your expectations. It's a pandemic, so online is generally safer and easier all round. Reduce what you buy for people or just bung cash in an envelope.

We aren't getting a standard Christmas this year so it's best to start adjusting your mindset now.

I could see it coming too but only got some money through today, I still won't have the rest until the end of the month. I don't have a credit card. Not everyone has the luxury of stocking up early.

I can't just bung cash in an envelope for my kids can I? It might be ok for some with more money to pay home delivery fees or if they have older kids Happy with cash but not everyone is in the same position.

Police patrolling the streets to make sure we've got our lights out and Nicola changing the password for the internet after dinner.

Winner🤣

So unpatriotic and whingey to want to be able to buy your kids Christmas presents this year, don't you know there's a pandemic?!?

Are shops here allowed to do click and collect as they are in England?

outdoor shops able to open I think so they could maybe do an argos and you browse and place an order and then you meet a guy down an alley and hand over the money in pound coins contained in a zip lock bag filled with bleach.

Everyone’s getting a gift I can get in the supermarket this year or something online. I’m hoping supermarkets in Scotland are not taping off the non essential items like they did in Wales.

I usually do all shopping online so will do the same as usual this Christmas. I can get everything needed online.

Do wait a bit, it took a day or so for 'non essential' shops to realise they were allowed to do click and collect in England, I can't see why they'd not be able to here.

Returns periods have lengthened too (check before you buy) so you can return if you get it home and it doesn't look so good.

Of course most people aren’t just giving their children money , just order stuff online and stop whining, most places the delivery is free over a certain spend and if it’s not free assuming you order a few items from the same place it’s only one charge normally . I’ve not been in a shop ( except a farm shop) since March and I’ve managed to do most of my Christmas shopping , is it ideal and how I wanted it to be - no but it’s life at the moment so you just have to get on with it .

I'm doing a complete online shop this year! Only way to get organised. Even if things do open up again, who wants to join the heaving crowds with all the germs flying about....

If you're online shopping, please get on with it - i work in this area and it'll be absolutely mobbed even worse than usual this year.

Think of the customer service and delivery staff and give yourselves as much time to get the stuff as you can, and please leave them nice feedback and restrain yourselves from comments about things that mostly weren't in their control!

Think of the customer service and delivery staff and give yourselves as much time to get the stuff as you can, and please leave them nice feedback and restrain yourselves from comments about things that mostly weren't in their control!

I've been making a conscious effort to give positive feedback on deliveries as they've pretty much all been top class.

It's probably helpful to them that lots of folk are at home and they' will have less palaver trying to find safe places or neighbours or having to take stuff back and try again.

Though on Saturday I was expecting a delivery (2 hour window but not started yet) but told DH I was going for a shower so could he listen out. Came down to two missed calls and a card through the door and DH oblivious in the back livingroom. Driver had but them in a black bag and left them under the porch thankfully. He would be well aware that someone was in given the cars in the drive and the music coming from the back (hence not hearing the door!)

@Floralnomad Rude!

Not everyone has the luxury of stocking up early.

See I've seen this comment a lot recently & posts from people on Facebook about "smug people who are finished their shopping"

I'm finished my shopping, I've been buying since bloody June (online) buying bits at a time so I'm not spending it all in one go.
So its neither smug or a luxury.

I agree with pp I think this year people need to adjust their expectations.

@Sarasand not rude at all just practical and getting on with life as best I can , there are many of us in the same boat , at least you feel able to go to the shops , many of us can’t even do that .

Quick dash round Lidl, the Middle Aisle in particular when next out shopping... going to just buy a few toys in there this year. Job done. Older ones getting cash.

Not ideal but not planning on going into a shop only for presents, mainly only go out for food. Keeping it to a minimum each week. Less exposure to others the better.

Good idea on Lidl.

We've picked up a pogo stick, a couple of board games, some art supplies and a cross stitch kit for our dd all from Aldi.

Agree that we all just need to adjust our expectations. This has been no ordinary year.

Aldi are great too, some fantastic buys each week. Amazing the presents you can find Bernadette when getting in the groceries at same time.

I did all my Christmas shopping online last year because I was too ill to go shopping. I'll do the same this year.
It does mean less in the way of impulse/ stocking filler/ novelty gifts but really who's going to care this year.