Have you started?

I have, I just told my hubby to get the wrapping paper and stuff out of storage so I can start wrapping and hiding gifts~

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Smile and the world smiles with you!

Tami ~*~

I just said yesterday that I need to start shopping

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I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

for the last few years we haven't done christmas gifts. It's so much easier and relaxing this way, and not to mention cheaper!!

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Recently married June 6, 2008! The wedding is over, now it's time to cook!

Shopping??? Ha, I've already mailed out a gift!!!

4 more months 'til Christmas Day.

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No Piece, No Peace
Know Piece, Know Peace

TLJ Women United in Spirit!!!

Uggggh!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything they have."

Yes, I am about half finished.

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

I thought all of us on here shopped all year long!!

I'm done with Christmas this year and NEXT. I do reward programs all year long and cash in around Oct for gift cards. I save the cards till the AFTER Christmas clearance sales and buy gifts for the following year.So I'm happy to say I'm done this year and next> Glad since money is so tight this year I don't have to worry about "running' short of bills to buy Christmas".

I honestly don't know how folks can shop this early. How do you know what people want/need or do you just give them what you think would be good? I can see where it might work for very young children....but as the get older, it seems impossible to me.

cj/

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What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others. -Confucius
What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. -Hillel

Holy Molers! I don't even have Halloween candy yet, forget about shopping, or even wrapping. I have maybe 2-3 children done simply because of Target's toys. To those of you who've purposely started, way to go!!
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To Sunsetbeach,
What rewards program do you use? I'd like to try that

I totally bow to those of you who can get Christmas shopping done so early! I just. can't. do. it.

Part of it is, really, that with the kids, their wants change from week to week, day to day. I can see me running out to buy that "must have" and have them, as they always do, change their mind. I'd drive myself crazy at the return counters!

Of course that's the justify it part. The real reason is I just cannot get into it. I need the stress, decorations, music, cold.....

I have christmas wrap from last year..and some nutcrackers I bought last year on clearance for my ds. I am focusing on buying candy now for Halloween.

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

This is exactly the dilemma I have, so the kids' shopping gets done last. The adults we buy for are pretty simple, so I get those out of the way. I do get the kids things throughout the year such as DVDs, games, etc, and their "bigger" stuff waits until closer to the holiday, as YES, it definitely changes.

We got FIL a desk top organizer type thing on clearance last year at Target, after XMAS for 90% off. Stuff like that we can get.

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No Piece, No Peace
Know Piece, Know Peace

TLJ Women United in Spirit!!!

I have toys waiting until my son's a toddler, because I figured Ikea would discontinue them before then. but that's it. We haven't really done gifts in the past few years, but since my mother will be visiting in December this year, I do plan on having some celebration. Would like to start shopping for the in-laws, since that's always a pain, and husband never knows what they want.

You're so right. You can definitely get away with buying younger kids almost anything, but you cannot do this for older kids. I don't even know what my kids want and I probably will not know until the marketing geniuses drill in their head what they need. I probably will not be done until a week before Christmas. The good news is I have a little time to save until then!

Oh, and I have learned over the years that one great gift is better than several small gifts.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

I bought a few things already. DD wanted a little Barbie play pool and some of the Barbies with bathing suits and you just can't find that in December so I bought it a few weeks ago.

If I see good stuff on clearance cheap, I usually grab it, that way even if they aren't really "into" that by the time Christmas gets here, I can give it as presents for misc. birthday parties. Or I do the angle tree thing and pick someone who wants what I already have stashed, that way I can still be giving when money is tight around the holidays and nothing goes to waste.

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SAHM to Thomas Aiden 9-17-01 and Erica Nicole 5-29-03.

Hi Flowers,
I have been a member of MY POINTS since 1999. I usually make around 150.00- 200.00 a year from this. When I do any on line shopping I always use their links to shop. Also, They offered a credit card a few years about that gives back points when you use it (doesn't matter if you use it on line or B&M shopping you still earn reward. ).. I also do a program called MY SURVEY.COM. I do all the surveys they send to me, you can cash out at 1000 points for 10.00 As it stands right now I have just over 9000 points for the year = 90.00... also at times will get surveys from HARRIS POLL.COM alt ho, I usually don't meet a lot of their "needs" I do have just under 20.00 waiting to cash out. and the last program I do is called LIGHTSPEED.COM. I forget what I 'm at on this one as I don't get a lot of emails from them. But, I believe its about 10.00 maybe 20.00 ? in GIFT CARDS.
The gift cards at from places like Apple bee's, Cracker Barrels and McDonald's. They do offer different things on levels to cash out, But I rather have the gift cards for a little "extra" treat when dinner is running late sometimes.

I usually average around 200-300 a year in cash and about 50.00 of so in gift cards to eat out.
Plus every one of my CC I have I joined the rewards back program with them. Speaking of which I just today got a gift certificate from 25.00 from OVERSTOCK.com from last year when I got my girls bedding.

Plus my own bank card pays back with points as long as you use it as a 'credit card" even tho, It's your own money you are spending. I have thus far 25.00 in gift cards I plan to cash out for cracker barrel in late Oct or early Nov with that.

When and if I cash out with gift cards for B&M shopping I always get Target or Wal-Mart cards.
Wal mart the day after Christmas always mark their "adult" gifts 50% off and then about 4 to 5 days later to 75% off thats how I get away with buying for the adult kids. As far as the children, I have things that are still " Hot" items I have gotten at times for 90% off. I have Hanna Montana things I got from Target this summer for 90% off and my 12 yo things there's NOTHING like Hanna lol. So it's not just 'any Ole kind of things, It's more the still in and hot items I get.

If I can help you please send me a email here and I'll help you get started. Also check the REWARD board here there's a ton of programs I don't do but other do.

Nope, not yet.

My son's birthday is in December also, so we always shop for birthday and Christmas together and divvy up the gifts.

Plus, he needs to let us know things he would like to get.

I know he wants the new DDR games that come out next month for the game systems. And I know he wants Animal Crossing for the Wii that comes out in November. And I know he wants the new "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book(s) - one comes out in January, one comes out in November or December.

He will be 12 this year - my baby is growing up so fast!!

I am seriously considering getting him an inexpensive pre-paid cell phone too.

I need him to make a list, LOL.

I don't start shopping for Christmas until school starts.

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"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

I don't usually start shopping until a week or 2 before Christmas. I'd love to quit doing the gift thing altogether, we tried that with my parents this last Christmas but they still bought us too much

My son is getting an iPhone, so that takes care of him for Christmas AND birthday.

Everyone else gets whatever I feel like getting them! I shop year round so other than my son's gift, I rarely spend even $50 on at least 20 gifts. I put baskets together for co-workers with stuff they can actually use like shampoo, air fresheners, etc. I don't like to give people cr*p they can't use that will just clutter up their lives.

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I thought Christmas shopping didn't start til Dec. 24th????

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

I shop all year long.
I watch for great sales and when travelling, I buy 'souveneer' type things.
The kids and grandkids "big" gift is purchased closer to Christmas so I know what they want or need.
I don't wrap till the last minute in case I find things to combine in one package.
It's easier to store things unwrapped until the tree is up and I can put them under it.
I love bargain hunting and I love Christmas, so it's fun for m e to shop all year.

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I do have an attic full of toys for the neices/nephews, thanks to Target 75% off clearance, I may use some of these items for my two younger kids, ages 9 and 6. But as far as the two older boys go, w/ one in college, and one age 15 who is just starting a car fund, hopefully, they will just want cash. I'm over it-I've been playing Santa waaayy too long. The rest of the ppl on my list will get a nice basket full of food products that I sell.

OMg no way we wait until Thanksgivng is over and then it go hung and all about Christmas to us its not right yet, I have to admit its alot of work , but in the end its totally worth all the hard work. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

I'm normally finished with all my birthday and Christmas shopping by April or May. We don't have kids to buy for, and I normally know what all my friends and family like, so I can pick up things as I see them on sale or clearance. I still shop a little throughout the year for other small things to add to gifts or to get an early start on next year's gifts.

Sunsetbeach, it takes 1100 points (not 1000) to get a $10 GC at Mysurvey.com.

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Don't dream it. Be it.