I don’t understand the allure of camping out in the middle of the night just so that you can be first in line for the Next sale. Or bagging a place at the head of the Selfridges queue, your nose jammed so tightly against the door that you literally tumble through and land on your face once it’s unlocked. I won’t abandon all dignity in the race to grab a bargain.
I prefer a more leisurely approach. That’s why trips to the sales were banned in our household. As was giving cash to splurge on sale bargains in lieu of hand-picked presents. Instead we opted for a stress (and greed) free Christmas by deciding to buy only stocking fillers for each other. Once the anxiety of trying to find the BIG PRESENT had been removed, we rolled into Christmas in a buoyant mood. Everything was bought locally which made us appreciate what could be found right on our doorstep. We browsed our gift shops, book stores and art galleries looking for unusual trinkets and treasures. And we weren’t disappointed.
The gifts cost less than in previous years but they were more thoughtful and surprisingly romantic – artisan soaps and bath salts, a book on European cities with a handwritten note attached saying “pick one and we’ll plan a trip for later in the year” and illustrated poetry books. We unwrapped the contents of our stockings on Christmas morning, sipping a glass of champagne and looking out at a blanket of crisp white snow. What more could you want?
Vanity Fizz 
