sorry folks, Christmas is 5 months away!

I luck out with Christmas shopping, my wife does all the shopping for everyone, except for herself, I am in charge of her presents. My daughter is 13 and is really in to her IPod, she always asks for ITunes gift cards, so those will probably be nice gifts. She is also begining to get in to make up and clothes big time. Maybe you could get them some make up. Girls always seem to like shoes and purses too.

I did buy a number of gifts when I ws in NC last February. The shops were amazing and the prices were rock bottom. As I have used soe of what I had bought for gifts eg birthday and mother's day etc I so wish that I had bought more. I need to go through everything I bought and see what I ned to buy. don't worry too much about your children as they are old enough to appreciate the stress that you are under and they can help you conserve with electricity etc just by un plugging thier appliances when not in use. A cell phone left in an electrical socket will use less electricity than it would with the charger just left in the socket. turn everything off and get them to help you. I save coins all year and this usually buys my turkey, ham and roasting chickens for Christmas. Talking of turkeys, I have a good tip for you. Turkey meat in the States is usually cheaper the bigger the turkey is. So my great tip to you is to but the largest turkey you can when it is on sale and get them to cur it in half. Then use half for Thanksgiving and half for Christmas. I advised a friend to do this last year and it worked out so well that she sais that she will always do it this way in future. I always wash and reuse aluminum foil. I can't think of naything else at the moment - my lunch break is nearly over. Re cycle and re use are the key words. I alwyas wash in cold water and hang laundry out to dry putting them in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet for a few minutes before folding. Use less than recommended amount of soap for laundry too. They always tell you to use too much. You could let your girls give you a wish list that you will choose one or two things from this list. I know that I have rambled a bit but hope that these tips help you. I'm more concerned that we are in Hurricane Season right now. have to get through the stress of this before thinking really of Christmas. Many blessings

Every year, my wife and I have to buy like 20 presents for Christmas, mostly to give to our nephews and nieces. We try and buy a little earlier so as to avoid the mad rush in December when the Christmas shopping season peaks. Still we buy most of our presents in November and December, and a few in October. We find it harder and harder to get presents for the older teens these days. The things they indulge in or long for are getting more and more costly, and we lose track of what they want when they are 16 to 18 years of age. Sometimes, we just get gift vouchers from the popular stores in town and ask them to buy whatever they like with these vouchers. It's probably easier this way than getting them things they don't really appreciate.

You are so funny! I have already started my shopping a month ago. I was on vacation and saw a few things that I know people would like and picked them up for Christmas. I also made myself and a friend of mine a new pine cone wreath. This were made from the the white pines in Wisconsin, very beautiful color on the cones. I was just at a huge flee/farmers market and found some really nice things at the vendor booths for the holidays as well. Can you believe they were even selling Christmas items as well!? So far I have 6 people on my list done. Lets hope I do not wait until the last minute to wrap everything again this year. I already have a few rolls of wrap to get started with. I bought those at the end of the season last year @ 50-75% off. It is the only way to go now. Happy Holidays! HO!HO!HO!

Yes it is going to be a slow christmas this year no one has any money ,my son is will be sixteen by then and is well aware of our situation and that of the other members of the family and he just says.never mind mum "I have loads of things just a few quid on an i tunes card will do me,and maybe if the others could give me cash I can get any clothes I need." So no problem he is a good lad.like yours up till now he has had computers,games stations.phones,watches,he has been a lucky kid and he realises that.He cannot find any part time work as he has left school and waiting to do year 12 or sixth form for A levels.We are all so used to it now it is normal not having any money.I am going to make some fancy cakes,bits and pieces ,it is easy for us ,it must be harder for younger children.But they are normally ok about things ,it is the parents that get in a state.just make it a happy christmas.make decorations,paint pictures ,make christmas cards.There are plenty of things you can do to make things fun and happy.

nope i have not done anything for christmas yet. i really dont have that much money for anything. all i have now is just enough for the food in the table and some bills to pay. last christmas i have very few gifts given, its hard times i know people understand have not receive that much anyway. and this year it'll probably be the same. after christmas last year i gave away my christmas tree.

Wow, I can't believe so many people have started shopping already. I usually do, and this year is no exception, but when I mention it, people I know just give me one of those looks, like I had two heads or something. Anyway, yes. 5 months will creep up on us faster than we think! I've bought a few, and every time I go shopping, the idea is in my head - always looking for something, especially when I see sales.

Ugh this was brought up today in our home and I just scrunched up my nose and ignored the conversation. I feel like the Scrooge because Im normally almost done by now and have near to nothing. We have no money to but things so far this year. It is taking everything to keep this house running and bills paid right now! I am making personalized calendars for some of the people in our family and a few scrapbooks for others. What we will do for others Im still not sure. For the kids, when Im at a lost I will get gift cards and take them and let them do some shopping, some are just to hard to buy for.

I feel so happy for your children that they have nice parents. But why you said they got everything a child would ever want? You can always give your children more; I think a good family dinner would be a idea, since from your words I sense you have a bit concern financially. Or a family bonding weekend is good too, just to relief the hurdle and be free from annoying thing for a while. Good luck, and merry Christmas 5 months away.

I already started saving money. I usually buy gifts after Halloween. But should I bump into a sale, I'll buy something if i find that thing suitable for a loved one or a friend. I don't buy for the sake of buying because it is on sale. But I intend to maximize my resources this year, I intend to personalize my gifts or buy items in bulk. For gift ideas, you may want to visit this site http://www.gifti.us

it's still too far to me to think about Christmas. However when I was shopping I really thought about what i should buy during the Christmas time. I also planed how i can save money then at the Christmas time i would not suffer. I like Christmas. I already miss Christmas Puddings. I don't think I will cut my cost for christmas, but definitely i will be more careful.Maybe spend more time on getting a good deal.

Yes, I have a few Christmas items that I came across with all the major sales that have been going on. But like you, I don't have already in hand what I normally do. And I am having trouble coming up with great ideas as I have no extra funds to make them happen. Got a Christmas in July e-mail from a Major Retailer so I guess we are not the only ones feeling the economic pinch!! I think the idea of the Shadow boxes is a Wonderful one and it will give you something special to give! What hobbies besides clothes and boys of course do your girls have? And sometimes if one can't buy a big gift, getting several little ones is Great too!

i always start my christmas shopping earlier because its less people for you to handled .. but im also saving my money to buy me car for my college. im also planning on getting xbox 360 and a i mac ...which i cant wait

Hmmm, what to get a 12 and 16 year old... Well, hard to tell for me lol, im canadian, So i of course would say a snowboard or EZ-Igloo-Maker LOL. Hmm, Maybe sit your children down, and ask them if they would rather go on vacation for christmas or get presents? I am unsure of your financial situation but they are around the age of considering that idea. Never know maybe they will like it :)

I will be getting most of the Christmas presents for my family members and friends through the ways I make money on the internet. I earn some money here and there, but I also earn gift cards on other sites. I can give them the gift card, or use the gift card to actually buy them something I can wrap. I'll be getting pretty creative with the wrapping this year. And I plan to try to make my own Christmas cards. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I'll find a way to do it for fun, and also make it something nice.

I think I am going to start buying some things now while prices are still low. The closer it gets to holidays the higher prices go. That goes for things for our holiday dinners as well. You can get a turkey and a ham for pretty cheap right now and they can be tucked in the freezer. Some ppl even look at yard sales during the summer for good buys for gifts. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

I have officially started my Christmas shopping. This year no one is getting too much. It is not so much a money issue as the fact that there are really no needs or wants that are jumping out at me. Christmas is getting harder each year, as my kids are really content with what they have. I know, that sounds crazy, but after awhile it just gets to the point I am buying just to buy. I have a gift in mind for my neice and nephews, which I have started working on. I want to get each of them a great big box of books to read throughout the year. I have been going to thrift stores and garage sales to put them together. It's going to be great! For my brother-in-law (age 11) I am putting together a box of Children's Illustrated Classics books. I think they will all enjoy the gift, and I am having fun picking things out. This year I don't feel the gifts are just things I am buying just to buy. The kids are all getting a piece of me, as reading is my favorite activity. The books I am picking are all ones that I either know to be great or enjoyed myself as a youngster.

I am going to make cookies this year for the adults so that I only need to shop for the children in my life. My close family exchanges gifts but often they are from yard sales. We look hard to find neat things to give each other that are not expensive. I have found that my family members that do not mind second hand items are not only the easyest to shop for but are also the most creative givers also. As for your girls, perhaps they are both old enough to take care of a family keepsake. In my family when you turn 16 you get a ceder chest or a hope chest to store your keep sakes in. (I now have my wedding dress in mine) If you are crafty or have an artistic talent you could make something special for each of them. Perhaps a photo album for each of them that has pictures from their birth til present.

The sense of gloom and doom that has descended over the entire world in the wake of these job losses will definitely have a moral sapping effect on the folks . So withthese mind set how much will they be able enjoy the festivities of Christmas is a moot poinT. So if I were in your shoes I would observe some prudence as far as my expenses are concerned .