I was just taking pics of my home sewn Christmas stuff yesterday to put on Etsy or Ebay or a yardsale on that other place online I go to sell, and was wondering if it was too early. I guess not for some people.
Usually though, unless i find something special in the mean time, I start my shopping the first week of October. I even have a note book that I use to keep track of who I have to buy for and what I am going to buy & what I have bought.--- :wink: I find things get so crazy for me that time of year, the book helps me keep it all straight.
My family has a "family" web site, where we all post our wishes, color preferences & sizes, etc. Then the adults draw names. To qualify as an adult, you have to either be out of college OR married. wheichever comes first. Everyone gets the "children" something
We thought that pretty much took care of things, but, I have a 30 yr old niece who is neither married NOR going to college--
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
October 15th, huh Bill??--ok--So does that mean you will hold your hands over your ears when one of us says that word, or does that mean WE should not "say" that word?
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
I can't afford to wait the months right before Christmas.....if I did that then I wouldn't be able to buy much and I like to get everyone a lot. Not that it's about material stuff, I just enjoy giving and what better day to give. :ding:
I'll probably buy a little less this year than previous years.......seems like every year 2 more people get added to the list of people to buy for...makes things tough.
Luckily I'm a great bargain shopper so I get amazing deals on things.
I'll probably buy a little less this year than previous years.......seems like every year 2 more people get added to the list of people to buy for...makes things tough.
Luckily I'm a great bargain shopper so I get amazing deals on things.
In my family we used to all buy everyone gifts---ans then the kids started getting married so now we not only drqaw names, we set a price limit. it helps so much---
I also love Christmas because I enjoy giving others gifts. But I too begin shopping early so I will able to afford it.--
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
With my older kids were small, I used to have most of mine done by the date given above by Wild Willy. I just used to cruise and enjoy the season after that and get a few items as I wanted to. But these days the purse strings are not in my control and it is a last minute mad dash every year now. That is sad. And leaves me not as joyful as I would like.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
I love getting ready for Christmas, just don't like Christmas day. It's always a fight between all the families and where the meal is supposed to be. Last year we stayed home and had our own meal, the families were mad but I don't care. It was quiet and peaceful for a change.
I used to buy for alot of people but slowly cut things out and do more of it each year. It gets to the point where you are just buying gifts to say you bought a gift, and then the person you bought it for doesn't like it, already has it, doesn't fit etc...
We did the name draw thing also but that didn't go over well last year, it was a huge ordeal with fighting between DH's sisters, so this year I'm not doing that either(3 less gifts to buy ).
Christmas would be great if we had normal families. My mother drives me crazy.
~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
The only thing I dont like about Christmas day is you spend so much time and energy getting ready for it then, *ZAP* it's over so quickly. That and my Christmas big sales disappear.
I started Christmas shopping on December 26, 2006. I do that every year. There are a lot of good deals then and if I find something for somebody I get it while it is cheaper! But, believe me, I am not even close to being done. I have lots of shopping to do before then and I always make things for people and I haven't started that either. Every year I say that I am going to work on it throughout the year so I'm not rushed but I never do!
I like to pick up chritmas clearance stuff after its over too. Especially stuff like giftwrap, thats something you dont want to drop a load of cash on just to have it ripped of in 10 seconds!
I like to pick up chritmas clearance stuff after its over too. Especially stuff like giftwrap, thats something you dont want to drop a load of cash on just to have it ripped of in 10 seconds!
I do that too Wrennie. I also get any other christmas stuff like boxes,bags, tissure paper, etc. I might need. While that saves me money, not to mention stretches out the expence, I also pick thru & save boxes when I am cleaning up after the gift opening, if they are not wanted by the receiver of the gift, and are in good shape. I gather them up and store them in plastic storage containers.--oh and I recycle bows also.---only thing I usually need to rebuy every year is tape and or wrap if I am out. Another usuful thing is: My sister usually buys soild wrapping paper or NON-Christmas looking paper so she can continue to use it on gifts throughtout the year.
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
I love getting ready for Christmas, just don't like Christmas day. It's always a fight between all the families and where the meal is supposed to be. Last year we stayed home and had our own meal, the families were mad but I don't care. It was quiet and peaceful for a change.
I used to buy for alot of people but slowly cut things out and do more of it each year. It gets to the point where you are just buying gifts to say you bought a gift, and then the person you bought it for doesn't like it, already has it, doesn't fit etc...
We did the name draw thing also but that didn't go over well last year, it was a huge ordeal with fighting between DH's sisters, so this year I'm not doing that either(3 less gifts to buy ).
Christmas would be great if we had normal families. My mother drives me crazy.
same here tamara! im tierd of the free for all fighting,i hate being the monkey in the middle between my brother n sister so its just us this year, me hubs n our kids.
im a regular avon buyer, so i do buy stuff from avon n put it up for the girls, theres 5 girls and i like to buy them the same necklass but with their own birthstone on it, n theres also other stuff like make up, nail polish, bath stuff, perfume ect.
Last year I cleaned out all my wrapping stuff and such, I was planning on going to the after Christmas sale to stock up. And it stormed for 3 days after Christmas so I have nothing left. Oh well, not a whole lot to buy for this year and most are getting gift certificates, preserve baskets and sweet trays or hand made quillows anyway.
Gotta start material shopping in August.
~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
I have to admire your ability to actually clean stuff out. i moved, & i still kept all the paper 7 boxes, etc. Since we draw names in my family, i do not have as much to buy either, i guess that is why i have so much paper , etc left all the time.
I still wrap the girls giftrs in very certain paper--like I did when they were small. Doing special things like that is MY christmas--it makes ME happy.
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
I went from buying for about 50 people down to DD, my mother, grandmother, Emma(godchild), Zach(I was his caregiver from birth to school age), Trisha(Our best friends child) and Muriel(my favorite aunt as a child).
DH and I don't buy for each other, we just buy something for the house. His parents and grandparents have all passed away as well.
We buy an ornament for his sister who lives in Ontario(she does an ornament exchange~limit $5), I buy a box of chocolates to share amongst who ever got thrown out and is living at my grandmothers , and do a few sweet and preserve trays for a friend who helped us build our house(he lives by himself).
It gets easier each year I find.
~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
Christmas is my favorite season. The lights, wrapping gifts and giving. My joy is the giving.
Like many of you I start shopping Dec 26th. I have a small family so we buy for each other. My biggest expense is office business gifts. Those are hard I hate to send the traditional box of candy. I like to personalize the gifts to the person. I listen to people all year they will usually say there is something they really want that they just will not buy themselves. I have girlfriends that are as close as my family to me. They have been there with me through divorce, deaths, and all the good for 30 yrs. We exchange gifts.
I still put the gifts under the tree Christmas night for my daughter and she is 35 yrs old. She is a professional woman but still my little girl. LOL!!! Heck I still make her an easter basket with all kinds of adult gifts. LOL!!!!
So saying all that you see I have to start Dec 26th.
Cinta: My joy is the giving too. I had to laugh because i too give easter & valentines gifts too. I give them to both DD's and their husbands. :wink: I simply LOVE Christmas!!! I would be sooo sad if I did not wrap 7 give gifts at Christmas.
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
I must've caught the fever, I picked up these cute mini backpacks at work for super-cheap. I would've bought more, except a customer bought 6 others before I could "reserve" them. I've never, ever bought anything this early. Am I maturing? Yes, that must be it!
I must've caught the fever, I picked up these cute mini backpacks at work for super-cheap. I would've bought more, except a customer bought 6 others before I could "reserve" them. I've never, ever bought anything this early. Am I maturing? Yes, that must be it!
Maruring--yea Sarah--that's it!!!
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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
I ordered some fleece today so that I could start tied fleece blankets for Christmas gifts. JoAnn's has an online coupon for 50% off an item good until midnight on August 9th if anybody is interested. That is where I ordered the fleece.
Last edited by plantqueen; Aug 7th, 2007 at 02:02 PM.
I am getting 2 yards of each of the fabrics. And they are 59" wide. I want them to be able to have them still when they get older and taller so I want to make them big enough.
Yep. Do you have JoAnn's there? They have a 50% off coupon online right now. I believe it is good through tomorrow. Otherwise, I think there are a number of places you can order fabric from. I like to see it first, but I had seen this fabric in JoAnn's store and was just waiting to buy it. When I saw the online coupon, I just ordered it since I already knew what it looked like.
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