1) You're fashionably late to start your holiday shopping. Again. Instead of finishing all of your gift shopping on Cyber Monday (like you swore you would) you ordered yourself a multitude of New Year's Eve dress options.
2) It's physically impossible to resist also shopping for yourself. Oops, you accidentally left another store with nothing but resort swimsuits for your winter getaway.
3) Balancing all of your online shopping carts feels like an Olympic sport. Keeping up with everyone's different wish lists feels more stressful than keeping up with the Kardashians.
4) You judge your relatives based on their wish lists. Your uncle wants a shaving kit, cousin Sally wants boots from two seasons ago and your mom wants to get an official family portrait taken—does no one appreciate the gift of Prada?
5) Every gift shopping excursion ends with you in a fitting room trying on New Years Eve outfit options. You just can't procrastinate on shopping for another holiday.
6) You have trouble sticking to the $25 dollar maximum for your Secret Santa. You're not sure whether you just spent hours or several lifetimes wandering through Barneys for something suitable.
7) It's nearly impossible to find the perfect gift for any man in your life. How can you shop for someone who can't even appreciate a Diptyque candle?
8) You're not sartorially prepared for the holiday shopping crowds. It's not easy to to keep your coat draped over your shoulders while maintaining balance in your over-the-knee boots amidst the crowds of people doing their own last-minute shopping.
9) Gift shopping only increases your own wish list. You've only been in a store for 20 minutes and you're already texting your mom new gift ideas to add to your wish list.
10) The depressing realization that all of your holiday shopping budget could have been used to buy yourself a new bag. Sometimes the season of giving means sacrificing your dream of the Chanel Boy bag.
11) You waited too long to start your shopping and now you have to choose gifts from the "leftovers". All of the good gifts are gone and now all that's left are ugly sweaters and mini lotion sets. Happy Holidays!
Lauren Alexis Fisher is the Senior Editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing digital content across fashion, lifestyle, beauty, sex, and culture. Previously, she was the Market Editor at Harper’s BAZAAR and has written for publications including WWD, Bustle, and W Magazine. When she’s not busy taste-testing her way through every dirty martini in New York, you can follow her on Instagram for bad jokes, good outfits, and annoying vacation pics.
