What kind of shopper are you?

[lauradis]

I do my best to get Santa's list to him, as we're hanging by a thread with a 9-yr-old here and wishes granted help us make it another year - though the kids know we parents have veto power on any electronics or crazy stuff (Santa brought Squishy Baff last year and DD finally wore me down to use it last week!)

For my kids and everyone else, I decide what I'd like to get them, and find the best price or best version of that gift.

For DH, I say, "If you want the PS4, sell your PS1, 2, and 3!"

That's a playstation collection, are you joking you can't break up the family group of playstion!

My hubby would die without his die I tell you.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'm normally a last minute shopper nowadays.

My husband and kids never tell me what they want until a week or two before Christmas so then I have to scramble to get it.

Then for the grandparents I make calendars - they tell me they love those. I'm also going to do one for my husbands Aunt that we always exchange gifts with. So those I usually make not long after Thanksgiving.

For the nieces/nephews - we draw names - everyone gets 2 kids and those I shop for in early december so I can get them mailed out.

For the rest - we are stopping giving gifts to most of the adults on my husbands side of the family starting this year. He has let them know and several weren't happy about that so we shall see how it goes.

 

[threecrazykids]

I'm normally a last minute shopper nowadays.

My husband and kids never tell me what they want until a week or two before Christmas so then I have to scramble to get it.

Then for the grandparents I make calendars - they tell me they love those. I'm also going to do one for my husbands Aunt that we always exchange gifts with. So those I usually make not long after Thanksgiving.

For the nieces/nephews - we draw names - everyone gets 2 kids and those I shop for in early december so I can get them mailed out.

For the rest - we are stopping giving gifts to most of the adults on my husbands side of the family starting this year. He has let them know and several weren't happy about that so we shall see how it goes.

Isn't that the worst. I finally made the call a couple of years ago with my brothers to stop exchanging gifts among us siblings and SIL's. They were suddenly ok with it once they had kids. So now we just buy for nieces and nephews...whew! It's just a hard circumstance because everyone's budgets are different so when someone politely says they aren't able or don't want to exchange anymore and others flip a lid it just creates unnecessary tension during an already crazy holiday season. Best of luck!

 

[rszdtrvl]

If you have smart phone you can just scan bar code bring up different prices on line or in other stores have the manager make the choose if I buy it in their store or other store. Works Atleast 80 percent of the time. Save me ton of money for larger items.

We tried that at Sears and they didn't want to price match because the item was not available at our local Walmart (not even a Super Walmart). The way they have their computers set up for price matching is weird - I am sure at a larger Walmart - one within an hours drive - had one, but they refused to price match.

 

[mom2t]

I think a lot of us budget minded shoppers seem to shop the same way! I really TRY to stick as close to my budget for each person as possible, but if I can find a great deal on something I typically don't add to it to get to the budget amount. As long as they are getting something they want they seem to always be happy.

With my kids I find it much harder to "make it even" My oldest is 19 and he of course wants money. (We all do honey ) whereas his sister has a list 200 miles long. My middle son wants a bow. For cryin' out loud those buggers dang near START at around $350-400 plus all the "stuff" you need to go with it. Sorry bud, not this year. I am trying to scour Craigslist for one but we have to have him "fitted" first to know what will work for him before I get my cheap on. He's only 14 so it's not like it's a long investment either...he will more than likely outgrow it in the next few years so I just can't justify spending that much.

At least they are at an age where they understand how much things cost so they know they may only get one big present if it's a high dollar item and then a couple extras and their stockings. They don't seem to care...as long as they get the one "big" thing they ask for they are very happy.

We recently stopped buying for our siblings and just buy for nieces and nephews which I am happy about. I spend about $20ish on each niece but only buy one gift for each regardless of price...no fillers.

I really wish I was better about buying throughout the year but I kind of like power shopping.

Try a pawn shop for the bow. That is where I got my DH's one year. Looked like new think I paid less than 100 for 300 bow.

 

[threecrazykids]

That's a playstation collection, are you joking you can't break up the family group of playstion!

My hubby would die without his die I tell you.

This sounds like my boys. I already set them up WAY early this year that if they wanted any new systems to cross the threshold of my household it would be coming out of THEIR pocket, not mine. I'm DONE buying gaming systems.

Try a pawn shop for the bow. That is where I got my DH's one year. Looked like new think I paid less than 100 for 300 bow.

Thank you that is a GREAT idea!