The great Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping rush is behind us, and I bought about 75 percent of this year’s gifts online. So far, I am spending less than last year.
It seems like lots of things were 15, 20, 30 or even 40 percent off. If I had wanted to save hundreds, I could have. All I would have had to do is spend thousands, a trap I fear too many fall into. (Am I the only person who wonders why they can’t offer these prices all the time?)
I have to admit, I bought two things for myself in response to the dozens of Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotional emails that packed my inbox. One gun-related purchase was just $32. The other was four pairs of the cheap yellow work gloves I like from Harbor Freight. They were 40 percent off, meaning I got them for $1.20 each. I figure four pairs should last me a year or so. I also picked up an $8 tarp while I was there.
Considering that I admired a $900 gun, some $250 optics, and all sorts of neat tactical gear online, I feel I showed a great deal of restraint. The gun made it into my shopping cart, but I never checked out. I found it hard to spend that much on yet another gun.
Shopping For Others
I have completed most of my Christmas shopping already. As we get older, we’ve tried not to go overboard and to get things that are useful. For example, I bought my daughter a new pair of Merrill hiking shoes. Common gifts around here also include things for the kitchen, the house, the garden, and clothing. As a kid, I hated getting clothes; now I even ask for specific clothing items.
I didn’t buy anyone gifts specifically for prepping, but some of what I purchased could be useful during a prepping situation. Holiday shopping is a good excuse to buy your significant other (or yourself) that prepping item you’ve wanted, killing two birds with one stone. Of course, this only goes over well if your other half is also a prepper.
Flashlights make a great gift, for example. My wife may not have been thrilled about the tiny tactical LED light that runs on a AA battery I gave her many years ago, but she found it surprisingly useful. I’ve purchased two or three for her since as they fail or get lost. My daughter reported her husband showed off the light I got him and seemed quite pleased with it. For people who think their phone’s flashlight is useful, a dedicated light with a selection of brightness settings is a big upgrade. And if your favorite prepper already has a flashlight, get them a headlamp. The cheap ones make great stocking stuffers.
We are hard to shop for. If there was something we couldn’t live without, we probably bought it years ago. If it is a nice-to-have item, we probably do. And then there are things that would be perfect gifts, but you bought it in May because that’s when the last one broke. Ah well, those are first-world problems.
In Person versus Online
I purchased the boots for my daughter at a local outdoor store. I liked doing so because I could see the product, and if she doesn’t like them or they don’t fit, we can run down there and swap them out for something else. As much as I like to support our local vendors, there are some things I just can’t find in a local store. Plus, Walmart is our only big-box store within 90 minutes, so my options are limited.
This goes for guns and other items. I can visit the two local and the two non-so-local gun stores in search of a specific make and model and not find it. The last two guns I’ve purchased were both shipped to a local dealer. I’d have been happy to buy them from him, but he seems fine collecting my $40 for the transfer. Maybe that’s a good model for him because he doesn’t have to invest in any inventory, but there are times you want to put your hand on the grip or shoulder the weapon and test its balance. You can’t do that online.
The same goes for clothes. I will buy clothes online if I have worn that product or at least that brand before. For example, if I want to buy Wigwam socks or Minus 33 wool thermals, no need to go somewhere in person. I know the brand and the sizing. Buying something online from an “unknown” brand can be risky, especially with sizing. Yes, I can return it, but the closest place that takes UPS packages is half an hour away. I wanted to buy a shirt, not give myself an errand.
A White Christmas
I don’t know if we will have a white Christmas, but I know the Midwest and Northeast just got hit with some serious snow. We got enough to require scraping the windshield, but not enough to prevent us from getting off the mountain.
The Christmas lights are hung. The tree is up. The garland is strung. Now all I have to do is find the wrapping paper. (And before someone sends me an email, I know shopping and gift giving is not the reason for the season.)
I know it’s a bit early for Christmas wishes, but I hope all of you have a holiday season filled with love and friendship, and maybe a few prepping items under your tree.
