A Slightly Early Guide to the Holidays (Before the Real Madness Starts)

5 Things That Changed, 2 That Didn’t, and One That Definitely Should Have.

If you’re already thinking about the holidays, congratulations. You’re either impressively organized, mildly anxious, or both. Either way, you’re early, which is rare, brave, and slightly suspicious.

This is the peaceful part of the season, the calm before the glitter storm.That short, magical period when people say “this year, I’ll start early” and then spend three weeks arguing with a tracking number from Shenzhen.

At Allyoucanbuy.be, we salute your optimism and we promise your parcel won’t be orbiting the moon by New Year’s Eve.

So before everyone goes full festive panic, here’s a semi-scientific look at five things that changed, two that didn’t, and one that should’ve evolved faster than your last shipment from China.

5 Things That Changed

1. Shopping
Then: long queues, cold hands, and a friendly shopkeeper who remembered your name. Now: algorithms, “AI recommendations,” and shipping updates written in a language no human has ever spoken. Still, somehow, your Belgian order arrives first.

2. Gifting
Twenty years ago, you wrapped something and hoped for the best. Now you send tracking numbers and PDFs. We’ve replaced thoughtfulness with logistics but the sentiment’s still there, probably in your spam folder.

3. Decorations
Used to be glitter, tape, and tinsel stuck to the cat. Now it’s app-controlled lights and Wi-Fi trees that “need a firmware update.”
Progress!

4. The Family Table
Once loud, now louder, but with better lighting. Half the family takes photos of the food; the other half Googles whether the turkey is “still safe.”

5. The Countdown
We used to count days with chocolate. Now it’s “early access flash sale weekend, part II (extended)”. Nobody’s sure what day it is, but everyone’s pretending to be productive.

2 Things That Haven’t

1. The Feeling
That warm blur of lights, laughter, and panic when someone mentions wrapping paper.
Still the same, just with fewer batteries and more USB-C cables.

2. The Effort Behind It All
You still do it for the same reason to make someone smile. Even if it means hiding gifts in the wardrobe and pretending they “just arrived today.”

One That Definitely Should Have

The collective ability to stay calm. Twenty years ago, the biggest December drama was whether the gravy would thicken. Now we’re one tariff dispute away from Christmas being postponed until March.

Half of Europe is watching tracking updates like a Netflix thriller, and somewhere in the background, a politician is declaring, “We may have to embargo Santa.”
At this rate, customs will be the new Grinch.

But don’t worry, at Allyoucanbuy.be, our parcels aren’t stuck in international negotiations. They just get delivered.
No summit required.

In Short

Yes, the holidays have changed. They’re faster, flashier, and slightly more confusing especially if your cart’s full of items that ship “from overseas.” But the feeling remains: a mix of joy, chaos, and that one moment where everything feels just right (usually right before the Wi-Fi drops).

So breathe. Shop smart. Stay local. And this year, maybe skip the 47-day “free” delivery from China we’ve got you covered right here in Belgium.