Five reasons to get out of the digital shops and back into the Plaza this Christmas

Story sponsored by Warrawong Plaza.

In an age of digital ads, click throughs, push notifications, sponsored posts and free apps that purely serve to mine your data so big tech companies can market their products to you, it's no wonder more and more people are turning to online shopping at Christmas time.

It's all so easy they assure you. All you need to do is click here, add it to your cart, enter your details, enter your credit card, pay for postage, cross your fingers and hope that it all shows up in time.

But what about that time honoured tradition of going to the shops? You know, that thing we used to do at this time of the year with our families and friends? Back before we had a smartphone permanently glued to our palms all day? It all seems so retro.

If you grew up in Warrawong, it probably meant many trips to the Plaza. At this time of year, it was THE PLACE to catch up. Well guess what, it still is. Here are five reasons to turn off your phones and head down to the Plaza this festive season:

One of the truly great things about the festive season is that it gives us an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.

As time goes by we see our loved ones less and less. That's why when you do get a chance to spend a couple of hours of quality time with them, you don't want to waste it.

If you want to catch up for dinner, Warrawong Plaza has six restaurants to choose from, including Fat Man's Burgers & Ribs, Rashays, ChongCo Thai, Sugar Rush and Sushi Hub.

All are family friendly and, with the exception of one, all are licensed. So you can take the kids or have a child-free night. The choice is yours. All restaurants are open till late and there is plenty of free undercover parking.

The Plaza is also home to Hoyts Cinemas, so after dinner you can sit back in a comfortable recliner and watch the latest release movies.

Perhaps this is the best part about going to the Plaza at Christmas. A leisurely stroll through the many shops is sure to turn up something for everyone. Browsing even jogs gift giving ideas.

For example, if you're buying for your little man, Target and Big W have all of the latest toys and gadgets. If you're buying for your old man, you can drop into Aldi and pick up one of those bargains he's always banging on about every time they put out a new catalogue.

If you've got a teen who is a techy, a trip to JB HiFi will give you a seemingly endless supply of computers, accessories, cameras, TVs, stereos, video games, consoles and just about every movie or album ever released. There's also EB Games and DVD World too. And, if their wardrobe needs updating you've got no shortage of clothing stores either.

If you're buying for Mum, there's always Lincraft or - if you really want to suck up - Alley Fashion (opening mid-December), new look Millers, You+All Clothing and Cotton On Mega.

Better still, the Plaza also has two supermarkets, so you can stock up on all of the supplies you need to make sure your family's Christmas Day is special.

While it's no secret that when you buy online there are some bargains to be found, Malcolm Fraser was right when he said: "There's no such thing as a free lunch".

Everything costs something. Sometimes, what an online bargain really costs is opportunities in your local community.

The reason some online retailers can sell products for less is because they don't have the overheads associated with operating a retail outlet. That's to say it costs less to run a website than to set up a shop front in your town and employ locals.

Depending on the company you're buying from, you might not even be purchasing from inside Australia, meaning every dollar you spend could actually leave the country altogether.

When you buy from a local business, a percentage of that money stays within your community and helps to pay local wages.

That means more jobs, more social mobility and more opportunity for families to celebrate Christmas without the stresses of financial hardship.

Have you ever had to explain to a six-year-old why Santa forgot us this year? Or tried to come up with a last minute present because that must have toy she wanted that you order online didn't show up on time?

Neither. So let's not start now!

When you buy a gift online, which needs to be shipped by courier, you always run the risk of it getting lost in transit, especially when there are thousands more packages being delivered.

When you buy a gift in store, you can look at it up close, make sure it isn't damaged and take it home with you there and then. Ready for Christmas morning.

You can also rest assured that if there is something wrong with it, you know where the returns counter is and you're protected under Australian Consumer Law, which isn't necessarily the case if you've been tricked or accidentally bought something from a dodgy foreign website.

While The Plaza is a great place to catch up with friends and loved ones, it is also a great place to run into people you haven't seen in years.

From old workmates to school friends to that guy you met at your cousin's wedding a few years back, it is the perfect place to find out what everybody's been up to.

In a world where everybody keeps in contact via social media, catching up in person allows you to remember what it is you've always liked about them. You can look them in the eye. Share a human moment. The way we used to do it.

A trip to the Plaza also gives you the chance to experience some good old fashioned customer service and meet new people.

In an increasingly insular world. Coming together in big communal spaces is more important than ever. So, put down the smartphones this Christmas and head on down to The Plaza. It's the place for Christmas catch-ups.

Story sponsored by Warrawong Plaza.