For those of us who are Christmas Shopping now..Post Here!

[stitchlovestink]

AND I have a bad habit of setting a budget for each person - so let's say I say $20 on John - and I find a $20 item on an awesome sale for $7 - then I still go spend the other $13!!! This year - not happening if my budget is $20 they are getting a $20 value!!

Boy am I guilty of this one. DH's younger sis only had one child and we have 2. So I always spent double on hers which was at least $50. Well let me tell you $50 goes a loooooooooooong way at a Target 75% off clearance toys sale. I usually end up wrapping 10 to 12 gifts for her. BUT... Guess who the favorite aunt in the family is . This year I got her a something Dancerella mat, Barbie cash register, Barbie laptop, Hannah Montana stage, and several other things. I AM DETERMINED not to buy anything else for her on Black Friday no matter how good the deal is. And BTW, this year, she has a younger sister.
I'm really mad at MY niece though. I got this really cool Playhut house that's Thomas the Tank engine themed at Target for under $10 for my great nephew for Cmas this year. HE LOVES anything Thomas. It's not heavy, but it's in a big box. Well guess what she did. She moved from here where we live to Texas. It's gonna cost me more to ship it to him than I paid for the dad'burned thing. Oh well, what can I do. I shopped ahead of time and got 'burned' on this one. The worst part about shopping so early is that I have to store all of this 'stuff' for almost a whole year.
This year, I am considering the value of the gift, not the price paid. Gonna hafta save some $$, cuz I'm going to be broke after this cruise. HA HA

 

[thelionqueen]

YES!! That is what makes it so wonderful!! You can pick out any starter kit (w/headphones, car charger, sleeve) or just a cover (I got a Nerf armour cover to hopefully protect the DS forever!!) or even something for less, I guess for an accessory and any game. The Nerf was $14.99 and game was $29.99, but all games were eligible. Basically, it works out that the accessory and game are just about free w/purchase of the console, depending on the initial cost of the accessory/game.

COOL! OK, so let me tell you what I just did! I went online to buy this bundle and avoid the store. Problem is, ONLY the console came up at 25% off, not the game or accessory. I called, and the person said they were getting a lot of calls, and that the ad was misleading. Only the console was to be 25% off, not the whole bundle

So I called my local store, and talked to a very cool sales person. He told me that YES, the whole bundle was 25% off, and included any game and accessory. I told him PERFECT, because I was buying it for my son for my dad, as he has no idea what the boys want. I said, grandparents are kinda clueless about these, so I'm helping him out.

The salesperson then said, well hey, then if you're buying for from a grandparent you can get an additional 20% off one item

Needless to say, I just drove down there and got the bundle. Heres what I got.

Red Nintendo DS Lite-$129
Guitar Hero-$49.99
Starter pack including charger, cases, etc.-$29.99

All for
$150.00 (plus tax)

YIPPEE!! Don't know who has it wrong, online or the stores, but there is some confusion. PP, did you get the 25% off everything too??

 

[princessfionasmom]

I think I am always xmas shopping. If I see a great deal that will work for someone I get it there and then. This was not a good deal but a couple of weeks I was in Walmart without my kids which never happens, and I decided what the heck, I'll just walk by the electronics just to see if by some chance they have a Wii and sure enough they did, one, so that is now our big family present this year. We don't have any video game systems so this is our first. My DH has always been against them but I twisted him on this one since we can all play it together. My kids are going to be soooooooooo excited when they see this, especially DS. The after xmas sales are a must for me too. It's a great time to pick up candles and the like that make great teacher gifts.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

I'm currently looking for a 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch doll on sale for dd.

I think TRU has Cabbage Patch on sale for 25% off this week.

 

[sillysmom]

I love this thread. I start right after Christmas, if I've heard someone mention it, and I see it on sale, Its bought! I have about 30 people excluding my hubby and DD. I would say I'm 1/4 of the way done so far, maybe a little more. This year is going to be hard. Everyone seems to have everything. Even my DD who is 13 this year, says she doesn't want anything big, she wants gift cards. I'm all for that, but I like the "ooooo aaaaa" of at least 1 big gift. We are going to Hawaii in April, so I might try to do some Hawaiian stuff for her and the hubby. He doesn't need anything either!

 

[Crystal0608]

I think TRU has Cabbage Patch on sale for 25% off this week.

Thank you! I want to make sure I get one b4 they are gone at xmas. DD has mine w/ brown hair from when I was a kid. She loves it & carries it everywhere and only plays with her ds as much . Her xmas list list says and I quote "A cabage patch doll that looks like me in adult form & baby form" and she wants one that looks like my old one, which looks like me/her.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I love this thread. I start right after Christmas, if I've heard someone mention it, and I see it on sale, Its bought! I have about 30 people excluding my hubby and DD. I would say I'm 1/4 of the way done so far, maybe a little more. This year is going to be hard. Everyone seems to have everything. Even my DD who is 13 this year, says she doesn't want anything big, she wants gift cards. I'm all for that, but I like the "ooooo aaaaa" of at least 1 big gift. We are going to Hawaii in April, so I might try to do some Hawaiian stuff for her and the hubby. He doesn't need anything either!

where in Hawaii are you going? I did an AWESOME snorkelin tour on the Napali coast that was AMAZING but $100 a person. Every island has some sort of excursion like that - why don't you wrap up gift certificates for them to say you are going to do that in Hawaii.

 

[ReneeDisney]

I think TRU has Cabbage Patch on sale for 25% off this week.

Hi! What store is TRU? THANKS!!

 

[PuNkEe1299]

Hi! What store is TRU? THANKS!!

Toys R Us!

I got DS14 an iPod Touch for $200 off craigslist brand new. And I got DS12 an iPod Nano, but just heard rumors that Apple is going to be releasing a 4th Gen iPod Nano, so either that one will go back to be replaced by the newer one or I will rebuy it if I find out the 3rd Gen are being clearanced out! Got DSD a new cell phone (rumor) and DD2 is TBD. I am a HUGE black friday shopper. Got my tent and heating supply ready to go! Hoping to get another laptop from BB for $200 for myself! (Got one for DS14 last year!)

 

[musclemouse]

I have 4 birthdays (thank god for Target) in our family before Christmas and we are going to Disney 2 weeks before Christmas. We are going to be BROKE by the end of the year. Hope we get our W2s early or I will have to get DH to request a paystub Jan 2nd!

I'm going to have to start now as there are so many that are clearancing their things out.

I'm going to have to figure out what to do with my son's birthday, which we are celebrating at WDW. We are having the family over for a party for him before we go. Family ask for suggestions for him and I will mention Disney dollars or such. We will get him something at Disney for his bday. That will be enough.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

***raises hand*** count me in as one of those people who start shopping after Christmas!!! LOL!! We have MANY people to shop for so I find that starting that early, helps me feel better about it and makes it a lot less over whelming. (plus, I just like to shop!) I stock up on toys when they are on clearance and tuck them away for any occasion really. I love that when the kids have a bday party to attend, we can just walk to the closet and pick something out. I am also one of those people that start at 5am on Black Friday and don't drop until it's 11pm! It's a tradition for me and my mom, although, this year, the baby is due November 18th, so I don't know how this is going to work out. May have to skip out this year. =(

 

[rella's fan]

My dd (6) is obsessed with the Fur Real dog. If anybody sees any kind of deal on this please post. It's the only thing she keeps talking about, but I'm having trouble spending $160 for a fake dog.

 

[Crystal0608]

***raises hand*** count me in as one of those people who start shopping after Christmas!!! LOL!! We have MANY people to shop for so I find that starting that early, helps me feel better about it and makes it a lot less over whelming. (plus, I just like to shop!) I stock up on toys when they are on clearance and tuck them away for any occasion really. I love that when the kids have a bday party to attend, we can just walk to the closet and pick something out. I am also one of those people that start at 5am on Black Friday and don't drop until it's 11pm! It's a tradition for me and my mom, although, this year, the baby is due November 18th, so I don't know how this is going to work out. May have to skip out this year. =(

You sound SO much like me, lol. Good thing I've noticed on most Black Fridays in the past 2 years are that some sales start after midnight online. I've got a few things w/ free shipping at the same store prices this way, so you don't have to skip .

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

You sound SO much like me, lol. Good thing I've noticed on most Black Fridays in the past 2 years are that some sales start after midnight online. I've got a few things w/ free shipping at the same store prices this way, so you don't have to skip .

oHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! this is good info. Thank you so much!!!!!!! I just don't know how I will feel and I think it's a long day when you are recovering from birth and nursing a little newborn. So, thank you so much for this info.!!!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I don't have any great deals to post yet, but I've started my Christmas shopping already. So far its just been odds and ends. I have to get my list formulated and start chipping away at everyone. I'm hoping to be done by Halloween. I used to do the Black Friday rush, but I'm too old for that anymore...getting up that early is best left to the youthful! I do miss some of the deals, but its a trade off I suppose. Buying early helps take the edge off the prices too.

 

[ceemys]

I shop early also. I just bought on 60% clearance a light up, noise maker princess kitchen from the Disney Store.

I also bought this past weekend a catepillar rocker for my now 13 month old.

Little by little. But our Disney Vacation is a huge early Christmas present. My 9/0 understands that because of the vacation, presents under the tree will not be as much as years in the past.

 

[rluey29]

I'm almost done with DS8. I found a Wii Fit at Target today while I was passing through, Hooray! That's a big gift I can stop looking for. He informed me that he's too big for toys this year and all he wants is video games and Star Wars Legos. Have you seen the prices of those Legos??? Good grief! I saw two sets that were 19.97 each but they were always out in the stores and online, but I lucked out the other day and ordered them online. Then I got about 6 Wii games that they had just clearanced for $20 each and some PS2 games for $10-$20 each on sale and a couple of DS games also. He's very easy this year. DS1 is a different story though. Now he says he wants Wii Guitar Hero...I think he can talk to grandma about that one!

 

[GraysMom]

I just went through my Rubbermaid bins of gifts the other night and made a list of what I've got already. I'm pretty well set for teacher gifts for DS's preschool. I bought a bunch of Thomas the Tank DVD's a month or so ago when they were BOGO at DeepDiscountDVD.com, so I'll split those up between Christmas and DS's January bday. I've also picked up some books for DS at Sort Floor Books. I found Slip N Slides, snorkels, goggles, outdoor games, etc at CVS's 75% off sale last week, so I'll split those up as well. That's as far as I've gotten right now. I need to make up a master list of who I'm shopping for so I don't forget anyone.

 

[newtodis]

I also need to join this list. I got a major start when Target did 75% off toys. Between going to Disney and back home to MI in Dec, the budget doesn't leave much else in the way of gifts. I'm a huge bargin hunter so I'll manage, but just have to be more careful this year. I've got a bunch of stuff started but no one finished just yet. I ordered some things from LTD so once those get here, a few will be finished.

I love the QVC Christmas shows-I always watch just because I love Christmas! I also made a QVC wish list and sent it to DH!

As for the BF sales on line, I did that two years ago as I was still in the hospital after having DS1 and he was still in the RNICU. I got discharged late on BF and shopping for deals, as you can imagine, was the last thing on my mind. I had DH get most things on line the night before and it was much easier to do it that way. That's probably how I'll have to do it this year.

 

[missesdisney]

For those shopping after midnight online for black friday - how are you finding out where the sales are available online and where they aren't? Can you tell in advance or just trying it at midnight?