| If you've got kids, then chances are you're well | | | | job of anticipating the Christmas rush for their |
| aware that they love to get the most popular | | | | products, but shortages still happen. You may find |
| toys for Christmas. The hard part is working out | | | | that you need to search lots of shops for a |
| what's the "in" toy this year! Your kids know, and | | | | popular Christmas gift. To save you some |
| if you're lucky they'll tell you, but most of the | | | | frustration, try ringing stores rather than visiting |
| time parents are totally clueless and have no idea | | | | them in person. Then, if they have the gift you're |
| what to buy when they get to the shops. Even | | | | looking for, ask them to hold one for you. Don't |
| worse, buying the most popular gifts in town isn't | | | | expect them to hold it forever - you need to get |
| always easy - they can be hard to find. If you're | | | | there as fast as possible to collect it.If you think |
| a last minute shopper, and are racing around the | | | | your kids are going to want a popular Christmas |
| shops on December 24th, you might even find | | | | gift, then get in early. Find out way before |
| that it's sold out completely. It's very easy to | | | | December 24th what they'd like, and look for it |
| panic at that point! Most parents hate to | | | | then. I'm not talking a day or two early, by the |
| disappoint their kids, and if they can't find that one | | | | way - a few weeks at least, and preferably in |
| special gift, they may feel as though they've let | | | | November! By asking early you may even be able |
| their child down.Some parents try to avoid getting | | | | to buy the product at the first store you go to, |
| caught up in all the commercialism and hype of | | | | because the product hasn't had time to become |
| Christmas. Getting the most popular Christmas | | | | the most popular Christmas gift and sell out yet! |
| gifts under the tree on Christmas morning might | | | | Finding out what your kids want early also means |
| be nice, but it's really not what Christmas is | | | | that you may be able to order it online and save |
| meant to be about. That still doesn't change the | | | | yourself some money. You don't want to be |
| fact that receiving a special gift is part of the | | | | scanning the auction listings at eBay two days |
| magic of Christmas, because it shows someone | | | | before Christmas to find the gift, because you'll |
| cared enough to think about what you would like | | | | pay heaps more than retail price if it can't be |
| and buy it for you.Many parents may be able to | | | | found in the stores any more.Remember, too, |
| remember the "Tickle Me Elmo" Christmas a few | | | | that your child's most special gift may in fact be |
| years ago. It seemed like every child wanted one | | | | one that nobody else has even thought of. It |
| of these, and stores ran out of them well before | | | | might not be on a popular toys list online, or in a |
| Christmas. Chaos resulted, and there were plenty | | | | "gift ideas for Christmas" supplement in your |
| of disappointed kids on Christmas morning. Since | | | | newspaper. |
| then manufacturers seem to have done a better | | | | |