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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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

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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-Kristi

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

4 more months 'til Christmas Day.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Uggggh!

Lisa

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

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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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

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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Live, Love, Laugh

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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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

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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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

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.

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

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.

I like to keep each holiday separate so I don't shop for Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

That is exactly what I was thinking. It was a lot easier when they were younger!

I don't even want to think about Christmas shopping! Although we have already been making our plans with the big family get together, and who's house it is going to be at, etc.

Since my dh and I both don't have our families near us, we spend Christmas with my ex sister in law, who happens to be my best friend. We have done this for years and it is a tradition. We are all so close and it is something very near and dear to our entire family.

I usually do all of my Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving and leave just the little things to buy over the next month until Christmas.

But, this thread is making me think I am so not ready this year for Christmas! It just seems like the years are going by so fast. But since we all know that it comes the same time every year, it shouldn't be any shock. That is why I used to crack up at the last minute crazy shoppers. At least until I became one last year!

I have all most everyone done expect immediately family. Right now I am starting to look at prices at things I know I will be picking up for DS, DSS and DH but haven't purchased anything yet. Still also needing a gift for my MIL. Other then that all my nieces and nephews and friends children were taken care of at Target toy clearance and other great deals I have found through the year. I keep a notebook with everyones name in it and write down what was purchased when I get them a gift. This way I don't have to figure out who I bought what for and I don't over buy.

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Chicago Bears!!!!
We are the Bears Shufflin' Crew
Shufflin' on down, doin' it for you.
We're so bad we know we're good.
Blowin' your mind like we knew we would.
You know we're just struttin' for fun
Struttin' our stuff for everyone.
We're not here to start no trouble.
We're just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle.

Hmm don't know why they are charging you 1100 ?/ Here what mine has


Every 1,000 points = $10. To redeem points for cash please enter the dollar amount in multiples of 10 in the box below (for example, $10, $20, $30?). The number of points you have available is displayed above.

Redeeming Points: MySurvey.com members can redeem Points as cash anytime they have accumulated 1,000 or more MySurvey.com Points. Points may also be redeemed as a charitable donation anytime 1,000 or more Points have been accumulated. Points may be exchanged for selected merchandise anytime a member has the requisite number of Points. Rewards redeemed as cash to the member must be redeemed in increments of 1,000 Points ($10.00 value). Rewards redeemed as a donation to charity must be redeemed in increments of 1,000 Points ($10.00 value). Points must be redeemed online. This section of the site is restricted to members only and members must be logged in with their official user name and password to redeem Points. At present, members have a choice of redeeming Points in one of the following ways:

Cash/check delivered to the member, OR
Cash/check delivered to the member's designated charity. Current charity select options are
American Heart Association
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
I Have a Dream Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation ®
National Emergency Response Team
UNICEF Imagine...
Save the Children
(Rewards redeemed as charitable contributions are not tax deductible for the individual member. IRS regulations stipulate that the donation must come directly from the donor to be tax deductible. Other charities will be added in the near future)
Various merchandise options listed in the Rewards section of the member area of this site (e.g. mouse pads).
Other point redemption methods may be added or substituted in the future at the sole discretion of MySurvey.com. Members will be asked to pick one (and only one) redemption method each time they redeem Points. Points redeemed as cash to the member must be redeemed in lots of 1,000. Points redeemed as a charitable donation must be redeemed in lots of 1,000. Members who have 2,000 (or more) Points may choose to redeem in two different ways if they so desire. For example, a member with 3,000 Points might ask for

$30.00 in cash or
$20.00 in cash and $10.00 to one charity or
$10.00 to each of three separate charities or
$30.00 to one charity.
The member might also select cash plus a merchandise option, as another example.

Important Note: Members will be given an opportunity during the redemption process to confirm the selected reward. Once confirmation is complete the reward is final and cannot be undone or redone. We regret that due to the volume of redemption requests we receive we are unable to make changes after confirmation is complete. Regretfully MySurvey.com cannot accept returns on unwanted merchandise.




When did you join / could it be 1100 for newer members Vs ones that been with them for a few years ?

I've been with them since they first started. If you look under "Cash" or "Charity Donations", you can get $10 for 1000 points. But if you go under "Prizes and Merchandise" and scroll down past the song downloads, phone card, Snapfish, etc, the 8th item on the list is a $10 McDonalds GC for 1100 points and the 9th item is a $10 Reward Choice Certificate for 1100 points. That reward choice certificate lets you get different GCs (lots to choose from) from Hallmark Insights.

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Don't dream it. Be it.