Bargain Xmas Shopping
 

So, this year I've decided that I am going to do the Xmas thing smart. No more buying tons of gifts for people at work and breaking myself. I'm making homemade candies to take to select few at work and I'm not going all out for family/friends. I always end up absolutely broke by the time it's over so I'm doing things a little different so I'm not so stressed. Making a budget and sticking to it. Ebay Ebay Ebay - and smart gift hunting

How are you planning to do your shopping and what are some other good Xmas on a budget ideas?

Lawd knows I need all the suggestions I can get...

Black Friday. I'll be in line by four in the morning with cash in pocket. There are rumblings of some mind-blowing sales this year after Black Friday bombed miserably last year. I can't wait.

Oh, and if you're buying gifts advertised in the Sunday circulars, ALWAYS price match at a store different than the one advertising the item; you'll usually get an extra 10 percent off.

I also mnake donations to Atlanta charities and they send a card to the list I give them indicating I gave a gift in their name. You could take care of lots of people for $50.00 as each charity has its own rules about the amount req., etc. - but for most, it is like $5.00.

I also give pointsetias (sp.?) to people and yu can usually get the larger ones for less than $10 each. if you shop around. Also, store coupons can sometimes be used for additional % off of that.

Wont have too much...
 

to worry this year with, Just buy Deb something (She picks out what she wants an we buy it...No secrets/hiding a gift/wrapping the gift/etc. here) and that's all...

All I ever ask for is the same thing I ask for every single year at X-Mas time (Since people seem to not understand the fact I NEVER want a damn thing and they wont take "NO" for an answer...I would rather they save their $$$ for themselves), New music cd's...I am not a hard person to buy for.

I will go on record now and say I will hate this Thanksgiving & Christmas more than ever....Just another repeat of 1977 to me, And this year it will have the same feeling (The sooner this worthless f**king year is over the better!)

Back to lurkin'...

I'm also planning on doing the homemade candy thing. I'm taking a Black and White photography class too, so if I get some good shots I can buy some frames and those can be gifts.

This weekend I did a ton of shopping. Bealls Outlet, which I despise their clothes, actually has some decent things in the houseware/kitchen/dvd section. You really have to dig through, but you can find some good gifty gifts. Nothing insanely practical, but there's some cute stuff there. Check that out.

Ebay, that is another great idea. Thanks for reminding me about that.

And, I am also really excited about the day after Thanksgiving sale. I had a blast last year, even though some lady at the walmart tried to trip me in an atempt to get the last Pirates of the Carribean DVD. God, some people are crazy on Black Friday! But it really does get you in the Christmas Spirit in a weird way!

Oh Man. There isn't a Xanax big enough.
:laugh:

I am all about the ebay thing for gifts.

Is it weird that I don't buy Xmas gifts for anyone, ever?

!
 

I will on Fifth Ave. at the Mother Ship on it. No better place in the world :cool:

I love it.

I hate eBay. All those ****ers who try to charge $6 for shipping can kiss my royal ass.

I have a feeling someone is buying for himSELF.
So much for your budget, Suzanne.

I think hosting holiday parties/dinners is a great way to share the holiday love...make lot's of egg nog.
Making mixed CD's is also an inexpensive and creative gift. Also making shrinky dinks xmas ornaments is super cheapola and shows your friends how clever you are.

Or

Leave the country and avoid everyone.

Or

Be Jewish. Channukah is really for kids anyway.

I would rather pay 20 in shipping than stand in line for six hours with the unbathed and then fight over those heaps of discount zip drives and flatscreen monitors. And wait in LINE AGAIN to buy it. OMG. I am way too claustrophobic. But knock yourself out. Maybe you can find me a weenie dog real cheap.:xoxo:

On edit - I do have a big assed party every year, and that is what my local friends get.

You learn quickly.

Honey - my mother will be with me - thus, there will be no budget :laugh:

Where shall I meet you and Charlotte ?:wavey:

Lord Child - I have my annual one and it is a show. My fav. was when the sensible gal who is a great friend of mine was having relationship probs and grazed her way through the like ten gallons of spinach dip I slaved over teling Mary how to make and then she belchingly consumed all the canned beer in the house with little regard for coasters (not that the liquid remaind in the can long enough or her to set it down mind you :eek: ) - but the last straw for her was when I was mimicing La Nicks' voice while sitting on the piano in my Holiday Outfit. Apparently, she was reliving her FAR gone childhood love for the goddess.

I wouldn't. I pinch my pennies so hard that Lincoln screams in agony. I'll fight the lines & greedy mother****ers before I fork over more than I have to for something, and I certainly won't line someone's pockets by being overcharged for shipping. Talk about insulting.

:laugh:

I paid $500 for Saffron. She was an expensive bitch.

Do you wear Christmas sweaters to your shindigs?

Jean Geroges - she eats at 1:00 and does not do booths - but will have one or two mimosa before having the driver drop her off in front of Sak's where they beat off the unwashed ( :eek: ) she she can enter unfettered and while uttering CHARGE!

My disdain for crowds far exceeds my spendthrift tendencies. I am happy to be insulted and overcharged if I can maintain a minimum safe distance of 3' from human beings with whom I am not sleeping.

That's actually not a badly priced weenie.

Let me think.....

NO.

I was clad in chocolate suede last year.

I feel honored my knee touched your's in Vegas and we hugged - sighes

That is a very good price, considering Scotties can go for $1,800 each now.

See them, love them, touched them!!!!

It's a small group, believe me.:xoxo:



Oh, Vegas was the buckskin.:lol:

It would be so worth the flight. I just know it.

It would be fun, but she is getting slower and older. In fact, we may bot get to go as she is recovering from a hysterectomy done around 10/1 and is having fairly severe complications with the healing of the incision. But, she has a month!!!!!! Otherwise, you may have to come stay on the suite at The Towers with me so I do not get scared.

Macys.com. Last year I found these cute wine sets on clearance there for $7! They were marked down from $30. They were velvet bags with wine glass "jewelry", a cheese knife, and some other stuff, they were really cute. If you shop their clearance link you might find some good stuff! Last year I made a budget and stuck to it and it was such a relief. I spent about 60% or so less than the previous year. You will feel so much better being in control.

You know, I have found some cool stuff like this at Marshalls. Good stuff too, not crappy castoff made in China stuff. Surprising. I will check out Macy's.:woohoo:

Sak's website sometimes has huge deals as well. I sent these four heavy cocktail glasses for like $25 total.

Smart Move:nod:

I've already picked up a few small things for some people on my list. (candles, DVDs, etc). I am trying to budget a little better this year. I am a pretty good bargain hunter, though. I never pay full price for anything. :laugh:

^^^^^

OMG - Kate W. looks soooo beautiful in your sig.

I love her.

great idea. here's another one...overstock.com. I found a set of 6 Versace wine bottle stoppers for like $25...talk about a great deal...

I do too. I think she's gorgeous and incredibly talented. :xoxo:

shopping is so easy. i only buy for immediate family and we all get each other the same stuff every year; everyone gets a Hallmark ornament, book or cd (or vinyl, in my case), bottle of wine, and kitchen gadget. everyone ends up costing $50 and who doesn't love kitchen gadgets?

the friends get homemade things. last year i needlepointed wall hangings bearing such classic phrases as 'welcome - i'm easy' and 'eff off and die' on them. so cute. this year, i'm baking fortune cookies and putting special notes and pictures inside. drop them into a take-out containter, tie with striped ribbon, done.

that's a really good idea! for xmas or just for fun any other time of year- how do you make fortune cookies?

that does sound awesome? I'd love to know how to make those!

I've decided that I'm getting everyone a years supply of ramen this year...:rolleyes:

recipe + how to

i've never tried hers, but the recipe is very similar to the one i use (but don't know where it is). it's easier to fold them if you just fiddle with paper first, instead of trying to follow her instructions. just make sure you leave an open space to put the paper. i've pulled cookies apart after they 'fall'... no big deal.

i have a document open on my computer so i can write down things that come to mind; remember when... good luck with this new thing... stuff like that. then you can just print them in a nice font and cut them into strips. i know you can buy take-out containers at most craft stores, but if you're mailing them, like i will be, i'm going to use wax bags tied with ribbon. why box it twice? but if you're handing them over, the take-outs look really nice with a few painted holly leaves or stars on the corners. it's a neat gift in a neat package, and very cheap. even if you buy the take-outs, they're a dollar each. you figure, you can knock down twenty people in $30. not bad...