Maybe you can stay at home, visit a few friends, lie on the beach and veg out. Take your list with you. Break your shopping into smaller excursions. Dedicate one lunchtime or evening looking for specific groups of people, i.e. friends, family, colleagues. If you really want to make life easier, shop in one department store rather than spend endless hours searching the city for those elusive perfect gifts.
Gift vouchers are also a great idea.
In fact they make absolute commonsense. The Inevitable Invitations Use a diary and enter all the festivities you intend to go to. If you receive an invitation for two parties on the same day, make an executive decision and decide which one is the most important for you to attend. If you re one of the millions who gets depressed about the extra kilos you carry at this time of year, then be more selective at functions. Instead of stuffing yourself with the fattiest food ever known to mankind, choose healthier options.