Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner?

I just can't believe it...Christmas is coming up pretty dang quick! For some reason I thought about it tonight & was thinking about what I could get for my folks. I swear..every year is getting harder & harder to buy for them. But one good thing is that this year I'll be able to afford better gifts!

I just had a thought about what to get them. My parents are very middle class people...they don't have lots of money, but they get by comfortably. Everyone has they're share of rough times & it's starting to look up for them now. Mom has been asking for a few years now for new carpet in the living/dining room, kitchen, hallway & bathroom. I can tell you...it's the UGLIEST ever! Dad keeps telling her that maybe next year we can get it, but when that time comes the money gets used for more important things. So...here's my thoughts about Christmas: There is no way I can afford to recarpet all of what they need, but I thought I could give them some money or a gift certificate to help them out. I can afford to give them $1000...so I could get 2 gift certificates of $500 each. The look on their faces would be amazing! What do you think?

Also, has anyone else thought about Christmas presents yet? Or am I just crazy? ok..you really don't have to answer THAT one! LOL!

That sounds like a great gift Shell! Youre not crazy, my SIL is done with her Christmas shopping! She is always so proud to get done first. We havent even thought about getting gifts yet...

i know what u mean... i love christmas so much!!! it's the best season of the year!!they come and go so fast...

I'm usually pretty good about getting my shopping done early. Last year I was finished in October, but this year I'll be a little later than usual. The whole moving/new job thing has gotten me so stressed & worked up that Christmas shopping didn't even register in my mind. Now that I have an idea for my folks, now I need to ponder on my brothers present & my Grandma. Everyone else is easy...just these 4 are the toughies!

I've already started thinking about Christmas. I can't really post any of the ideas I've had so far... considering Jamie (Luv Those Paws) and Jillian (my sister) are both on my Christmas list.

The one thing we started doing last year is making lists and putting them up on a website for our group to look at. At least then we have an idea of what the others want.

Jen, I don't know if you do much shopping at Walmart but they have a gift registry now for Christmas & etc. I thought about doing that so my family knows what I'd want & maybe convince them to do the same. Only draw back about that is you can check your own registry & see what has been purchased. So much for a surprise, huh?

Shell, I do a fair bit of shopping at Walmart, but mostly for household items over anything else. And sometimes DVDs if they're priced down.

I wish I could get my Christmas shopping done by the end of October, but that'll never happen. It might be possible for the adults, but I have a niece and nephew, ages 8 and 6, who will most definitely decide that the item I buy them in October is SO uncool by Christmas. And they grow so quickly, I can't buy them clothes early.

But lists in general are SO helpful. I used to dread deciding what to get people for their birthdays and Christmas. Now, at least for the people that will send me lists (I update the website), it's SO easy. I never have to guess if they want it or not, because if it's on the list, they defintely do. Now I just wish my Mom and Grandpa would give me lists... they're the hardest to shop for.

Great gift idea Shell.

And actually no I haven't even flicked a whisker about christmas!Although now you mentioned it I am looking forward to it.

Haha, I'm still getting ready for Samhain!

I've started my Christmas shopping, but am by no means done. I have a neat site for those of you that don't mind shopping via catalog or online. casuallivingusa.com has some really neat stuff. Some cat stuff, some smart alecky stuff, and some just plain nice stuff. One t-shirt comes to mind, it doesn't suit anyone on my list, but I'm sure some of you ladies would be interested! It says "Hairy Potter" across the bottom and has a picture of a cat with a potted plant and a trowel. Kind of hokey true, but cute anyway.

I don't even want to think about it yet! I have too many other things on my mind!

I don't want to think about it yet! 6 Grandchildern! And as you all know it has been a bad summer,money wise!

I'm slow this year. I usualy start buying and stashing stuff, in June or July. Bill is hard to buy for. There is a NASCAR collectibles shop here and I'm going to check it out.

I bought a T-shirt, for Mom at the gun show last week. It has a Great Dane on it. My dad is a chocoholic so, he's easy.

I'm going to buy little diamond studs, for the twins, a stuffed animal and an outfit, for each of them. I'm going to wait until the beginning of December, on the clothes. They are growing SO quickly!


The best thing, for the kids, is to give them a check. I prefer something personal but, I know that they can use the money more.

Treats and toys for the four-legged kids. I don't know why I buy presents for Rowdy - she plunders her Christmas toys off of the tree!

Ack! I'm still getting ready for Halloween, Shell!

I used to love xmas shopping, but for the last few years, it's gotten to be less fun as the people I shop for get harder to buy for! Basically, anything I get my mom will get put in the back of a closet and never used. She is impossible to buy for, the only thing she'd really like as a gift would be a carton of cigarettes. Sigh. My sisters are older now and harder to buy for, not sure what clothes or music are cool now. I usually get them gift certificates for the mall, they love them. My aunt is the exact opposite of my mom, if I wrapped up a ball of cat fur in xmas paper and gave it to her, she would cherish it.

I usually get all my gifts through the year. Any time I see something, I buy it put it away, and by July or so I am done.
I do not like Malls, the crowds noise, not for me.

I told my family this year I just was gift certificates at the garden center.

I saw a tree I want yesterday, but it 225.00 plus 75.00 to plant. Will have to get a smaller one(lol)

Originally posted by Shell
So...here's my thoughts about Christmas: There is no way I can afford to recarpet all of what they need, but I thought I could give them some money or a gift certificate to help them out. I can afford to give them $1000...so I could get 2 gift certificates of $500 each. The look on their faces would be amazing!

What do you think?
ok..you really don't have to answer THAT one! LOL!

Click to expand...

How utterly generous of you! There eyes will pop!! Can I have you as my daughter??? Please!?!?!?!?!

Sure!

I know they'll be so overwhelmed by getting that & then I get my butt chewed for spending that kind of money. But I figure that they've baled me out so much & I never had the money to return the favor. So now that I'll be making a lot more money, they deserve a little happiness too.

Christmas shopping is almost finished, just a couple of things left to pick up for some long distance friends. No family to buy for except Peter and the 4 legged kids. I made my own soap so that will be the main Christmas Present for my long distant friends in Canada and the US!

April

i like the holidays, i always have, i havent got my christmas shopping started yet, i like to wait until it gets more into the season, i want to get blackie and stripey a remote controlled mouse but i cant find one, guess i have some time left, as for the rest of my list i have no idea

The kids are already starting they're list for Santa