Having a hard time stockpiling gifts....

[disneydreamersx4]

Money is so tight for alot of people these days... I am having a hard time trying to get Christmas gifts or birthday gifts stockpiled. When I see a sale on something I just want to buy it now instead of paying more for it later. Years ago, I would have a stockpile of gifts by now. I need to explain this to DH (he handles the finances) that if he can give me more money each month, we won't feel the pinch close to Christmas.

Do you shop ahead of time?

 

[mom2val]

Normally by this time of the year I have 75% of presents bought. This year I don't know why but I just haven't. I have 1 gift for dd - an American Girl doll outfit. I feel sick thinking about all the gifts yet to buy! I am going to cut way back this year on the amount of gifts given. For example : Last year I sale shopped and each niece got 10 presents! I spent less than $75 on each but hit Target clearance and Walmart 90% off toy sales! This year I plan on 2 gifts each. DD always get a huge pile. This year she wants more American Girl stuff- praying for good cyber Monday deals!

 

[abmitch01]

I stockpile some generic gifts when I see a good deal. I used to stockpile for kids bday parties but now the kids are older. I used to do all my shopping early but instead we've all cut way back and mostly focus on the kids. As my kids have gotten older, it's harder to stockpile, they tend to only want very specific items, kwim?

 

[SDSorority]

I get things as I see them, too- as long as they're good deals!!

For example, my DBIL was in the "Music Man" in high school, and at a garage sale I saw a very good record that I paid $1 of the original musical soundtrack. I'm going to go to Michaels (or somewhere) and get it framed for one of his Christmas presents. I think he'll really like that... and it was CHEAP.

 

[PatMcDuck]

If you live near a Disney store, they have some nice toys on clearance. Princess dolls, the Sleeping Beauty styling head, Cars play sets, Princess frames w/small snowglobe. I was thinking of buying some toys to save for Toys for Tots.

 

[QVCshopper]

I just have my kids stocking stuffers done, from the Target 75% off sale earlier this year. I also have an AG doll for DD that I picked up at QVC last year for a good price; she'll get that, 2 outfits, and a matching nightgown, which is plenty. For my son, I'm hoping he will like the Dinosaur Train toys that are coming out. DH and I usually only spend $50 on ourselves.

I don't have the stockpile for b-days anymore, but we haven't gotten invited to too many. The last 3 I went to, I spent $10 total on all 3 gifts, thanks to those amazing sales.

OP-maybe just start setting aside a specific amount each week for the gifts. Then, if and when you find a gift early, you can use that--or do all of your shopping at once.

 

[nunzia]

I still have my closet of stockpiled gifts (it's in my craft/exercise room and is a full length wall closet. I took off the doors and have a curtain hung for easy access. I put in 2 metal shelves and keep the wrapping paper junk in between them. I organize the shelves by family ( I have 3 kids with a total of 8 grandkids between them) so I know what I have ready for each kid's birthday and Christmas. Some things I wait and buy close to the time..like specific video games, but they are still of ages (1 to 10) that alot of generic toys are enjoyed. I shop clearance all the time and am pretty cheap. Kmart just had additional 30% off the clearance toys, but I had read here that some stores have 50% addtional off, so nothing looked good at 30%. I watch this board and a couple of blogs for deals ( I live in a small town and Wal Mart and KMart are it), I shop clearance at Disney store online and have even found some good toys at Kohls clearance online. I also stockpile clothes and keep them in bags with each kid's name on it. I just finished getting each kid a couple new outfits for school (even if they aren't in school yet) I remember kid's clothes shopping was a real challenge when my kids were little, so I figure it's one way to help out.
As they get older I'm sure the stockpile will go away toward more specific items, but right now it's fun and extras go to Toys for Tots or Salvation Army kids or Shoeboxes.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I am usually half way done by now and I'm not this year. I just havent been shopping as much and I haven't spent much money.

 

[Bekastar01]

i too have fallen behind this year. i usually have a good pile going by now. but this year i've told everyone we're doing our shopping in disney (we're going last week of august). i have cheated a little and bought things at disney store clearance time, but it's still disney!

it's so much easier to just buy something when you see it during the year. last year i had everything done and wrapped by halloween. does make the closets a little snugger, but it's easier in december!

 

[pink_fins]

Every time I see a thread like this I tell about our free christmas.

It works great with adults. All year round when you get something free. ie buy one get one free. samples from stores/motels. coke rewards. There are lots of places you can get free stuff, when you open up your eyes

We work with our brothers and sisters and we all do this. It's a riot.
Put all wrapped gifts in a pile and then take turns going around the room. We laugh

try it

gail

 

[averysmom]

I have some - but not lots and lots. B &BW just ended their semi-annual sale and I loaded up there - I got everyone's favourite scents in lotions, shower gels and bubble bath, plus a bunch of foam soaps for birthday parties (6 year old girls LOVE these).
I also lucked out about two months ago at Walmart, they had a bunch of toys in a clearance bin - I got a couple of bionicles (sp?) for 4.00 each, some of the big pirate of the carribean lego sets for 10.00 and some star wars action figures of 1.00 each. Again - I'll use these for b-day parties that my 8 year old son is invited to and/or he'll get some of them in his stocking at Christmas.

 

[Belle5]

My older sons are really difficult to buy for. They always need clothes and shoes but I can't get the sizes right or the styles for that matter... Last year I started buying gift cards early...four $50 DSW cards (that's $200 right there), clothing gift cards, etc. They were thrilled with the gift cards and I took each one on a special date right after Christmas to shop for shoes and clothes and then we'd have a nice lunch somewhere. I am definitely doing this again!

I wrapped the gift cards in big boxes to fool them and to make it look like they actually "got" some things under the tree. Almost everything, clothing-wise, that I bought on black Friday had to be returned! What a waste of my time! I need to start putting away gift cards now! One big upside to the gift cards is that they are much easier to hide than my younger boys gifts (legos, etc.)!

 

[MarilIncredible]

I have some things for my SIL, her husband and their son. I just pick things up when I see something they would like at a good price.
I also have a few things I've picked up since last Xmas for my sister, but they are for her birthday which is this coming weekend.
I only have a few people to buy for. SIL & her husband and kid (I just get the cheapest, decent things I can find that I think they will like - SIL is a nasty cow), MIL (who never likes anything I get her anyway), FIL (who is happy with a good bottle of booze), and my sister. My parents refuse to accept any gifts from me, so I just bake thema bunch of holiday cookies and breads. My grandma decided last year that she didn't want to keep exchanging gifts with the grandkids anymore, just with my parents and my aunt & uncle. [My parents thought this was stupid, since they all just give money, anyway, so what is the point other than having to take a check to the bank?]

If I find stuff like candles or fancy soaps, I buy them during the year and just hang on to them in case I have to give a gift to a neighbor or a friend or something. I also recall Amazon had some super thanksgiving and black friday sales last year, so I might wait to get my nephew more stuff until then.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Every time I see a thread like this I tell about our free christmas.

It works great with adults. All year round when you get something free. ie buy one get one free. samples from stores/motels. coke rewards. There are lots of places you can get free stuff, when you open up your eyes

We work with our brothers and sisters and we all do this. It's a riot.
Put all wrapped gifts in a pile and then take turns going around the room. We laugh

try it

gail

that sounds fun!

 

[bootleg89]

We like to stock pile too, but haven't really this year. We're really tight this year after some unexpected medical bills that have now become part of our regular expenses (DH has sleep apnea, and I needed major surgery). We've seen some great deals but just have absolutely no money to pick them up. I guress this year we'll have to cut back on gifts. Stockpiling is a great money saver if you are able to do it.

 

[MomToOne]

I've actually made a decision to try to STOP stockpiling gifts, at least not quite so far in advance.

The problem I have is that the things I buy in June that seem perfect for a Christmas present for someone don't seem perfect anymore by the time December rolls around. I'm talking mainly for kids here - my daughter and my nephews. Then I end up spending yet more money in November/December to get them "perfect" gifts. So the money spent in June/July/August is a waste, no matter how good a deal!

So this year, I plan to purchase early only a few, very carefully considered gifts for my daughter that I am 150% sure will still be right at Christmas, and a few cheap filler-type stocking items (75% off BBW body spray for example) as deals come up. Otherwise, I am holding off this year. But not searching out deals when I know it is "deal" season is just about killing me...

 

[sk!mom]

I did some when my kids were young but as they've gotten older there is just know way to know what they will want months in advance. DD14 loves clothes but who knows what clothes she'll be wishing for come December.

I looked at the Ugg deal thread this weekend since Uggs have been on DD's Christmas list two years running but I doubt if even she knows whether she'll want another pair this year or what style, if she does.

Actually I found not stockpiling to be very freeing. No closet full of gifts to organize and be sure is right. What's left at 75% off is often things that no one wants anyway. Truly I'm not sure stockpiling saves as it often seems that you just keep buying. There are always great deals between Black Friday and Christmas anyway.

 

[zscfan]

I haven't even started yet! Not even 1 gift! I need to get on the ball.....

 

[KELLY]

I bought 2 Zambi Fur Real Elephants on sale for the girls. I think I pd 12.00 each shipped. I got Reese a Woody and Buzz set that was at Target for 13.00 regular 30.00. She loves toy story. I also got them each a few LPS. I need to get going. But we aren't going overboard this year either. I didn't even take off black Friday this year so I'm not out spending money that we don't need to. I'm going to start picking up some GC at resturaunts for adults soon.

I'm getting Riley Princess tiana and toy story 3 for leapster. I'm going to get Reese a TSM game that you plug into the tv that is suppose to be out in the fall. Those are the expensive things other than that they are getting a few more small things. I think Riley wants a LPS car and Reese want a pony one seen these at target for around 20.00 each. Maybe a couple of zuh zuhs for there stockings.

My kids still have toys in there closet from Christamas they haven't even taken out of the boxes.

 

[momof1princess]

normally, i would have a few things put back already for Christmas, but so far, i have nothing. i did get my mom's and my nephew's birthday gifts last week (august 21st and 23rd, respectively) and managed to spend less than $30.00 on both! DD's computer died yesterday, so i have a feeling that's going to be her Christmas, if she can wait that long. if it turns out she needs it for school, she'll get it for her birthday in september. i'm praying for an EXCELLENT back to school sale, b/c money is VERY tight.