Christmas Shopping

I think maybe a lot of us needed this sort of wake up call slick. I rarely see anyone at Christmas but I decided to spend the hols with family last year. I rushed out and using my credit card bought gifts for all then was not able to get away from home because of flood waters. We don't really need to spend lots on gifts. I reckon being together is the best part, the gifts don't have to be huge...it really is the thought that counts.

Well i really cannot afford to do it this year,so everyone will just have to understand.I will buy for my grandchildren and if i can i will buy small gifts..Really no one i know actually is in dire need haha.It seems the grandchilren all get it before christmas & whatever they want,so its going to be nice but small this year..I am still paying off credit cards from last year and i will not do that again..

believe it or not i am done with my christmas shopping. i started about 4 months ago buying things off amazon. they have bill me later and i just payed everything off last week.

Wow gemini...good for you! I'll bet you're proud of yourself now that you got your self up to speed with your debts. I think Christmas gift buying has become way out of hand and I'm glad to hear you are being more conservative...so sensible in light of the economy especially. I think too that kids don't appreciate what they get when they get too much. I think you are showing a good example to many people that are maybe wondering howe they will manage things this year.

I am proud of myself for pulling my finger out with the debts, especially considering the way things are now and it has placed us in a safer situation should anything go wrong with hubbys job which at the moment is very likely. You are right about christmas being way out of hand, I also think that we as people put ourselves under way too much pressure to get the perfect gift for people AND parents mither themselves silly about getting their children every present that they want and you know something that I am learning about my children is that actually they are not bothered about having every gift whatever they get they will be happy with it is probably actually us that would make them ungrateful by keep on giving all the time. I have seen a few discussions on mylot of late of people saying that because they cannot afford to buy anything that they are going to make handmade gifts and would that be OK, and you know I think it is great that more people seem to be looking along the lines of doing this. What a great and personal idea for someone you care about I think that it would be much more appreciated, plus it kind of goes back to what christmas should be about. I have not got time now this year to do anything handmade because I do cross stitch which takes a long time, but my plans for next year now is to plan some cross stitch pictures for family and make small gifts out of it for them. I think that christmas needs to be planned over a year, instead of people waiting for the wage to come in december and getting themselves in debt a few pounds each month soon builds up and then I know where I stand come christmas and how much I have got to spend.

Are you saying that spending the least possible on people's gifts is thoughtful??? Oh come on...thoughtful for whom....certainly not the receiver of the gift...definitely to yourself. It sounds like you are saying it doesn't matter what you buy as long as you are careful and pay as little as possible...that's not being thoughtful, that's being cheap....

It's looking for the bargains and markdowns that go on the day before but were pricey the day before. I've done that, and haven't felt badly at all. It is the thought and not the gift although my sister in law once said something to one of my sisters about the "junk" that my kids used to buy for her when they were young. They were so thrilled to go to the school Christmas store and pick something out for her........I don't think I've ever told them about it, but that is pretty shallow of her. She stopped buying for them a long time ago so she could go all out for her own boys.

I have one daughter to buy for...she has expensive tastes and friends...they will be easy as I will make some edible goodies to hand out. Luckily, I don't have too many to buy for. I budgeted for Christmas but I damaged my car and it's costing me nearly $700 to repair....an unexpected expense unfortunately.

It seems like you have it all under control...congratulations! Happy birthday to your little one too...and welcome to myLot (love your avatar!

I love it when a family has a system!

I love to shop but not with the crowds. Many times I will leave the house very late and go to the stores that are opened late to avoid all the people. That is the way that I grocery shop all the time and it is so much quicker getting in and out. (I realize that many can't do that with the way they work, but it sure works for me.)

Hello pola ...how very wise you are. This is the most sensible way to handle all Christmas spending. I hope this is a happy Christmas for you.

Of course it counts Raven....I'm sure you'll find that you are a lot further along than most people...

That negates the whole excitement of Christmas shopping for me. By the time Christmas comes the gifts seem boring and I want to go out and shop for better ones...amidst all the decorations and Christmas music and stuff.

Hi Cinder, long time, no see. What a bummer...how come you are one of the people that missed out....that would be me too...lol. Good luck with finding something...sounds lovely. I have a 13 year old granddaughter and she will be getting a dainty pair of earrings.

I'd love to do my buying on-line but I'm usually disappointed by the size or the quality. I'm still not good enough to be able to trust myself to buy on-line. I end up spending double lots on postage when I need to return things and the postage charges are so high. I'm sure your future MIL will love your needlework...you are right, framing is expensive. Give the framers plenty of time as they will probably get busy closer to Christmas. I love Christmas...I'm just sad that I can never afford to buy the gifts I'd like to...mind you....my family are all well off but they buy crappy gifts....how does that work????

I think that's the secret. have a plan and don't leave all your shopping till the last minute. I always allow for some extra gifts of chocolate or shortbread in case someone extra turns up.

I can't do that cat.... Christmas is to be celebrated at Christmas in my home, not several days later. I'm a traditional sort of girl. When I was little we had Christmas day at home with our family but the next day, Boxing Day we went to my aunty's and did it all over again...the meal part that is. Even shopping for gifts....it wouldn't be the same shopping after Christmas for gifts and leaving them in the cupboard all year to be wrapped. It just wouldn't be the same. It's great that you have such a blast celebrating in your own way.

Actually, I'm an Australian and this post was directed towards the whole myLot community, not just the Americans...your response didn't really address the topic either now did it? Please try and remember that this is an International site and that everything isn't about the good ole US of A. Meanwhile, welcome to myLot and I hope you enjoy yourself here...the best way to do this is to read the guidelines and follow the rules

I like it that I can find unique things on ebay and gifts which are along the lines of people's interests.. For my brother in law I found a poster of the band, Kiss on the empire state building with signatures.. He's crazy about Kiss, and the cost plus shipping was under $10.. and I don't think he'll think of it as used.. I'm quite excited to have gotten it for him. Currently I'm looking for a book called "Atlas Shrug" for my husband.. I may find it for as low as $5.00 whereas a new one would likely cost $30. To me that it was previously owned by another person doesn't bother me in any way, though I wouldn't give a gift of previously owned clothing..

A lot of people mention ebay in the same breath as christmas shopping. I simply find them way too expensive and I'm not into giving second hand gifts. I know they have new as well but the prices are high. Add the shipping costs and I find ebay to be a rip off.

Do you have decorations left over from previous years....I've found decorating really helps to get into the Christmas spirit. I hope you are able to pay your bills and put food on the table. If there is nothing for gifts, I wouldn't worry...being out of debt is more important at this stage. Good luck.

I always find that something turns up at just the right moment...that is, before I've torn all my hair out and chewed my fingernails down to the first joint. Be the best you can and good things will happen right when you need them to.

Oh thoroughrob, I'm on your page, I just don't know how I am going to manage to be able have xmas this year either as we find it hard just to eat each night but I guess I will work something out and I know I'm not the only one finding it very hard at the moment everyone is in the same boat :(

All the best to you....I'm sure there will be some things under the tree. Everything will be fine...you'll see.

I hope so! ~Heavens~

Would you like that my dear...I'd happily oblige...I'll be gentle too..

You're safe, I'm a pacifist. A non violent type person...practising coward.

I seem to bring out the dominant in women! LOL. Bang, I mean box away!

Having a little Christmas account is great. Just $5 a week gets you about $250 at the end of the year...some banks even have accounts that pay extra interest if you deposit and don't withdraw.

Since having my second job I have been able to save more aswell. I have even started putting some money into my other saving account just for savings for the future.

This is a great idea...I love it...do you actually follow through?

Of course we do follow through, it would only work one time if we didn't. And it's pretty funny to have someone waving an IOU in your face for doing dishes in November of the next year.