Christmas shopping, done!

Monday 22nd December, 2008 - £6,999.96 in debt…

I bought and wrapped the last of my Christmas shopping today - yes, December has been full of disorganised faffing around, but I always knew I’d get there in the end. And, despite leaving it all to the last minute (as per usual), this year I’ve avoided panic-buying expensive things. Mainly because most of the shops in the UK are closing down and having massive sales.

One of these, of course, is Woolworths, which today announced the closing dates for all its stores.

The Woolworths website is currently either ‘undergoing maintenance’ or undergoing nothing of the sort, according to whether you believe the homepage, but the BBC has published a PDF list of closing dates here (you’ll need Adobe Reader if you haven’t already got it). All of them will shut down by January 5th, but some will be gone by Boxing Day. Which is very sad for those who are losing their jobs, of course, but I can’t help being far more upset about The Pier.

If you’re still wondering whether you should bother visiting the Woolworths sale while it’s still on, I’d recommend it if you’ve completely run out of ideas. Based on what’s happening at my local branch (Plymouth), there are still plenty of tins of Roses for those relatives you barely speak to, and a few books, toys and DVDs. I managed to grab an In The Night Garden lunchbox as well. Not for me - honest.

 Sale starts today!

Friday 19th December, 2008 - £7,092.96 in debt…

Oh my God, the most awful thing has happened. The Pier, my very favourite high street store, is in administration and is closing down. This stupid recession has a lot to answer for.

I first discovered The Pier when I was living in London and flashing the credit cards around like debt was going out of fashion. It’s a bit ‘mass-produced ethnic chic’ but I love it to bits and can always find something nice and colourful in there to brighten up a room.

But now it is no more. Get in there while stocks last: The Pier is no longer taking website orders but eveything in the stores is massively reduced. There’s 60% off furniture, 40% off cushions, and many other percentages off many other items of sheer gorgeousness.

Right, how many cushions do you reckon I can stuff into the back of a Daewoo Matiz? Bets are on.

  Where does Santa buy his wrapping?

Wednesday 19th November, 2008 - £7,408.16 in debt…

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Da-aaad, happy birthday to you! Congratulations on reaching your 59th year, Dad - here’s a cheapo present I picked up in the Argos sale, wrapped in paper that cost 25 percent of the value of the gift itself…

Why can I never find half-decent wrapping paper that doesn’t cost a stupid, stupid amount of money? I even got the most recent stuff from Tesco, which you’d think would charge a reasonable price, but no: nearly £2 a roll. And, as Christmas approaches, this will become a real problem for me. Well, not compared to real problems, but still. It’s worth moaning about, is what I’m saying.

So, I guess I’m after some tips. I want to either (a) find somewhere that does cheap but amazing giftwrap (and Christmas cards if possible, as I spend a fortune on those things as well), or (b) find a way of making or customising my own, without it looking like I’ve just bribed a child to scribble on a bit of paper with glitter glue.

Any pointers, people? I’m relying on you…