Christmas Shopping
 

So have you started? Are you planning on doing any this year? Have you sent out your cards yet?

I got a few things so far. I will do much of it on Wednesday when I get my OT pay and then the rest next weekend when I am off from both jobs.

I did buy my cards and I got the Xmas stamps today. I just have to write them out.:distress: I also have a few packages to send out to some of my Mac friends and I will do that next week.;)

I'm almost done with my shopping. I think I still have 3 people I need to find things for. All the gifts for my FM friends went out Friday, along with our holiday cards. :)

I need to get crackin' with the Mac gifts. I am just sitting here in front of the PC, how pathetic.

It's all done! That's because I do one stop shopping at my local grocery store. They must carry 100 different gift cards from stores, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. It's easy for me and it no longer bothers me that the gift I spent days trying to find is hidden in someone's closet or drawer within weeks of Christmas. I also make cd's for everyone and force my impeccable taste in music on them :D

I'm done, thank Christ (yay Christmas)....got stuff for the immediate family...and bought for 4-5 close friends. Keeping it light this year but I still ended up spending about $500.

I haven't yet but I get all my familys gifts at spencers.....huge hit!

I think I'm mostly done. I still have some gift cards to buy, but other then that, it's done. Now, it's just wrapping it all. As far as cards go... I looked at 'em tonight! Does that count? :o

Gift Cards are so great!

I like 'em but I don't. I feel cheap if I get any one person too many. But, there are three in my family who absolutely love to get them. They are rather easy, but I love to give something that can be opened.

I hate writing out cards! I always did. I still have not even opened the box yet.:shrug: I even have Xmas music playing on a local radio station and I am still not motivated at all. I won't have anytime this week to do them either.:(

yeah its great opening up a gift, but id rather get a card to best buy or something then like a new shirt...ya know?

You've got a point. I have this purple knit sweater hanging in the closet from 2 Christmas's ago that my mother bought. It has this huge God-awful collar on it.

Ya... give me Best Buy any day over that!

I hate to write them out, too. That's why they're still sitting there! I have got to at least try to get them done and mailed out by Monday. I didn't even go and buy Christmas stamps like I usually do. :shrug:

About 5 years ago my family (parents and one sibling) decided... You know what, let's just scrap buying each other gifts that we end up not know what to do with or don't like (and can't remember what we got each other from year to year) and just buy for the young kids in the family, never mind the adults. Besides, we are all adults.. I don't really need anything, they certainly don't need anything... Plus usually when ever we need something we just go and get it! So far it's been working out really great... No hassles shopping... No trying to figure out what everyone would want or like.. No getting caught up in the xmas madness that is over spending for no reason. It's great, it's simpler, and it's back to basics in a way, where we are all just together for the holidays. Except I won't be with them this year :(

So everyone just saves their money and shops on boxing day or during the week after for the sales lol

I have alot of it done..just a few problem people left that I can't think of anything to get them...and can't get them gift cards. :( I need to get Olivia a couple more things. Except I realized a few minutes ago that my bank account is overdrawn from ordering presents online. I forgot I bought my Christmas tree yesterday so my whole account got screwed up. :distress:

I had my cards written out before Thanksgiving and I sent them out the first week of December. :shocked: I only have one more thing to pick up for a friend, and then I'll be done with my Christmas shopping. I had every intention of spending less money this year, but of course, I did not.

What is Olivia getting this year for Christmas? I remeber some of thsoe years of christmas like ages 4-5...all Thomas the Tank Engine stuff. LOL Good times.

That stinks about your credit card though!

I think everyone has that intention every year. :lol:

I am done, thank god. I even have gotten my dad and grandmother's birthday presents (which are a week before xmas). I did great with my spending. I think I've spent just under $1000, which is good for me cause I usually go way over the top.

I just took pictures of my 3 babies tonight for xmas cards (i'm a little behind).

Well, I am not sure. I got her a Doodle Bear, which she has been wanting since last Christmas. I got her some monkey game. Monkey Business? A couple of art things. She loves artsy stuff. So I got her these ceramic things that come with paint and some other paint set thingy. A barbie, The Scooby Doo movie with real people, and a couple of other little things. I need to get some stocking stuffers and maybe another big present. And she wants a sparkly purple ballerina dress. She has been wearing her pink one every freaking day for the past two weeks, so I will definaltey get her a new one. I'm sick of handwashing that damn thing. :laugh:

I got Sara a doodle bear too. I think they're cute! I got her some crafty things to do while we're cooped up for the winter. I got her the Littlest Pet Shop, and a Game Boy with some games. And Polly Pocket Snow Cool Hotel :rolleyes: :lol: I need to get stocking stuffers, though.

Did it almost all of it yesterday. Just a few poinsettias (sp.?) left.

The Dooble Bears are cute. I got Olivia a glow in the dark one. I'm curious to see how exactly that light pen works. :confused:

I have a question on propriety.

90% of my firends and family are readers and they love to get books for Birthdays and Holidays.
My new position as book buyer means that I ususally get review copies of most books I need.
If I weren't a buyer, I would be buying these books for gifts anyway, is it bad form that I get them for free and give them away?

Sounds like she is goign to be getting a great Christmas! :nod:

Everytime you mention this doodle bear thing it reminds me of that REALLY SCARY FREAKY show on disney channel called "the doodlebops". I was flipping through on my day off....I can't believe children watch this...so freaky!

Do they know you're getting them for free? Does it really matter, anyway?? :confused: I personally wouldn't be offended if I were recieving the books, and knew you didn't pay for them. It's the thought that counts, right?

That's the one I got Sara. I want to see how it works too. Should be interesting. :)

I got a few things done today. I was able to get one important thing done, too. I had a photo that I took of my friend's dog and I had it made into wallet size. I am going to put the photo in a little photo frame gift tag. I still have not gone out to get her gift yet but I have the gift tag.:laugh:

I always wait till the last few days. Guess it comes from being a guy.:lol:

This is what we are doing this year for the first time. It is soooo liberating! The cool thing is there are no young kids in my family at the moment and my husband is Jewish!

I see the malls and the stores packed with cars and I have a little chuckle.

I am debating whether or not to even mail Christmas cards out this year.

Having said that, I do respect those who do want to buy gifts and send cards. I am just trying this out this year to see how it feels.

My husband and I tried to get his family to do this, and his sisters all ended up getting us gifts anyway, which made us feel sort of lame. Last year, we went back to the old method. His family is an unstoppable force of tradition. We are required to sit in silence in front of the tree, watching the candles burn (they put candles on the tree) while the old scratchy record of Vienna choir boys plays Silent Night.
I really think reducing the gift exchange is great idea, though, and I am glad to hear it is working for your family.

I don't think it is bad form at all. I get all kinds of crazy promotional stuff from shows and films, and people are thrilled to get it. I get those kind of gifts as well and it has never bothered me.

Nah. It doesn't matter what you spend (or don't spend). It's the thought that counts. If you think the books are something your friends would enjoy, it's not important that you happened to get them for free. The only way I would consider it lame is if you just looked around your house and decided you had a bunch of books to get rid of so you randomly substituted them for actual gifts regardless of whether you thought your friends would be interested in them or not. But you said they're avid readers who enjoy getting books and you'd probably end up buying books for them anyway, so that's different.

I'm assuming your copies would still look new and all, and it's not like books are packaged so they probably wouldn't be able to tell... but if even if they could, if anyone were actually bothered by the thought of getting a used book, they should re-evaluate what the holidays are about ;).

Jeez, you guys are good. I haven't even started my holiday shopping yet. But I have an idea of what to get most of my friends. It's just my mom, and one of my roommates that are difficult. The roomie will have to wait until after break for hers though... anytime I've had a chance to go shopping lately, she's been with me.

I'm taking Thursday off to finish my shopping, I only need to get a few things. I did most of my shopping on Target.com and this boutique called Funusual. I had fun shopping this year unlike years past. Now I make a spreadsheet with a budget for each person and really try to stick to it. It has helped me reel in my spending. I'm also going to wind up having spent $500 this year. It would be very difficult to get it lower than that. My cards are waiting to be done, I picked them up last year after Christmas at 50% off. :D