12 Real-Life Struggles of Holiday Shopping

It doesn't matter if you hit the mall on Black Friday or procrastinate until closer to Christmas, there are always crowds. Swarms of people hoarding over toys, shuffling through necklaces, or tossing around gadgets. It's inevitable you'll get elbowed a few times. Unless, of course, you take advantage of Cyber Monday (and the plethora of gifts the Internet has to offer) and stay indoors. It's warmer, anyway.

It's freezing outside — and boiling in the mall. Do you leave your jacket in the car and endure the cold while dashing to the entrance or suffer through the layers of down while shopping? These are real issues.

You absolutely must have a specialty coffee while shopping (it's not Christmas without a peppermint mocha!), but the line is so long. And the wait just adds to the overall struggle of holiday shopping. But — sigh — that coffee is essential.

Yes, you spent hours crafting your holiday gift list, but when the moment arrives to actually make the buy, you have doubts. Didn't you buy Mom a pajama set last year?!

You have someone on your list who has everything — or an odd infatuation with something that's so difficult to actually find, making them the absolute worst to shop for. Maybe you should stick to the eBay Charity Shop.

Because no boss needs another coffee mug. But what else is appropriate? What else?!

You know the one I'm talking about. The one who is shopping for all the exact same things you are and will knock you down to get the last item on the shelf. Yeah, that friend.

It's usually off-key or some really bad jazzy version of "Jingle Bell Rock" stuck on repeat — and playing in every store. And you'll find yourself humming the tune while unable to fall asleep later that night.

Oh, the sales. You're on your own holiday shopping list, right?

You have already worked up a sweat running from one side of the mall to the other, but add on comparing prices between two items, and you're at cardio overload. And don't forget about the stuff you have on hold all over the place!

It's right there, taunting you with its availability, but is gift wrapping really worth the wait? And is it complimentary? I'm never sure and always too embarrassed to ask, just adding to the overall shopping drama.

It's bad enough navigating the mall's packed parking lot, circling for what seems like hours just to find a spot, but when finished shopping, discovering it has snowed is — the worst.

"No thanks, I already have a guitar autographed by Taylor Swift," said no one ever. Find one-of-a-kind gifts like this and more at the eBay Charity Shop. Unique gifts for great causes.