Christmas Shopping - Where To Get Cheap Stuff

Christmas Shopping - Go Crazy Splurging On Decorations, Clothes, Tree Ornaments, Gifts, Candles, Sweets, Cookies, Lights and Holiday Destinations.

With only a few days left until Christmas, I thought I'd write a bit about christmas shopping. Last year, I visited Janpath in Connaught Place and was totally enamoured by the christmas tree ornaments, christmas toys, Christmas gift baskets, christmas decorations and other christmas stuff being sold in makeshift shops under a tent. Most of the things on display are knock offs of European or American Christmas decorations made cheaply in China and smuggled or exported into the country. The Christmas decorations and Christmas lights were not as cheap as I had expected as foreign tourists were swarming around the place picking them up at what they thought were dirt cheap prices. One day after Christmas, I went to the same shops and bargained with the sellers for a rate four times less that what the pre Christmas rate was. I saved those decorations and am planning to use them this year. I used the Christmas lights for Diwali and my cousin's marriage.

I remember years ago when I was a kid I would read about Christmas in story books and admire the beautiful pictures of Christmas trees and snow. At that time the only Christmas decorations and Christmas ornaments available in the market were the Christmas trees made of green tinsel and bells and balls made of glass and plastic. I had always wished to have a thick big green christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments like carol singers, angels, chalets, trumpets, candy sticks, gingerbread men, snowmen, holly, santa, mistletoe and stockings and could never understand why they were unavailable in the stores.

The only time I saw a real Christmas tree was when my Dad paid someone 100 bucks to cut one off a hill and drag it home when we were on vacation. However, around three to four years back, ever since the govenment opened up the economy, Christmas decorations like plastic Christmas trees and ornaments have become available in the market.

It's a real pleasure to walk around Connaught Place or the new Malls and look at the beautiful Christmas decorations in the shop windows. I was planning to buy some warm new Christmas clothes which I'll use for new year and the rest of the winter as there are lots of Christmas discounts being offered.

Last year, I spent Christmas at home and went to Goa for the New Year. That's because I had heard that a Christmas in Goa can be real expensive and crowded. I simply love Christmas cookies, marzipans, plum pudding and wine filled fruit cake. This year I'll miss the Goan Christmas sweets like Perad, Bebinca, Kalkals and Neuros I had last time as we will be going off to Shimla for the new year...(fingers crossed). The cheapest place in Delhi to buy good Christmas cookies, puddings and cakes is Bangla Pastry Shop in Gol Market. Wenger's in Connaught Place also has a good collection of Christmas goodies but the rates are much higher.

In school we were taught to make Christmas cards of paper and send to our friends. Nowadays though I usually send free online Christmas cards through websites like 1001 postcards, yahoo and indiatimes. I don't recieve many replies though so this time I'll send Christmas and New Year greetings through scraps on orkut.

When it comes to online Christmas shopping, I have realised that it's the same as regular online shopping. Folks log on to the same sites and buy stuff like i pods, digital cameras, magazine subscriptions and boring ill fitting clothes for family and friends. When it comes to shopping, I would definitely not recommend online Christmas shopping unless you are shopping for a friend in another city, are an extremely busy person or live far away from a shop. You will only pick up meaningful stuff that no one else has if you go to an out of the way shop. You will also get a feel of the size and material of the Christmas product. Anyway, if you shop online now you'll probably have your gift delivered way after Christmas!

Hope you have a good time Christmas shopping. If you have any more cheap Christmas shopping tips please post a comment.