I've already picked out some stuff
By SomeCowgirl
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
United States
August 6, 2012 1:46pm CST
I've already picked out some stuff I am going to get for Christmas for my nephew. I need to look for my niece as well, though I have some ideas. Atleast "themes" of what I want to get. I plan to buy them two things each this year and hope that they enjoy it. Before christmas I'll be getting some little things, more for me though as in a way of storing their stuff so it's nicer looking here.
My nephew is great with puzzles but all of the puzzles he likes are missing a piece. I plan to get a few more I am sure he'll love. He loves dragon's, so I'll get two or three of those.
My niece have some great ideas of what to get her, she watches t.v. with us and goes "oh I want that" and well heck so do I! lol...
Now I just have to purchase the stuff, but I'll wait until closer to time to get it...
Can you afford more then you could last year?
2 people like this
12 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
27 Sep 12
I don't think I'll be able to afford more this year... maybe less, actually. Since I've had medical bills, I've had to watch my money and plan things more carefully than before. That doesn't mean I'm going to miss out on Christmas, though! I love to get things for others at Christmas and have a start already. I just have to be a little more careful about watching for sales and saving back money.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 12
more technologically advanced as well. Requiring batteries, some even wifi connectivity...
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Yes, I'm going to be watching for sales and plan to hopefully spend more on amazon this year with the help of gift cards, and black friday / cyber monday. The things I've looked at for the kids are actually on amazon.
Money is tight for everyone now, it seemed like when I was growing up it was a lot easier to shop for kids as well. Of course we didn't always play video games, and we were more outside then in.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Oh your nephew is a dragon fan huh? I love dragons! 
I like all colors for dragons though not just green! 
Our oldest niece loves puzzles too and we have quite a few around. I think all of them still have the pieces because she does not get to visit too often and put them together.
Our other nieces always say "i want that" on tv and i try to take note of it when they do so i could get them something similar if not that specific thing.
I have no idea how my christmas will be this year. We have been struggling for a few months now and have had to ask for help from relatives for bills. I don't know. I will feel bad if we can not afford christmas this year but that is kind of what it is looking like... 
I like all colors for dragons though not just green!
Our oldest niece loves puzzles too and we have quite a few around. I think all of them still have the pieces because she does not get to visit too often and put them together.
Our other nieces always say "i want that" on tv and i try to take note of it when they do so i could get them something similar if not that specific thing.
I have no idea how my christmas will be this year. We have been struggling for a few months now and have had to ask for help from relatives for bills. I don't know. I will feel bad if we can not afford christmas this year but that is kind of what it is looking like... 1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Perhaps you can look around second hand shops and find things that the kids would enjoy? Sure they aren't new but not all second hand shops are shabby places. I understand how you feel, especially knowing kids don't understand the burden of bills, but understand the upset of not having the toys they want, or toys at all.
Hopefully you can get a few bills taken care of and have enough money to spend a little on Christmas. There are still a few months to go, perhaps you can even find a few quarters under the mylot couch?
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 12
It's not very comfortable seeing as so many are on it at one given time, but it works for when standing gets to be too much.@echoforever (5180)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Very true. I would not be able to do that to them with no presents on christmas. I will save what I'm getting online and try to find something.
myLot has a couch? Oh and here I've been standing all this time
myLot has a couch? Oh and here I've been standing all this time 1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
2 Sep 12
We technically can afford more than we could last year, except that we're planning to go on vacation in November, so now not only can we not afford more, we're going to be superfrugal for the fall and spring. So not much will be spent on gifts. Fortunately, our son is too young to notice and will enjoy the trip so we won't feel guilty about not giving him much, and his cousins are all showered with gifts so we don't have to worry much about them, either. We'll give them a book or a shirt each and they will be happy.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I think it would just be exciting for them to get something from your travels on vacation, I know i'd be excited to get something from that and appreciative as well. I hope you enjoy your vacation though. Any idea of where you are going yet?
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Aug 12
I ususally spend the same amount. Since I have to ship everything I buy one small thing and give them a gift card to their favorite store. That way I know they will love them. The only one I don't give a gift card is my youngest granddaughter....she is seven and I buy all her gifts!
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
29 Aug 12
Last year was the first Christmas at the store I work at now and I was really surprised at how many people were getting gift cards. We had so many people getting gift cards for friends and family alike, it was crazy. A lot told me that they were being sent out of state, and I don't really blame them that way. It's much cheaper in shipping I'm sure.
With online now, you can probably get a lot of the gift cards for free basically by doing things online, of course it takes a lot of points to get the more expensive gift cards.
@celticeagle (168112)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Aug 12
I don't think I can afford more than I could last year. You might want to think about the possibility that these things you want to buy may be cheaper now than as the holiday gets closer. And there might be a better selection now than there will be then. Just things to think about. They had some cute little slippers on a infomercial I saw recently. Sure were cute!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
8 Aug 12
I didn't actually think about that but you're right. They tend to mark things up at Christmas but call them cheap. I think I know the slippers you're talking about, they "flop" everytime you move, right? If so that's one thing my niece wants. They also want the glow blanket (both of them).
I'm trying to think of fun and yet educational for them both so I'm not quite sure on my niece, but my nephew, puzzles as he loves them.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168112)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Aug 12
Well, atleast you have some options and afew months to get them.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
9 Aug 12
Very True. I'm sure I"ll see something and like it and get it for them.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
27 Sep 12
I am not sure what I am going to get my 10 year old nephew (he is at a hard age to shop for and my sister does not allow video games). My seven year old nephews want toys so that should be easy and my niece who is also seven loves Hello Kitty. The seven year old's are triplets. I am hoping to get started in early November. I am going to start my craft projects next weekend as I always start the first weekend in October. I will be keeping ahead on my studies so I can make sure I can get everything done. Money is just as tight this year as it was last year. I do have a little extra in Pay pal and am hoping to build it up to $200.00 so I can afford to get Randy a few extra things.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 12
The older they get the harder it is to shop for them. They get more independent and don't want what they consider "little kid" toys. I've got a few ideas for my nephew, and luckily my sister does allow video games, as that is actually what they tend to get their own kids the most on holidays.
The only thing I have to contend with is what my nephew has, my niece wants so I can't get anything.. say too expensive or.. too mature at the same time.
Hopefully you can save up enough and get everything done that needs to be done. I hope to utilize amazon more myself this year and may even use ebates a bit more.
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
6 Aug 12
I am looking around for things I would like to do for christmas. I am planning on a lot of homemade gifts this year, hopefully I will have the time. Off course there are things that I would love to buy my family and most likely I will, but making something for them is something I don't come around too that often and those are the gifts that are really personal and I love that. So photoalbums, beauty products, etc. I hope to have time to make all of those and wrap em up :-) More than last year. It will cost me more (time), and I hope I can make it!
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
6 Aug 12
I am not very crafty, though I think making your own soaps, clothes etc is very neat. Home made gifts just aren't made as much anymore, but a lot of people on here do still make things and give them as gifts. I hope you enjoy the time making them, as well as find the time to do it in!
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
6 Aug 12
Hello SomeCowgirl. It' hard to be thinking about Christmas all ready. But in order to be able to do everything we want to for our loved ones we do need to start now. I'm getting some ideas right now. My one granddaughter is into making friendship bracelets and she pins the threads to the sofa to hold them tight. She likes giraffes and I found a very small one. I'm going to glue it to a canvas board that I will be painting for her to pin her threads to. For my daughter Iwill get a new sewing box. Not Sure about the rest of the family. Good reason to start thinking about it now.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
8 Aug 12
For years we've only really bought for the kids in the family. I think my aunt's family buys for everyone or tries to do something for everyone but really most of us can only afford the kids. We have five kids in the family but I only buy for my niece and nephew.
I know it must sound awful but we aren't as close of a family as we used to be.
The canvas board sounds like a neat little idea for her to keep the pins for the friendship bracelet.
I'm trying to get an idea of what to get them so that I can either go get it or order it in time. I have a habit of waiting too late to either get it or if it needs to be ordered, to order it.
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
6 Aug 12
Well over the non tax holiday i bought some good christmas presents as in clothes. (the non tax holiday is right before school and is on clothes and school stuff). So i bought some shirts and some arts and crafts stuff over the weekend and really didnt spend much which is good. I needed to get a head start on it so im not behind. Im in the process of buying a hosue and needed some stuff so i look on all the clearance stuff and i actually buy people things i see when searching through the clerance items so it helps me out too.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
6 Aug 12
Yeah I know about the Tax free Holiday but I didn't go this year to get any clothes or anything. I really didn't have the money to do that. I look at clearance and yard sales and stuff but never get anything. There's been a lot I've wanted to get but no way to get it or get it to me...
Glad you got a lot of stuff. I know my sister went and bought stuff, arounnd $100.00 for a big bag full of stuff, from Kohl's no less!
@jugsjugs (12967)
•
6 Aug 12
I have got £1350 worth of vouchers turning up ready to buy my christmas presents with, which is a lot more money than I saved up last year.
I can not wait until christmas, as that is when we are all together and have extra time together as a family.
I love to spoil all my family, after all christmas is only once a year.I have also started to collect more booze, as in spirits, as I always have people pop in for a visit and a few drinks.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
8 Aug 12
That's a lot more money then I have saved up. I don't drive and so I kind of have to take a taxi, it drains money. I don't take it that much, but I will be taking a 30 minute ride at the end of the month, so I won't officially be able to save until mid Sepetember...
I've been thinking a lot about that whole situation but that's a whole nother story. That's a great bit of vouchers, which is great. Hopefully you won't have to spend any of your own money, as I assume you earned these vouchers online?
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Aug 12
Honestly, I really don't know if I will be able to afford more this year than we were able to afford last year. Now, there is a great chance that I will be able to afford to do more for my children this year than I could do for them last year. However, if that isn't something that does happen, then I will at least work as hard as I can so that I will at least be able to do as much for them as I was able to do for them last year.
At lot of how much I will be able to afford hinges on how long my recovery after this car accident is going to take because I was planning on getting a job after my son started school but right now I'm spending at least three days a week at the doctor's office.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
10 Aug 12
I am hoping that you can find something that will fit inbetween your doctor's visits. Have you thought of a later night shift at say a grocery store? 7 to 10 or 11? It wouldn't be very much money but if you live near one it'd justify the gas...
I've not been following any discussions you've had or if I have I don't remember about the car wreck, I'm hoping that all is well besides the obvious?
@Visdude11 (211)
• Norway
6 Aug 12
Hmm, it's still some time to christmas, lol. I can afford the same this year as I could last year I guess, but I don't know for sure until christmas.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
6 Aug 12
Yes but it will be upon us before we know it. I'm already getting ready. I'll be buying a small tree and some ornaments for it when Christmas stuff comes out. I'll deorate it and put it somewhere, it'll be a surprise for the kids.
I'm not sure either how much I can really afford.
