Anyone else starting to think Christmas??

[smkiya]

Funny you should mention. I actually started writing a list today. DD's birthday is in October and I decided to figure what I'd get for her birthday/Christmas. It turned into a Christmas list. I won't have my Christmas fund until October 29th (extra paycheck month), but am only spending $500-$600 this year. Last year I started shopping in July and when October and November rolled around, the Budget Board posts of deals started rolling in. I went CRAZY!!!!

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Absolutely! When June rolls around I update my list and start looking. Last Christmas I didn't do any after-Christmas sale shopping, so I was starting from scratch completely.

So far, I've made my MIL's gift, bought two white elephant gifts (both on sale), and bought toys for the dogs (with coupon) and a toy for my parent's dog (free with coupon). In the next few months I'll make my stocking stuffer gifts for hubby's family. People who are hard to buy for (dads, men in general, nieces) wait until closer to Christmas, mostly because I'm paying full price for their gifts.

We are trying to cut back this year, like so many other people. Starting in the summer helps me save by finding deals and having the opportunity to use coupons.

 

[livie1205]

no christmas this year...we go to wdw every other christmas instead of presents.The kids love it! we let them pick the resort (AKL is their fav) and we pay for CL and they have a blast..and I dont have to christmas shop!! my parents go also so this is christmas for everyone.

 

[timzagain]

Not only am I thinking about it, I've actually started on my gift shopping.

This year, we plan to cut back on our Christmas spending. It's shaping up to be an expensive year-end for us (travel etc) so we will be trimming our holiday expenses where possible.

There will be more DIY gifts on my list than usual. I usually run of time, but this year, I have an added incentive to get started early.

Of course, DIY gifts aren't appropriate for everyone on my list, so I'm still on the hunt for good gifts at great prices. I've bought some really nice gifts already and so far, the costs of every one of them has been below what I budgeted!

As usual, we'll get the gifts for our immediate household closer to Christmas. Between the four "children" ages 12 to 20, there's a lot of mind-changing so we've learned to leave their shopping 'til the last.

 

[4 Ears]

Of course! Our children will be 16 and 19 and we are having a very hard time coming up with a "wow" gift for either of them

Have started thinking about Christmas Cards as well.

So what have you bought for the older teenager who is already pretty well set.

 

[Heidi Loves Disney]

For extended family like my parents and such, I get gift cards. I've been doing rewards sites for several years, and pretty much always save the gift cards I get to give during the holidays. That way they can pick what they want.
I always give some kind of homemade treat to go with it, but I have no idea what I'm making for that yet.

 

[mward73]

I have the kids all taken care of (Target just had their 75% off toy clearance, so I always take care of them then). Our friends and us always have a "kids Christmas party" where they exchange gifts. There are 9 kids involved, but gifts are always small (around $10). It adds up, but when I can grab all the gifts for less than $5 each, it's not so bad). They also exchange with 2 of the neighbor kids and another friend's 3 kids). All of those are bought, labeled with names and put away.

During the Jan 75% off at Target, I picked up a D-Rex for DS. He was too young then, but saw one recently and went nuts. So, he'll get that Other DS is young (he'll be 18mo), so I just picked up a couple of smaller things for him.

The rest of our families are also taken care of with things I've picked up here and there. The only person I have to buy for is DH and he's a total pain in the patootie to buy for, so I won't get his until Dec (unless something comes to me before then, which I doubt).

 

[Dismom55]

I start my Christmas shopping right after Christmas, I give the returners time to return things and only go in the stores if I am hoping to get a certain something marked down. I buy my wrapping and cards the same. I look for deals all year long and put things away for the big day. By October, I will be nearly done and my Christmas cards will go in the mail the day after Thanksgiving. The time between then and Christmas is busy with decorating and planning and of course getting that last very special gift for each of the kids.

Basically, that is how I afford Christmas and I am thinking Christmas all year long.

 

[tommya60]

A huge chunk of the extended family Christmas gifts are already purchased, labeled and ready to go (Target toy sales). The teens will get i-tunes or money gift cards, it's just so hard to buy for them. Mostly have MIL, DH, DD, nephews and my dad left. One nephew and my dad have back to back birthdays at the end of October, so I try and decide what to give each for b-day and Christmas then. Smaller items are purchased throughout the year....found a great Beatles book at B & N for 75% off. Nephew will love it.
I really need to get DD thinking about her friends gifts. That one is sorta new, and it can get spendy fast.

 

[kacaju]

No, no and another NO!!
We are all about 4-H Fair right now. My whole family is very involved in set up and clean up of Fair. Once Fair is over I have a few short weeks to buy school supplies.
I have no time before Fair to try to scoop up the school supply sales. Just not going to happen.
THEN, and only then will I allow Christmas to come into my head!!

to those who are thinking of Christmas!!

 

[wdwfan16]

The only thing about waiting till black friday for electronics is that they only have a limited supply!! (atleast around here they do!) I remember getting to Circuit City one year when they were still in business at midnight (they didn't open till 6am) and the guy said they only had 10 of the computers and passed out tickets to the first 10 people in line who were there for the computer. So when it comes to electronics I get them earlier than black friday.
Also, whatever you are looking at you can look on amazon.com because sometimes they are cheaper!

My concern about buying it now is the warranty is based on the date of purchase and the return time may have expired before you even give the gift. For electronics I would not get them too early if they are for a gift.

 

[momof1princess]

i wish i could think ahead to Christmas right now. there are SEVEN august birthdays in my family, DD's birthday is in september, and SIL wants us to go on a vacation with her and BIL right after DD's birthday. DD needs a computer (hers died a couple months ago) so i guess that will be her birthday present, if i can find one for a decent price. no idea what to get anyone for Christmas yet.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Yes I am! I purchased my first gift earlier this week. I am going to do some research though and offer a "trip instead of gifts" choice to the family.

 

[LilyWDW]

I have to... way too many people to buy for, especially since we will be traveling up to visit most of them!

So, on my list alone (though my mother I am do do some joint gifts for people on this list):
-My mother
-My father
-Grandma 1
-Grandma 2
-Boyfriend
-Boyfriend's mom (more like a mother in law to me, as my boyfriend and I will have been together over 9 years come this Christmas)
-Boyfriend's father
-Aunt 1
-Uncle 2
-Cousin 1
-Cousin 1's husband
-Cousin's 6 kids
-Cousin 2
-Cousin 2's husband
-Aunt 2 (not sure on this and Uncle 2... depends if they want to exchange gifts or not since my uncle is still without a job. They would feel horrible if we got them something and they couldn't give in return. Not worth the possible hard feelings.)
-Uncle 2

Okay, actually seeing the list written out makes me MORE nervous about this! We save up and do most of our shopping in OCT when we head to the outlets nearby (about 1.5 hours away). Last year we got all 6 kids hoodies from the Gap outlet at about $6 a piece! We already have some plans, but hopefully we can find more deals like this!

Edit: I have a feeling I may be asking for some advice on gifts from people here... I don't know what to get some people at ALL as of now!

 

[Evi]

Nope Nope I can't hear you....(hums loudly) jk. Actually I have been making my list and checking it twice. I'm also trying to figure out how not to be expected to host Christmas in my house this year. Family is huge and I have biggest digs. But I'd rather not host I just don't like having such large groups over. Call me the grinch.

 

[mjbaby]

Yep, I started a few weeks ago by picking up beaded bracelets for my nieces from a craft fair at the beach. They were three bracelets for $20 and just lovely so it was a natural pick-up and perfectly in my "niece and nephew budget". My nephews will each get note card sets from Vistaprint in motifs specific to them.

For my kids I've bought some smaller items here and there as I see them on clearance (like a Hello Kitty manicure set for my DD for only $3 - marked down from $20!) but nothing major. One sister and her husband give an annual Super Bowl party so I've started a "party kit" for them of football-themed items I've been picking up - since we can't know now who will be in the big game it's all just general stuff she can fit in around what she will get when the time comes. I found a large tailgate-themed tote a while back for $3 so I grabbed it and will package everything in that.

I've also started my crafting. My sister and a girlfriend will each receive embroidered cocktail napkins and I started those a few weeks ago. One friend who is building a mountain house will receive firestarters made from our own pinecones and packaged in a pretty basket.

It's funny, the other day we were with friends and the wife made a comment about wanting to run out and buy something for one of their children to keep for Christmas. Her husband said, "Only my wife could think about Christmas in the middle of summer." My own husband replied to the contrary and boggled that there were two of us out there! Our explanations that organizing a family Christmas took months and months of effort flew right over their heads, sadly.

How my guy thinks I could gift the way we do to a shopping list of over 30 people and with a budget of roughly $600 AND get it all done during Advent I couldn't tell you.

 

[dreamin_disney]

really dont even wanna think about it-lol! My side of the family stopped pulling name but dh's side we buy for everyone. I think this year i'm going to buy for my Brother and his kids since they are having hardtimes $$. I started a x-mas account but so far only $100, so i need to start putting more $$ into it. DD11 want an Ipod so we will get that and some clothes and cash. We stopped buying her a bunch of stuff we no will only be used 1-2 times and we've saved more money that way and have bought nicer stuff she will use more.

 

[neatokimmo]

I've hit the Disney outlet 3 times this summer and stocked up on super marked down princess stuff. So my Christmas/Birthday closet for DD is packed full, I just need to identify which item is going towards which event. Her little friends presents will come out of this stash too.

When your DD is three, it is easy

So I just need something for the boyfriend and for my mom.

 

[rszdtrvl]

Yep! I am thinking about Christmas.

DH and I enjoy going to yard sales, and I have been collecting new in package toys to donate to Toys For Tots. I have a bunch of Barbie dolls and girl toys. Boys seem to take their toys out of the package, LOL.

I know my son wants an expensive game set/bundle (Rock Band, I believe) that should be released at the end of October. He won't get much if he gets that.

I have some ideas on what we will be getting people for the holidays, but am mostly waiting, except for the TFT thing.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I have to... way too many people to buy for, especially since we will be traveling up to visit most of them!

So, on my list alone (though my mother I am do do some joint gifts for people on this list):
-My mother
-My father
-Grandma 1
-Grandma 2
-Boyfriend
-Boyfriend's mom (more like a mother in law to me, as my boyfriend and I will have been together over 9 years come this Christmas)
-Boyfriend's father
-Aunt 1
-Uncle 2
-Cousin 1
-Cousin 1's husband
-Cousin's 6 kids
-Cousin 2
-Cousin 2's husband
-Aunt 2 (not sure on this and Uncle 2... depends if they want to exchange gifts or not since my uncle is still without a job. They would feel horrible if we got them something and they couldn't give in return. Not worth the possible hard feelings.)
-Uncle 2

Okay, actually seeing the list written out makes me MORE nervous about this! We save up and do most of our shopping in OCT when we head to the outlets nearby (about 1.5 hours away). Last year we got all 6 kids hoodies from the Gap outlet at about $6 a piece! We already have some plans, but hopefully we can find more deals like this!

Edit: I have a feeling I may be asking for some advice on gifts from people here... I don't know what to get some people at ALL as of now!

I have a big family so I wanted to chime in with some advice for your cousin with 6 kids, I always appreciate family gifts like a board game or movie night basket. If your budget allows for it you could even do a family membership to a local place like the zoo, it may come out less expensive than buying for each family member and if their family is like mine they probably have too many toys as it is. Just a thought.