I Am Almost Done with Christmas Shopping!

[eleanorigby]

I have 3 more things to get, but they are very small and actually optional. Xmas is on a strict budget this year, but I find I'm actually enjoying that more (really, I've always used a budget at Xmas and Bdays--no middle class American kid is in want).

Don't hate me because I'm almost done....

Where are you in the Great Annual Spend-a-thon?

[wring]

Congrats - I've been officially done for quite a while - need to pick up perishables (Bacon, cheese) just before get togethers, and finish making mustard. but it's all wrapped, nearly all shipped. I hate shopping near Christmas.

[Dragonlady]

Postal employees shop early or not at all.
Since "not at all" isn't an option....

I'm over halfway done. And I know what I need for the rest!

Except for Kinesis. Ideas, anyone??

[Patience Worth]

Way to go!
Once I get Veb's gift figured out, I AM DONE.
That actually isn't a real big deal. What I have gotten are small things for a couple of friends. That is sum and total of what I do. I stopped buying gifts for the extended family. It was costing me hundreds per year and I would come home with a couple of items I didn't want in the first place. So, I said, "enough, I can't afford this". Everyone understands and is good with it. It is the being together that counts.

[Jeff]

LALALALALALALALA NOT READING THIS THREAD LALALALALALA

[Lungfish]

I am not going to start Christmas shopping until 24th December. I'll be going to the nearest pound shop* and see what I can buy.

*A pound shop is where are the items for sale cost £1 (One Pound Sterling) or less.

[Chacoguy]

Originally Posted by Dragonlady

Except for Kinesis. Ideas, anyone??

1,200 bucks is kinda pricey, but hey...

[Khampelf]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Don't hate me because I'm almost done....

I'm trying to, but it's really, really hard.

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Where are you in the Great Annual Spend-a-thon?

Haven't even started. Through the power of denial, Xmas isn't happening this year.

[Harry]

I make 90% of the gifts we give. Need to get off my butt and go down to the shop and finish them, I guess.

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by Chacoguy

1,200 bucks is kinda pricey, but hey...

Perfect! Except he's about 3000 miles away, and *I'M* the only horses ass he needs right now!

[Panacea]

Originally Posted by Khampelf

Haven't even started. Through the power of denial, Xmas isn't happening this year.

This is me. It takes every bit of what we make to keep this household running & keep up with unexpected bills. I don't know if anyone's getting anything for Xmas.

[Caprese]

I'm almost done, too.
My husband is always the hardest to buy for.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Caprese

I'm almost done, too.
My husband is always the hardest to buy for.

I solved that problem years ago: I don't buy for him (and he doesn't buy for me).





I ordered the grandparents' gifts, and the cousins'. I will wrap none of it until much closer to Xmas (it helps me get in the mood), but to know it's here and DONE is a huge weight off me. I no longer (haven't for years) bought for my sibs or my SIL and her husband. I refuse to go into debt to celebrate the birth of a person who wasn't born on that day anyway...

[Euryphaessa]

I have nothing actually bought for the people I'm buying for. I do have one gift in mind for my best friend, but I haven't ordered it yet. I tend not to stress about Christmas, no one's opinion of me is hinged on what gift they'll be getting and I usually manage to pick out something pretty good anyway.

[3acres]

I don't buy Christmas gifts. I used to get them for my nieces and nephews, but started giving them cash as they entered their teens. I really don't have any clue what teenagers like, so that works out best for everyone. Except that I miss wrapping the presents. I really got into the wrapping: my youngest sister says she misses my presents being under their tree because they were always so pretty.

[Euryphaessa]

I love wrapping presents! I'm good at it, too. Wrapping presents was always my job at my dad's house, sometimes even my own presents.

[Amythyst]

I haven't started yet, although I know what I'm getting my brother and I have an idea for my sister. I e-mailed bugbro this afternoon and asked for ideas for his wife (because she doesn't talk to us outside of family gatherings and I have no idea what she likes). If I get a response saying "just get her some anime she'd like," I'm going to scream.

[taters]

No one likes a show-off, rigs!

I haven't even started. My daughter wants some clothes, and so does my son. My husband wants an i-Touch. I don't know what I'm getting anyone else.

Frankly, I'd just like to cut back on the gift giving to to sibs and their families and the parents (mom, stepmom, Dad, MiL), but that's not going to happen. My Father did call and state they weren't giving gifts this year, and that's fine with me. I never expect any and I always tell the folks they don't need to, but they always insist. I've brought up drawing names and things like that in the past, but I always get shot down.

I am going to limit the budget more than I have in the past though. Well, except for hubby's gift. He doesn't often ask for or receive expensive gifts, so I have to make the effort on this one and am happy to do it.

[Anacanapuna]

Hey, great, since you now have so much spare time on your hands, how 'bout doing my Christmas shopping for me, eh? And while you're at it, a negotiated peace in the Middle East would be nice.

Damn overachievers!

[Zeener Diode]

Two words:

1. Online
2. Shopping

[taters]

That's where I do most of my Christmas shopping Zeener, but there are always some gifts that require I brave the real world.

[Zeener Diode]

Not shopping malls, I hope. Everything you can find there can be purchased online.

[taters]

No, it's usually something at a specialty store here in town, or it's something that's only available at the bricks and mortar store and not on-line.

[ulfhjorr]

We're doing Thanksgiving with my family this year, so I've got almost everything for them. I just need something for my sister and probably something for my mom and dad together (I've gotten something somewhat smallish for each of them separately).

I haven't even started on the wife, but we've set a price limit and I have a couple ideas. For her family, I'll be entering their gift exchanges, so I won't have names/lists until after turkey day.

[The Superhero]

Haven't done any shopping.

Have been working on a photo project that I'll be giving to various members of Mle's family for Xmas.

And we took our Christmas card photo yesterday.

[Anacanapuna]

Did it have snow in it? I'll bet it didn't. Not in California, huh? We have snow in Colorado. If you'd'a stayed in Colorado, you could'a had a Christmas card with snow in it, but no, you had to go chasing off after opportunity, out to California, where there ain't no snow out there, not like here in Colorado.

[Paul in Qatar]

I was done a month ago.

[The Superhero]

Originally Posted by Anacanapuna

Did it have snow in it? I'll bet it didn't. Not in California, huh? We have snow in Colorado. If you'd'a stayed in Colorado, you could'a had a Christmas card with snow in it, but no, you had to go chasing off after opportunity, out to California, where there ain't no snow out there, not like here in Colorado.

Just the way I like it!

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by ladybug

I e-mailed bugbro this afternoon and asked for ideas for his wife (because she doesn't talk to us outside of family gatherings and I have no idea what she likes). If I get a response saying "just get her some anime she'd like," I'm going to scream.

People like that I put almost no effort into regarding their presents. Won't bother to get to know me or let me get to know you? You get generic anime, if you're lucky. How about a gift card?

I really dislike empty ritual.

[backyard]

Whaddyagitme?

[Salambo]

Sigh. Vurry vurry jealous. I don't even have mine started. Well, no, I guess I've gotten a few little things for the pipsqueak, but she won't even know what Christmas is, anyway. My parents were just here for a week and every time I took them out they went Christmas shopping for the baby (smart thing to do for them was to buy gifts here, wrap them, leave them - tada! X-mas done for the faraway relatives!). I still don't know what to get them. They always just buy what they want when they want it, because they have a sudden surplus of money now that my brother's out.

The relatives who live near, my in-laws, those guys are easy, because I don't have to ship. I could shop on Christmas Eve for them. But MY family, cripes, I gotta ship everything.

Going to Amazon, brb.

[Jaglavak]

Pshaw, that's nothin. I got my Christmas shopping done last July, for seven bucks at a garage sale. Ya just gotta look for the opportunities.

[Amythyst]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

People like that I put almost no effort into regarding their presents. Won't bother to get to know me or let me get to know you? You get generic anime, if you're lucky. How about a gift card?

I really dislike empty ritual.

I agree. Bugbro asked for an iTunes gift card, so I may just get SIL the same thing.

One the plus side, my sister is a sweetheart and loves whatever I give her.

[Anacanapuna]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

Just the way I like it!

I still hate you for taking mlerose away from us before I got my assgrabs. And we miss you. But we still love you. No, we hate you. No, we could never ... oh, hell, now I have to make a trip to Boulder to find out how I feel, and I HATE that fucking drive on Highway 36!

[Jaglavak]

Hey, it can't be as bad as County Road 370.

[Lo-Slung Denim]

Almost all done, a few exceptions:
My mum
My brother's fiance
A joint gift for my brother and his fiance

I have got some really cool gifts for people this year. Balloon animal kit, Scrabble mug, imported Lucky Charms. My friends and family are going to be well impressed.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Anacanapuna

I still hate you for taking mlerose away from us before I got my assgrabs. And we miss you. But we still love you. No, we hate you. No, we could never ... oh, hell, now I have to make a trip to Boulder to find out how I feel, and I HATE that fucking drive on Highway 36!

This time, take the crystals home with you, so you'll be able to consult them about your feelings in future. Honestly, no wonder you keep coming back as lesser beings!

[Patience Worth]

Time to GLOAT!!! The Christmas cards are DONE!! Still have to buy about 100 stamps and write a pithy letter, but at least the things are addressed. I love progress!

[maplekiwi]

I'm going to start next week. Should be easy this year. I'm planning on getting my husband a chainsaw, presents for my kids, the last year (yay!) of them getting stockings & a little housewarming/Christmas gift for the niece who i s hosting Xmas.