by Nissa Hanna
I’m not sure how it happened, but gifts for myself found their way into my shopping bags this holiday season. I checked my list twice and, nope, personal presents were nowhere to be found; but somehow I walked away with a few things that would bypass the tree and go straight to my closet.
Two new pairs of boots and a J. Crew tissue turtleneck in buff pink weren’t on my shopping list, but they were on sale. That’s not my only excuse: I’ve been searching for stylish boots since last winter, and they’re a necessity in Minnesota. Why the turtleneck? Um … it gets cold here.
Guilt trips are more fun with companions (although, truthfully, I don’t feel too remorseful, and I’m willing to bet that other self-gifters don’t, either), so thankfully I’m not the only one shopping for myself this year. According to NPD Group, nearly 64% of Black Friday shoppers stepped into the role of the Self-Gifting Santa (DetNews.com 12.9.09). The National Retail Federation found that they’re spending, on average, $101.51 on themselves.
Shoppers held back a bit more last holiday season — only 56% planned to be self-gifters in 2008, according to an NRF study (WacoTrib.com 11.27.08) — but this season’s sales mean consumers can get the goods they want at can’t-pass-up prices, which may make personal presents the sweetest gifts of all.
