More and more, it seems as if the holiday season is all about gifts. As much as I try to stay away from it and to make holidays about spending quality time with friends and loved ones, there are still a handful of gifts that I will have to buy.
Unlike some folks, I am not organized enough to have finished my Christmas shopping in July or to buy everything online. This means that at some point this season, I’m going to have to venture out and go shopping. Normally, I would never go to the mall, but during this time of year, I can’t turn down the convenience of having so many stores in one place. I can buy everything I need without having to go back out into the cold, but shopping at the mall comes with a price—and I don’t just mean money.
I’m sure that you’re familiar with the struggle. Shopping at the mall means having to drive around and look for a parking place when there are practically none available, and there’s a good chance that someone else will get there first. Then, there are the crowds, stressed shoppers, and long lines.
