Procrastinating on holiday shopping, tweet #shopsj

John Jablonowski/for the Courier-Post

Many people have holiday traditions, like decorating the Christmas tree with family or lighting the candles of the menorah together.

I have a holiday tradition that I share with myself every year. It's called "How long can I wait before going shopping?"

And this year, I may be going for a new record...

It's December 15, and I haven't even been inside a retail store since Black Friday. (I was there on Black Friday to cover shopping news for the Courier-Post, not to actually purchase anything.)

Luckily, many retailers are extended their shopping hours even more for the late shoppers, like myself.

(Click here to see the Cherry Hill Mall's extended shopping hours.)

With extended hours, I can't really complain that my work schedule gets in the way.

I don't know what it is that makes me want to avoid the stores so much.

I'm not completely adverse to crowds or noise. I think it's just the shopping itself that I've never had a passion for. I don't like sifting through racks of clothes, moving from store to store, trying things on, inspecting items, and spending hours wandering the mall.

I never inherited the shopping gene.

I did, however, inherit the procrastinating gene.

I remember hearing stories about how one of my grandfathers would wait until the stores were about to close on Christmas Eve until he went out to find something for my grandmother.

Clearly, the inventory is a bit more sparse at that time, but, he would manage to find something that he thought she'd like.

I've tried to avoid shopping in the past by making a gift, rather than purchasing it. I don't consider to be very talented at the visual arts. I can't paint or sculpt, but I can knit scarves. Unfortunately, the only thing that I can knit is scarves, so after using every color and yarn-type, there's really nothing more I can do with scarf knitting at the moment.

When I asked my 17-year-old brother what he would like for Christmas this year, he had a one word answer for me. Without hesitation he said, "Cash."

Giving someone cash as a gift always reminds me of the Seinfeld episode, "The Deal":

Elaine: Cash?
Jerry: Would do you think?
Elaine: You got me cash?
Jerry: Well this way I figure you can go out and get yourself whatever you want. No good?
Elaine: Who are you, my uncle?

I guess I'm just feeling a lack of inspiration when it comes to gifts. If I had any ideas, it would make shopping a little easier.

But in the age of commercials that stress the same old things over and over again, it's hard to feel like I can find a gift that will be unique and appreciated.

Any advice from experienced shoppers out there would be much appreciated. Please comment if you have an idea of a great gift, that's a little different from the rest.

And to the other procrastinating shoppers out there - Good luck!