Holiday shopping.....has anyone started yet?

[Brent]

Holiday Shopping?!?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! *Jack goes screaming into the night*

[Miss Mary]

In the span of one hour yesterday, I started my xmas shopping! And it feels great.......I can now check off 4 people from my list (yet to be started!).

Found 2 simple picture frame ornaments from Pier 1, for my two of town nieces. I'm sending cash/checks to them this year but I wanted to find something flat to fit into a small bubble envelope. This ornament is perfect and they're both in their 20s, so I know anything from Pier 1 is a good choice.

Found 2 antipasta dishes on sale, online from Crate & Barrel. Ordered 3, an extra for me! Now I'm considering buying 2 more for relatives on my proverbial list (at this rate I won't even have to write one!!!).....

Well, anyways, has anyone else started? Now most stores have xmas merch on sale. And I just somehow got into the holiday spirit yesterday. Before Halloween even - crazy!!!

Last year I had my gifts purchased early, so I could enjoy the month of December. That's my plan this year too.

Mary

[Guest]

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. I typically start looking for good deals come August or September. I consider myself to be a smart shopper. I only buy if it is at least 40% off, but I prefer more off than that. It can take a lot of time to find something at a great price, but then again, I spend a lot of time shopping, lol. I'd almost call bargain shopping my hobby.

So Christmas shopping is just about wrapped up, but for Dustin's birthday next week, I have yet to purchase something, lol. Guess how I'm spending my day today?
...Jennifer...

[Miss Mary]

Jen - you win the prize!!! Let's see what could we give you.....a gift certificate to your local mall? Chad's rolling his eyes....LOL I can tell right off you enjoy shopping!!! Me? I do if I have money to spend!!! I don't even window shop unless I need something and can afford to buy it. Nina, 17, and her friends are the opposite - they go "prom dress" shopping - trying on at least 10 dresses each, coming out to show their friends. And then hanging them back up on the racks as you enter the dressing room area. They have no intention of buying these dresses! I ask Nina - what about the poor sales girl who has to walk them back over to where they're displayed? Oh that's her job Mom.....I give up! I do not shop this way I tell her...and then I get that rolled eye look.....Nina got the shopping genes and I didn't!!! Now that I've discovered online shopping, it's great!

Mary

[azskyman]

We have started picking things out and making the lists. I consider that starting. We will do a lot by e-purchases this year, and we'll also use the catalogs that seem to come endlessly in the mail.

But nope...haven't yet made a Christmas purchase...but it will happen soon.

[Pburgh]

I usually have everything bought and wrapped by now so I can KICK MYSELF when they go on sale after Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!lol I do it every year, never fails!!! I'll just go shopping for one tiny thing not related to Christmas and find myself on a Christmas present shopping binge!!!!!!!! I'll bring the presents home and wrap them up immediately. Then it's like I can't help myself. I have get back out there and get it ALL done.

This year I haven't started yet, but I can feel that urge coming over me. HELP!!!!!!!!!1

[Miss Mary]

Karan - now that is something I put off - the wrapping. Until almost Dec. 20th! I don't know if it goes back to not putting gifts under the tree until the 25th (when my girls were little and still believed in Santa) or what. But I usually pick a spot in my bedroom and keep stacking the gifts/purchases there. Then there's a big wrapping frenzy and I run out of something - tape, paper, etc. I should wrap as I shop but I just don't!!! We put our tree in front of street facing window and several xmas seasons we had thieves going house to house, looking for wrapped presents under trees. That might be another reason why I procrastinate on wrapping too!!!

Here's a funny story......last Fall I discovered a sleepy little historic town in KY called LaGrange. It's 1 - 1.5 hours from my home, depending upon traffic. About 12 years ago, the town council began converting deserted downtown stores into shops geared towards out of town shoppers - xmas, candles, toys, deli's, crafts, antiques, kitchen/pottery, etc. Mymom and I loved this little town! So I took my girls back on Veteran's Day last year, since they were off school. Each store knew we were xmas shopping, so instead of the usual plastic bags, they put your purchase in colored paper bags, filled with tissue and greens tied on the handles. I remember Laura saying - wow, I don't even have to wrap my presents!!! The clerk smiled and said - that's the point, just put a tag on the bag and you're done! Well, we were each buying secret gifts for eachother and kept running to the car, stashing them in the trunk. When we got home, they were all mixed up. The girls were somewhat upset - we don't want you to see your gift mom and we don't want to show the other what we bought either! It was then and there I thought, we should have brought along 3 huge shopping bags (mall types), with our names on them. Or picked a spot in the car - Nina/trunk, Laura/backseat, Mary/front seat. We laughed about this predictament for awhile. I think we ended up feeling the outside of bags to figure out what was in which one.

Mary

[Wnghs2007]

Not really yet. I think my parents may have for my baby brother. But otherwise, no.

[blumoon]

I used to really love Christmas. Then I grew up had 3 kids. I am only filled with worry now......I can't afford it! Every year I try to keep it small and always spend more than I should. I want to buy everyone the perfect gift. My husband and I can barely make ends meet as it is. I know it is about so much more than the gifts but it is hard to keep that in mind when the stores have the Christmas stuff out in September!

[Ixolib]

Baa Humbug!!

[sitcommom]

A gift idea for that "Special " teacher. After Christmas I pick up some on sale green wreathes. Then it's off to the dollar store I go. I decorate the wreathes with big crayons, an easer, box of chalk etc. (Hot glue gun works well)

[deguy50]

no but now i am thinking about it