Gift Stockpiling and My Mother

Do you have a special shelf or a designated place for those gifts that you have on hand for when they are needed? 

You know the gifts.  That cute recipe book that you bought that wouldn't be perfect for you since you don't cook but would be a great gift since all of your friends do. Toys that you didn't give your kids from last Christmas because you bought to much and then decided they didn't need them anyway? You have been slowly doling them out to your child's friends at their birthdays.  Or maybe several bottles of your mother's favorite perfume that you got at a good price?

Or am I alone?

My mother loves this particular perfume. She used to wear it for special occasions since it was rather pricey and one bottle would last her for about a year. 

Never take your mom shopping with you. 

One day she had been visiting and we had gone shopping together.  This was about two years ago.  I took her to Marshall's and TJ Maxx since she had wanted to go.  They had this perfume that she loves.  It was less than half the price of what I paid for the bottle I got her for Christmas. 

I bought 3 bottles.  You know, to save for other holidays.  Who could resist that bargain? Especially since perfume does not ever really go on sale.

My mom knew how much it cost me though.  She then started asking for it for EVERY holiday. 

Mother's Day...her birthday...Christmas.  She had her own stash.

She also started wearing it every day so she was going through it much quicker. 

Once I had exhausted my supply, I tried to find more at that discounted price.  No luck.

I had two choices. Not buy the perfume or dole out the money.


I don't even mind spending the money.  Really, I don't.  It just galled me a little knowing how overpriced it was in the stores.  Instead of just getting her a bottle of perfume I could be getting her a bottle of perfume and a gift certificate to go out to dinner with a friend.

That meant for last Christmas and this past Mother's Day, I bought the perfume at full price. I know my mom sees the perfume as an indulgence and she wouldn't buy it for herself.  I want her to have it because I know how much she enjoys it.


I visited TJ Maxx the other day and there it was-my mother's perfume-sitting on a shelf amidst the other perfumes.  I grabbed all three purple boxes with swirly script and headed for the checkout.

I now consider that perfume "her perfume". 

So this Christmas, my mom is getting a new watch and her perfume...and a paper shredder.  Only my mother would ask for a paper shredder for Christmas.

Anyway, I now have her Mother's Day and birthday gifts all picked out.  Since this upcoming year is going to be a crazy year, maybe it is a good thing that I am already planning ahead.