Xmas shopping
Any major things on your list this year? I usually have a good idea of what I'm going to buy ahead of time, and may pick up a few things I didn't plan on as well, but this year I have no idea what to get for anyone. I know my kids will get some clothes, they always do... but my boys are at an awkward age for buying. Too old for toys really, but too young for just clothes and books LOL |
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| That time is creeping up on us.
When the kids were little it was so much easier to buy for them. Now I know one or two things to get but that is it. It has become a tradition for my friend and I to go out the day after Thanksgiving. We start out about 6:00 in the morning and don't come home until late. |
| Ugh!! It's too early to start stressing yet! |
| Usually I start a list of ideas that runs the entire year. We spend:
$50 on each family member (sister, BIL, SIL, mom, etc) $50 on each of their kids $50 a gift for the entire family (something for the sister&brother in law or mom&dad) $50 on their pets however much it takes to fill stockings up for each family member with little goodies such as CDs and candy ...and there's no limit on immediate family (me and lil J). I ALWAYS try to set one, but Mr. J doesn't listen. 
It's so much fun because we have a big family and this just means everyone has lots of gifts to open on Christmas! This year Mr. J and I are getting everyone those digital picture frames. The kind that plug in and display all your pictures. They run around $150 each, so we still fall into budget for each family. We figure we could spend more this year since he's gone and we can't be in TX. It makes gift giving easy this year. We're also making one of those photo coffee books for our parents. One that includes ALL their grandchildren. My SIL is about to have twins, so at the end of the book, I'm going to include pics of her new boys. ...and then I'm getting their pets Christmas ornaments (of whatever breed they are) with doggie treats stuffed in the bag. |
Joahaeyo wrote: Usually I start a list of ideas that runs the entire year. We spend:
$50 on each family member (sister, BIL, SIL, mom, etc) $50 on each of their kids $50 a gift for the entire family (something for the sister&brother in law or mom&dad) $50 on their pets however much it takes to fill stockings up for each family member with little goodies such as CDs and candy ...and there's no limit on immediate family (me and lil J). I ALWAYS try to set one, but Mr. J doesn't listen. It's so much fun because we have a big family and this just means everyone has lots of gifts to open on Christmas! This year Mr. J and I are getting everyone those digital picture frames. The kind that plug in and display all your pictures. They run around $150 each, so we still fall into budget for each family. We figure we could spend more this year since he's gone and we can't be in TX. It makes gift giving easy this year. We're also making one of those photo coffee books for our parents. One that includes ALL their grandchildren. My SIL is about to have twins, so at the end of the book, I'm going to include pics of her new boys. ...and then I'm getting their pets Christmas ornaments (of whatever breed they are) with doggie treats stuffed in the bag. I want to be part of YOUR family... |
| I've actually gotten three Christmas presents already, which is a first for me!! I usually wait til the end of November or December to start. |
| its all in my mind.....havent started yet, havent wanted to start yet....its not even holloween..... |
| I usually pick up little stuff during the year. I wind up forgetting about it and then have way too many gifts. It makes me look like a much better gift giver than I intend to be.
I'll tell you one gift I'm giving this year. My mom is getting a picture of the computer I got her last year. Since she still hasn't used it (even though we set it up for her the day we gave it to her), she'll be getting it again until she does. |
 I'm so glad that within Steve's siblings and married in siblings, we pick names. Then we chip in for his parents and buy the 2 nephews something small. Then I just have Mom and Dad to buy for Hanukkah. It's getting old...I'd prefer we donate money to charities on one another's behalf, but I don't know how to bring that one up. |
Wow Joahaeyo, you are WELL organized!  |
| Todd's family is huge, so we draw names. 2 categories -Adults (his parents, his siblings and spouses) and the kids (now age 1 yr to 25) We split it - guys and girls are seperate. We only spend $20-$25, so you have to be creative! I like giving gifts, so I buy little presents for everyone too - but make them or spend just a couple $.
We buy everyone presents within the immediate family. Each spends what they can. ( The kids are young adults) |
| I LOVE Christmas and Chanukah/hannukah shopping. We celebrate everything! I LOVE to buy for others the most so it is really fun.
Every single year I say I'm going to start shopping early and just never do. For some reason, if I start months before, the presents seem "old" to me. I know that is silly. Growing up my parents made a huge deal out of Christmas and we always got huge presents like go carts and motorcycles and way overboard kind of things. My dad came from a family where they didn't get much so it was important to him. And my Mom was really generous and wanted to give us everything. Don't worry though, we suffered great hardships down the road and have had to really earn everything since so I didn't end up spoiled or what have you. Everything has a way of balancing out. Some would say we were really lucky which we were but believe me there were many ways in which we were not lucky. (I learned never to begrudge others of what they have because you don't know what their life is like and that may be their moment to have and may never have again). So my whole family really goes the extra mile. We buy for everyone on both sides of the family spending the most on the Mothers. I love spoiling my mom the most. My husband's not that fun to buy for because he likes electronic things that I can't relate to. Hannah and Copper get their share of stuffed toys and treats and sometimes a new dog bed or leash depending on what they need. Remember I am practical. |
| I usually start my shopping early (august) but this year I have decided that we are giving all the neices and nephews cash (we have to buy for 14 kids, I have been saving here and there for a few months and already have the cash)some of the kids are now in University and we arent sure if we will give them something or not. My hubby never got gifts from his aunts and uncles and he feels we should stop for those kids (they are from his side of the family....my side only has 2 kids and my 4) Some of the aunts and uncles havent bought for my kids for years (they havent given to anyone) but I'm not sure how it will look to buy for only SOME of the relatives and not others. I have to get hubby to make a decision since it is his family. We dont buy for any adults other than his parents, my parents and my unmarried sister. Thinking about what to get them is very stressful...they are all SO picky.
My kids are also at the age (8,10,11,13) that toys dont hold the same excitement. Girls always like new clothes but my kids need NOTHING tho. My girls have indicated that they would like some big ticket items (IPOD etc) but I am sure that they are NOT getting those. Having just moved this year the budget is tight for Christmas. And I refuse to go into debt anymore for Christmas. So if I dont have the cash....I dont buy. This has been a HUGE change for me. Usually I go crazy with gifts and then have to pay for months on the credit card. |
| Kim the best thing about your new way of buying is the best gift of all is to yourself NO NEW DEBT after Christmas. That is the way I shop for Christmas also. I don't pay cash, I don't buy. |
| Us too. I buy gradually the 2 months before Christmas. No charging, just have to stop when the money is gone! |
| i've done mine just need to wrap it up
zoe and einy |
| I'm usually finished before Thanksgiving, but I haven't even started this year. I don't even know what to buy for the boys and nothing is standing out. I'm completely clueless this year, and they don't need anything. We have Brandon's 4th birthday on December 20th also to make that task even harder!
I haven't even looked for other family members yet. MIL's 50th birthday is two weeks away, so I've been focusing on trying to find her a gift for that. She's hard to shop for and this is a big birthday. We usually just send her flowers to work, which is a lot easier, but we are having to go down there that weekend for a surprise party for her this year. |
I’m almost don, just my children again, cant by that yet, they will find the presents  |
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