Anyone else starting to think Christmas??

[Chelley00]

For our kids we do 4 gifts: A thing you want, a thing you need, a thing you wear, a thing you read. They love it, and always try to guess what gift they get in the different categories. Sometimes I have to be a little creative, especially on the thing you read.

I have most of my side of the family done, and over half the kids gifts bought. For me that's a great start!

 

[LilyWDW]

Hmmm... maybe someone can help me out here.

If you travel to visit relatives, how do you do stockings for the people in your immediate family? A few years ago I started a stocking for my mother and I was thinking about this year and had no idea what to do... any suggestions on how to handle it?

 

[delmar411]

When my girls were young, I had everything done by Thanksgiving. So, the last couple of years as they grew up and got married, I didn't have that much shopping to do as we have a very small family. But, yesterday I started my Christmas shopping for my two grandchildren! Barnes and Noble was having a great clearance sale and I was able to pick up some books for only $2.00 each. Now, all I have to do is wait for my granddaughter and grandson to arrive! My older daughter is having a girl and my younger daughter is having a boy and both are due on September 20!

Wow that is exciting!! Congrats!!

 

[Perditamarie]

Thanks for the ideas!! I wish my dad were as easy as my mom!! I am actually leaning more towards gift cards, but would rather do gifts!

Dads are hard. My Dad loves Books on CD (especially when he had a long commue), coffee and nurturing rose bushes. My FIL is all about fishing, and also enjoys coffee. Maybe that will help spark something!

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

Everyone that is thinking about an ipod for Christmas gifts should look on craigslist or places people sell stuff because Apple had/has a promo where you buy a computer and get an 8gb ipod and a printer free. My neice got a new computer and is selling the ipod to help with the price of the computer. Hope this helps someone find a great bargain!

 

[ilovejack02]

woooo hooo, just finished all my girlfriends. We have a small get together each year , limit is 15.00 .

I found cute xmas wine glasses and matching drink koozies at Tuesday Morning for 12.00 each. Couldn't find a picture of the matching koozie. But looking online just the wine glass alone is running about 18.00-20.00. So glad to be done with one list!

 

[kkmcan]

Well, I have just begun thinking about Christmas gifts and I haven't come up with much. I was thinking a few months ago about getting my kids small flat screen tvs for their rooms but now..... I don't like the idea of them in their individual rooms away from the family all the time. Also, I don't really want to spend that much on just one gift. With our two Disney cruises next year I want curtail the spending a little.

I am having trouble coming up with anything. For dd I thought maybe a nail polish gift set or one of those terry cloth shower wraps and an external dvd player for her netbook. For ds, I don't have a clue. There is usually a new video game or two out for Wii that he wants.

I also get them new pj's, a book and a new wii game. I just really don't have a clue.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I'm almost done. I have serveral giftcards to buy and still a few toys for my nieces and nephews. Here is my list of gifts so far:

crockpot(purchased JCP outlet $14.99) and 2 crockpot cookbooks($3.99 each borders) x2 = one for my little sister and one for my little brother in law

all nieces and nephews clothes purchased at childrens place on clearance. Spent $100 total for 2 nieces and 2 nephews where each gets 2 pairs of jeans and 2 sweaters and 2 shirts.

I bought my husband a charging table pad thing where you just lay everything you need to charge on it.

Giving the gift of warmth with snuggly throw blankets, snuggly slippers and socks, gloves and a scarf.

My oldest neice is getting a starbucks giftcard and a hastings giftcard.

My oldest nephew is getting a car cleaning kit and a hastings giftcard.

We send my husbands grandparents a beautiful Christmas centerpiece for their present.

Giving my brothers and their wives photo sessions for their families. The local place there sells packages that you can buy as presents.

I still have toys to buy for the youngest neieces and nephews and giftcards for my mother in law and my father in law and finish presents for my husband.

 

[Terry36]

Hey Jenny, girl I like those glasses. that's a good idea for girlfriends.

My DD has asked for a flat screen tv for her room so I'll be on the lookout for that and a wii game or two. I'm not sure what else at this point....

 

[ilovejack02]

Hey Jenny, girl I like those glasses. that's a good idea for girlfriends.

My DD has asked for a flat screen tv for her room so I'll be on the lookout for that and a wii game or two. I'm not sure what else at this point....

HHHHAAHHHA , I knew my sweet Dis chicks would love them, hmmm, now I need to shop for more so we can all have them for Dis chick Xmas get together !!

S do you have a Tuesday Morning near you , I have another I can check off of Perkins Road.

 

[RadioFanatic]

starting? I'm almost done! Except for getting the ipad for dh, finishing up DS and buying something small for 6 member staff at work, everyone else is complete! I start the day after christmas and make a spread sheet, including all people to buy for (30), what I bought, if have in hand (in case I ordered on line), cost and total cost. So far, I have spent $280.74 for 22 people.

 

[ilovejack02]

starting? I'm almost done! Except for getting the ipad for dh, finishing up DS and buying something small for 6 member staff at work, everyone else is complete! I start the day after christmas and make a spread sheet, including all people to buy for (30), what I bought, if have in hand (in case I ordered on line), cost and total cost. So far, I have spent $280.74 for 22 people.

Show off ! ; )

 

[RadioFanatic]

Show off ! ; )

Yeah, but what I'm really going to try to do this year is start wrapping earlier - I really need to learn the "wrap it when I get it" philosophy, but I never do it! And I HATE to wrap!

 

[ilovejack02]

Yeah, but what I'm really going to try to do this year is start wrapping earlier - I really need to learn the "wrap it when I get it" philosophy, but I never do it! And I HATE to wrap!

embrace the gift bag , put that on your list to buy this year after Christmas lol!! I only wrap for my DS8, because it is fun to watch him rip the paper off and get frustrated with the crazy ribbons I tie on lol.

 

[Ava]

We've thought about it a little but haven't done anything yet. DD is still too young to really understand Christmas (she'll be 20 months old this year) so we'll probably stick with what we did last year & just get her 1 gift. We go to my parents' house for Christmas so she'll open her gifts from them, my sister, & us all together. Last year she ended up with about 5 packages to open, plus a stocking, which was plenty for an 8-month-old.

We didn't get anything for each other last year & probably won't again this year. So we just have to buy for both of our parents & my sister. My extended family (whom we have Christmas dinner with) decided not to exchange gifts last year "due to the economy" and it was the best decision. I hope we stick with it this year as well. We spent the afternoon just eating & catching up with each other, and there was no scrambling to open gifts before so-and-so had to leave or keeping track of everyone's stuff. It made for a much more relaxed holiday.

 

[sk!mom]

Well, I have just begun thinking about Christmas gifts and I haven't come up with much. I was thinking a few months ago about getting my kids small flat screen tvs for their rooms but now..... I don't like the idea of them in their individual rooms away from the family all the time. Also, I don't really want to spend that much on just one gift. With our two Disney cruises next year I want curtail the spending a little.

I am having trouble coming up with anything. For dd I thought maybe a nail polish gift set or one of those terry cloth shower wraps and an external dvd player for her netbook. For ds, I don't have a clue. There is usually a new video game or two out for Wii that he wants.

I also get them new pj's, a book and a new wii game. I just really don't have a clue.

I completely agree with you on TV's. We gave DS25 one at 13 and it was a mistake that DD14 regrets will not be repeated. No TV for her until she moves out to head to college.

Have you considered giving gifts that they will need or want for the cruise? Maybe a gift certificate for a special excursion or pick up some great deals now on new swimsuits, beach towels, cool sunglasses, flip flops. Some of my children's gifts have always been things that I would have to buy anyway. I gave my DS tennis shoes so many Christmases growing up that it became a tradition that I continue now that he's an adult. Since they were a gift, I normally would splurge a bit on the type he really wanted rather than the rest of the year when he had to choose from those on sale. This year we are surprising our kids with plane tickets to Europe and travel books. The trip won't happen until next summer since none of us can get away long enough before then but DH and I want to minimize the cost of Christmas with such a big trip planned for next Summer and my adult son and teen DD are old enough to spend the time planning and appreciate a gift with delayed gratification.

As to the OP's question, over the years we have cut our gift giving list way down. Without a lot of gifts to buy, I no longer feel the need to shop early. I can wait to see what they want since with DD14 it could definitely change. As they've gotten older, I typically buy electronics and I would never buy those before Thanksgiving due to warrenties. It seems that there are so many deals between Thanksgiving and Christmas that it really isn't necessary to shop early.

 

[threecrazykids]

Where do you find the Zoobles? Even though my DD hasn't mentioned them they would make great stocking stuffers for her...she's in love with anything that has to do with animals.

 

[gracie1]

What are zoobles?

 

[DebMcDonald]

I've definitely been thinking and I've already started shopping, just little things so far, and if the kids say "I want this" I tell them to put in on their Christmas list. This weekend, they both wanted sheets for their bed, Hello Kitty, and Jonas Brother's, so off to Target I went without them. This littlest wants Lanie from Santa (waiting for a coupon) and the big one wants the Wilton cake decorating set, so I will purchase that this weekend with a 50% off code.

 

[gracie1]

I've definitely been thinking and I've already started shopping, just little things so far, and if the kids say "I want this" I tell them to put in on their Christmas list. This weekend, they both wanted sheets for their bed, Hello Kitty, and Jonas Brother's, so off to Target I went without them. This littlest wants Lanie from Santa (waiting for a coupon) and the big one wants the Wilton cake decorating set, so I will purchase that this weekend with a 50% off code.

I know what you mean about the list! I told my mom no more shopping till after christmas. She agreed, and asked how I knew what she wanted. I told her I have been listening to things all year and keep a list going
So now I have to start ordering stuff!