As is almost always the case every year, I’ve left quite a bit Christmas shopping until the end. As I’ve stated many a time in this blog, I’m not much of Christmas giver or recipient. I find giving gifts difficult. I think some of this has to do with my own attitude towards possessions. I’m not much of consumer, or very much into material possessions. I say this not to give myself a pat on the back, though I generally like to do that as well. My interests are almost all the in the perishable domain. I like food and I like traveling. My one Achilles heel is electronics, but even there my desire for electronic goodies has waned a great deal as I’ve gotten older. My girlfriend complains in regards to her shopping for me that, I “don’t have hobbies, don’t collect, don’t have interests.” Those are serious complaints. I’m not sure I would date me - I sound awfully dull. There must be something wrong with someone who gets his kicks from working on a personal finance blog.

Because I “want for nothing” I have a hard time shopping for others. I lack empathy. I go shopping, and look around stores, and think “why in the hell would anyone want this junk.” This is not a good Christmas shopping attitude. So I almost rarely pick out an item and think “so and so would love this!” Instead, I think “Blech, who would pay hundreds of dollars for a glob of glass.” Yeah, I’m a bit of Grinch. Still, I’m bound by obligation to buy presents (limited as they may be). So in the next couple hours I’ll venture out to the great consumer wilderness and join the throngs of last minute shoppers. I’ll try my best to pick out appropriate gifts and try to think about what other people want. I’m the exception as most people actually do have hobbies and interests.

N.B.: Those are gifts my girlfriend has wrappred. I have nothing to show so far.