Anyone started Christmas shopping yet? What, Where and for who?

I just got lucky at Wal-mart. I found the five piece candle sets for $5 as well as burts candles for $4. I got two big sets one for DMIL and one for DSIL as part of a basket for each. I will do something else from Bath and body works as well as a Home depot gift card and homemade candy for their presents. I am going to give my son's teachers the Burts candles along with a starbuck's gift card. I also found a soccer goal for DS on sale for $9, as well as a chewbacca puzzle cup for a $1 and a TMNT snackeez for $2 the puzzle along with the cup and a couple other things will be his stockings. I also found my girls each a little Elmo figure for $.25 for part of their stockings.
 
Love this thread!! We are celebrating CHristmas in WDW this year, it will be our first Christmas away from home so I don't usually start buying until October time but I will join in the confessional, I have been squirrelling things away for a few months now.
I have small sets for my daughter, shopkins, smelly sets, art sets and stuff. I have sets for most of the grandparents/uncles/auntys and a pull along Pluto for my baby god daughter. I also picked up a great book for my sister so included that in the haul! I want to have got pretty much everything by October time bar the 'big gift' for my daughter which I will get closer to Christmas, but will need it all wrapped, delivered and out of the house before we leave December 22nd!! I'm quite enjoying it actually, I'm feeling a strange sense of accomplishment when I add a new gift to the stash!!!

Seriously it provides an adrenaline high!
 
I have bought both boys an inflatable pogo stick thing, my oldest a rock collection set, and my niece a book on hand lettering.
 
I have ordered 4 essential oil diffusers from Amazon that are a new design for 3 family members. (They look cool so I am keeping one) These aren't due to be released/arrive until early October. I will buy 2 more for less $ for other family members. I use mine all the time and have heard lots of comments from family wishing they had one so that is my go-to gift for them. I will also get some oils for each of them when I see a good deal at Earthbound Trading store in a local mall.

Can you tell me which diffuser you ordered? This seems like the perfect gift for several people on my list!
 

SO I asked my older two boys tonight to start thinking: I have a DS 10 & 8 that seem to get harder and harder as they get older. I am gonna need some help and advice this year!
 
DD (will be 2 in Dec) is done..at least pretty much I do a box with a Christmas book & pjs and this year a snack and that will be bought once the Christmas stuff starts to be released.

I got $50 in gift cards from swagbucks I got here a Princess & Ponies Disney kids book, a Melissa & Doug stable set with 8 horses from Amazon and a large horse meant for 18inch dolls from Target. Had to pay $5 shipping from Target OOP.
Then at our local kids consignment sale at the start of August I scored a Melissa & Doug easel normally $60 for $20 and then I got her the paper from Amazon for $5 OOP after using a $6 credit I had. Just need to stock up on some crayons for her but I didn't find any good back to school sales locally on Jumbo crayons so I'll wait til closer to Christmas and pick up some. Probably when it's all said and done I will have spent $45 OOP.

Oh yea her stocking is about complete as well except for snack items. I found a mini pillow pet type thing of Olaf at Walgreens for .99cents used register rewards. Went to a yard sale found new in the bag ty beanie babies from mcdonad's a quarter each so they're out of the bag and she has 4 cute little cuddly critters. Plus I found some bubble wands on clearance so I think I paid about $2 for those.

IT's everyone else I'm dreading. DH has a large extended family and we get everyone gifts. I don't have any ideas for most of them but I've been hitting up amazon and walmart for ideas. Our budget is $800 total and that includes each other.

The only thing I really want is a nice camera strap for my camera before Disney.
 
My son just got my grandson the Cars scooter which was 50.00 for 9.00 at Wal Mart. I on the other hand no matter how good a shopper I think I am can never find bargains at the Wal Mart Clearance. My son also got the M AND D cookie sheet set!

It is so hit or miss at Walmart. I was in another store 2 towns over yesterday and looked at their clearance and there wasn't much at all. So I guess the one in my town was clearing out and bringing in new stuff. I saw a star wars scooter for $5, I almost bought it but I had no one to give it to. Then later I thought it would have been good for a giving tree gift kid, but it wasn't there anymore. :0(
 
DD (will be 2 in Dec) is done..at least pretty much I do a box with a Christmas book & pjs and this year a snack and that will be bought once the Christmas stuff starts to be released.

I got $50 in gift cards from swagbucks I got here a Princess & Ponies Disney kids book, a Melissa & Doug stable set with 8 horses from Amazon and a large horse meant for 18inch dolls from Target. Had to pay $5 shipping from Target OOP.
Then at our local kids consignment sale at the start of August I scored a Melissa & Doug easel normally $60 for $20 and then I got her the paper from Amazon for $5 OOP after using a $6 credit I had. Just need to stock up on some crayons for her but I didn't find any good back to school sales locally on Jumbo crayons so I'll wait til closer to Christmas and pick up some. Probably when it's all said and done I will have spent $45 OOP.

Oh yea her stocking is about complete as well except for snack items. I found a mini pillow pet type thing of Olaf at Walgreens for .99cents used register rewards. Went to a yard sale found new in the bag ty beanie babies from mcdonad's a quarter each so they're out of the bag and she has 4 cute little cuddly critters. Plus I found some bubble wands on clearance so I think I paid about $2 for those.

IT's everyone else I'm dreading. DH has a large extended family and we get everyone gifts. I don't have any ideas for most of them but I've been hitting up amazon and walmart for ideas. Our budget is $800 total and that includes each other.

The only thing I really want is a nice camera strap for my camera before Disney.

th
It is so hit or miss at Walmart. I was in another store 2 towns over yesterday and looked at their clearance and there wasn't much at all. So I guess the one in my town was clearing out and bringing in new stuff. I saw a star wars scooter for $5, I almost bought it but I had no one to give it to. Then later I thought it would have been good for a giving tree gift kid, but it wasn't there anymore. :0(

I think it is up to the desecration of the manager my son saw the Star Wars scooter for 15 so he opted for the Cars for 9 and in reality the Cars was more what my grandson would want. It is hit or miss and I always miss but considering I hit at other stores I cannot complain. :) If you have a Sam's Club near you they mark things down to a deep discount too! In fact some of their markdowns are actually insane!
 
I bought my DS16 the 1 year of playstation plus for 38.99 yesterday. I bought the husband and both sons poopori.

Did you find this in a store? I was thinking it would make a great stocking stuffer for DS19. I've only seen it on HSN (or QVC--one of those), and it was in a 5-pack. I just wanted one bottle. Or maybe 2, DH could benefit from this particular product.
 
Yup!

American Girl Diner and Our Generation car for DD(7). Stocking Stuffers: Bracelets for both DDs for Kohls (clearance and coupon = $9 each for really nice bracelets). iPad chargers in fun colors for both from the Dollar section at Target.
 
Did you find this in a store? I was thinking it would make a great stocking stuffer for DS19. I've only seen it on HSN (or QVC--one of those), and it was in a 5-pack. I just wanted one bottle. Or maybe 2, DH could benefit from this particular product.

I thought you could find it in places like Target or Amazon now. Or perhaps just purchase directly from them.
 
I just got lucky at Wal-mart. I found the five piece candle sets for $5 as well as burts candles for $4. I got two big sets one for DMIL and one for DSIL as part of a basket for each. I will do something else from Bath and body works as well as a Home depot gift card and homemade candy for their presents. I am going to give my son's teachers the Burts candles along with a starbuck's gift card. I also found a soccer goal for DS on sale for $9, as well as a chewbacca puzzle cup for a $1 and a TMNT snackeez for $2 the puzzle along with the cup and a couple other things will be his stockings. I also found my girls each a little Elmo figure for $.25 for part of their stockings.

I think my WalMart just restocked their clearance. This morning I got kites and glow wands for a quarter each to use for birthday party favors (OK, not Christmas presents but still something I'm stashing away way in advance). I got a 4-pack of books for the retired Tag Jr system for $4 for my nephew. Disney Klip Klops for $1.50 each. Of course, I only went in for a few school supplies and walked out with much more in my cart....
 
If you have a Bed, Bath, and Beyond near you, I have always found Poopouri there.
 
I was thinking about wrapping my gifts and I can see someone else did it so I may go for it now I see I am not the only one that thought of it. We have to clear out our spare room to make it into a nursery and all the gifts are squirreled away in there in random places (not to mention a few rolls of gift wrap). If they are at least sorted out now and wrapped I don't have to find room to hide them if someone comes over as a few relatives will be helping with moving furniture and clearing clutter. Also I don't know how well I will be wrapping at 36 weeks pregnant lol.

I have a superwalmart by me and clearance is totally hit or miss. I have actually found items there marked down for just $1-2 (on a item over $10) but sometimes find great deals. Most can be a bit scratched so I often can't buy the stuff as gifts. For ex. I got that cell phone camera lens but I had to go through 10 boxes before I found one that wasn't ripped. The only other Xmas gift I found in three aisles of stuff was a minions magnet set (like paper dolls) for my nephew. I think its because the clearance items there are older but it is terrible sometimes as it looks like a TJ Maxx clearance area (all piled up and broken).

I like to shop during the holiday season but that tends to be last minute splurges on little things. Last year ibotta did $10 back on $40 at the body shop and they had all gift sets on sale for 40% on Dec. 23 when I stopped in so those were some last minute gifts I needed and a bonus gift for my mum since hers was "free" with my ibotta cash back. I am doing a secret santa on my in-laws side with the adults this year so I need less gifts now but need to wait until I have a name to buy a gift. I used to work in retail so I have a love/hate thing. I love the decorations in the stores, hate the crowds. I actually work behind Rockefeller center so I only can get to the stores on Fifth Ave for a week or two before they are mobbed and lunchtime shopping has to end until after the season.
 
I've discovered a new website in recent days that I've picked up a few more stocking stuffers from: hollar.com. It's basically an online dollar store - now that's dangerous! If you haven't checked it out - venture there at your own risk - I've placed 3 orders in 2 days LOL

Some things are great deals - they have Pee Wee Pillow Pets for only $2!! - others items are about the same as I'd get/pay at a local dollar store, others items are overpriced in that they are charging $2 for things I can get for $1 at DollarTree. As always, know your prices and cross check with other sites to determine what is and isn't a good deal.

Shipping is free on your first order. Thereafter it is free with a $25 minimum, or $5 otherwise.

I admit I have not actually received any of my orders yet - looks like my first order will get here tomorrow or Monday. But so far I've ordered:
- some accessory hangers, for DD16 to use with her LARGE scarf collection. Will go in her stocking.
- a rear-rack bike basket (by Bell, a decent enough name in bike accessories), a bike bell and a bike rear-view mirror. I'll package these together for an under-the-tree gift for DD. She got a cruiser bike last year ;)
- one of the aforementioned Pee Wee Pillow Pets that looks like our cat. Again, will go in DDs stocking (she still likes pillow pets for travelling)
- some Essie and OPI nailpolish. Yet more items for DDs stocking.
- flip flops. I may save these for DDs next Easter basket. Cheapy plastic ones, but cuter than the typical $1 styles.
- an electronic bug zapper in the shape of a fly swatter. I will probably also save this for DDs Easter basket, for her to use on our Hawaiian vacation (the bugs drive her nuts). It's one of those funny, yet could be useful if it actually works, sort of things.
- acne medicine (full size tube of 10% benz for only $1!). This is a "just cause DD always needs it", I won't put this in her stocking LOL
- a fleece "house" and a couple of stainless steel bowls for our cat. The cat needs some Christmas presents too! :)
- some slippers that include an insert you can heat/cool. These will be a gift to my mother for Christmas. She has Alzheimer's, getting a bigger gift makes no sense. Her caregiver will be able to help her use these. I also have a picture frame for her already, I'll add a picture of her with DD I took recently. (I had to return the robe I previously got her because I realized it would be way too big on her - she's lost a lot of weight in the last 6 months because of the normal course of things.)
- a backpack. Probably another under-the-tree gift for DD, I'm not sure. It's the Everest brand - supposedly good quality, not great, but DD likes to have a bag to match each outfit, so it doesn't really have to be great quality since none of them see every day use.
- a watering bulb. This was just because I tend to forget to water my plant (Yes, "plant" - singular. I kill them all, but have one stubborn houseplant that refuses to die no matter what I do LOL)

All of these were $5 and under, many just $1-$3.

The best stuff sells out quickly after it is added to the site - I find myself checking first thing in the morning to see if there are any great new deals on things I didn't know I needed!

(And for those of you wondering, I made the mistake of getting DD a stocking that is about 1-1/2 or 2 times the size of a normal stocking a couple of years ago. So filling it takes some work - hence bigger things like the Pillow Pet!)
 
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I read this entire thread yesterday, and I saw the mention about target and Lego dimensions. I bought one for each of my 3 sons, so that was a nice savings (I'm pretty sure it's a better deal than their typical buy 2 get one free deal around Christmas time ). For the first time since having kids, our funds are very low since we just opened our own business. It may take off before Christmas, but I'm preparing for it to be very lean this year!

DS 15 is always so tough, he just never really wants anything, so I'm looking forward to more ideas from everyone!
 
not yet but Im planning- going to cash in some CC rewards. 2 girls ages 14 and 11 here each one will get 100 in gift cards. iTunes, bath and body works, and Starbucks. Going to get Apple TV (combined gift) Polaroid camera for my DD who is 10. New trail bikes.

Maybe Disney passes instead of Universal keep going back and forth- feel Universal is a better value but we haven't been to Disney in almost 6 years. My oldest is in HS now and I feel like we need to go back before she gets any older. I plan on picking up some clothing etc. Some type of art project or legos. The Theme Park passes will be the big expense this year
 
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Did you find this in a store? I was thinking it would make a great stocking stuffer for DS19. I've only seen it on HSN (or QVC--one of those), and it was in a 5-pack. I just wanted one bottle. Or maybe 2, DH could benefit from this particular product.

I did get them on QVC in the 5 pack for $27. At BB&B it's $10 so still $8 with the coupon. I'm sure I'll find a good use for the other two:)
 












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