****** Christmas Shopping******

I can't beleive that we're having a dicussion about Christmas gifts already Hiccup, although there's nothing like*being prepared*!

Your Mum sounds like a very sensible woman. Spreading the cost over the whole year makes budgeting so much easier, and means there will be none of that running around at the last moment.

I'm not so organised I'm afraid. I do pick things up during the year if I see them and think they are particulary special or particularly well priced, but space sort of limits me when it comes to storing things all year.

Your Mom sounds like a very organized woman
I will try to avoid getting all the gifts the last weeks before Christmas. I do not have a great plan like your mother though. I will just get gifts whenever I see something I know someone will like, or if something someone collects is on sale. That way it is less stress and it costs less for me, and people tend to get a bit more valuable gifts as well. Exchanging gifts from me can be good business. Last year I bought a waffle maker for 298,- and they got 598,- when they returned it after getting two identical gifts.

I have just finished a post on this very same subject, that is odd and delightful, as I do love Christmas.. I usually buy gifts all year round, but as I mentioned in my earlier response, I do love garage sales and I pick up many new items and put them back for Christmas gifts.. I don't buy old, or outdated items, I find items that are new with the original tags and if they will fit or make a good gift for someone on my gift list, then I buy it and put it back for Christmas.. I just last week traded some of my items at my flea market for a new Tennessee Vols coat which is the perfect size for a nephew and it still has the 60.00 tags on the coat.. He is gonna love it as he is a great Tennessee Vols fan, now I just have to find a couple of more items that are comparable to that for gifts for his sister and brother.. I usually have most of my shopping done and don't have to fight the crowds, and it is usually great gifts the I normally couldn't afford to buy outright.. I would never give an old or used item as a gift but quite a lot of the time, people will have new, modern, up to date items that they never used, nor intend to use and they just want rid of them.. so people on my Christmas list do get good quality and more expensive gifts than I normally could afford, and I know they will enjoy them.. By Christmas, I can enjoy the family festivities and all of the extra cooking for everyone.. It is the only way to go for me.. Merry Christmas..

me I always start in january with all the sales with over 15 kids to buy for I start early a little bit here an there

That is a good way to do Christmas shopping. Your Mom has the right idea. I sometimes succeed in buying my gifts ahead of Christmas time but not always. There has been one year awhile back that I had every Christmas gift bought by July. That was a while back though. I don't write a list of who I need to get Christmas gifts for I try to remember who I need to buy for. Having a list is a good idea. I am 58 years and learned something new here. See you can teach a old dog new tricks. . The one thing I do continue to do though is I do have the gifts bought by the time Thanksgiving day rolls around because I hate crowds and they are really bad after Thanksgiving day and on from there until Christmas. Thumbs up to your Mom for a excellent idea on how to get Christmas shopping done in a great way!

well if you plan ahead and shop all year round, you can do that. i do that every year and already have quite a few gifts. i do that for birthdays too and only buy stuff that is on sale for presents, so i have to be pretty creative!

Traditionaly in the orthodox church we dont give christmas presents as such (long story) and waht is given is given to the kids (money, fruits and nuts) but we do buy presents now that we live here its not fair on the kids after all we do belive in the same god. But in my family we give them for our christmas 7 january.
Anyway I do start as soon as christmas is over but I buy when I see something I like I dont go out planing to buy christmas gifts. Like the other day I went to k-mart and they had pokimon toys for $7 normaly they are over $35 so I got some. And as I put gifts under k-mart, target sort of trees I gat spare things to put over there as well.

I do the excact same thing your mum does. I keep a list in my purse at all times. After I buy some thing I write it next to that persons name. I also put the amount I paid for it. If I happend to get it on clearance which I usually do I put the original amount there too so I can see how much I saved at the end of the year.

Every one gets overloaded with presents but its okay becuase I never spend a lot. Last year I spent $600. on Christmas and bought for about 30 people. Including my three kids. Can't complain there!!

I use to be really good about this. The last two years I don't seem to have the extra money every month to shop...

So sadly my kids are suffering at christmas time... I want to do better... but we live in a smaller community that does not have the good deals like bigger areas...I mean... a lot of place manage to get 75% off... here... everyone buys them out at 25% and I know that it can be done cheaper! LOL

I just need to shop on line!

I have also began to do this as I hate the rush of christmas shopping. I would love to be done and not have to deal with the crowds. I have already started this year and have picked up a few things.