Holiday Shopping - anyone not start at all?

Speaking of practical... I decided to put "practical" things on my Amazon wish list this year for the friends at the Christmas Eve party I go to. The most recently added items (from early October) lol.

I've bought a few gifts so far, a toy for my son, a set of books for my daughter and a pair of socks for each of them. I still have many more gifts to buy.

I used to have it all done before Halloween, wrapped, gift tags on it and a list to remember by. I have not bought anything. I am not with it. I have a lot of other things on my plate now and can't seem to get my mind on shopping.
We have bank accounts for the grandchildren. They get a card with a deposit slip inside showing their bank account total. I buy them a minimal gift and wrap it. They are ages 6 to 13. The adult grandchildren we don't shop for anymore. I don't exchange with my sisters and their families. There are a few friends at church who I buy something for, usually a gift card, or a ham, fruit basket, etc. I buy for my son and his wife. The last several years I have given them a gift card from Target or some other store they like to shop at. Our daughter has asked for a pair of New Balance 623 Cross Trainers. Her size is the most popular and I can't find them. I have looked online everywhere. She may get a card with money so she can find them herself.

Hubby usually gives me a card with money in it. He doesn't like to shop. I haven't bought him anything. I just need to get with the program

:nod:

My goal used to be to have it all done by Thanksgiving....I think I managed it once, many, many years ago. And haven't even gotten close ever since.

At this point, I'm hoping that our Christmas with the kids isn't until the Saturday after New Year's, to give me an extra shopping week! That's how far behind I am!

I wish I had one week off from work, so that I could just do everything associated with Christmas. Just one week. (Not going to happen)

I shop all year round so I was mostly done when my DH came home and said he work was cutting salaries 20% across the board.  Then I was done!

Due to my upbringing and learning the search for the best sales at my mother's knee, I managed to get Airline tickets for my DH and DS for their annual ski trip to Utah in September.  They stay with his folks.  I had been watching for a good deal on the Kitchen Aid Classic Standing Mixer for my DD who has been baking up a storm.  Found it on sale at Kohl's w/30% off coupon in October.  I also got some Kohl's cash and a rebate.  Youngest is getting a toy and fleece bottoms.  Sorry Kelvin, but I just don't know what you'd like.

We have 16 nieces and nephews we send cash ( I did lower the amount I usually send) along with a small gift and 4 great nieces/nephews we send a gift to.  Usually a book, this year a wooden puzzle w/their name that I ordered from a local artist in July.  All have unusual names.

We also trade gifts w/my DH's family, 2 brothers and 1 sister and his folks.  Found the last of those a couple of days before the big announcement.  Amazon had some good pre-black Friday deals.

And I trade gifts w/ my friend Nancy.  We are pig pals, so I pick up pig items all year.  I think the peeps silicone pan will be unexpected.

And the kitties of course!  A Niko Fly for Eclipse and a big ball that goes on the DaBird stick.

Now I just have to finish wrapping and boxing.  Everything gets shipped to a different state, except for DH and our kids.

I wish I was done, but I am not.

I got main gifts for my parents, along with my sister & her husband. We're not going overboard this year either. Money is tight for everyone here too. In the past I have thought of "theam gifts,"
to make it easy. One year I got everyone new Pajama's. I thought everyone could use/ would appreciate them.
One year I got red box gift codes, & made a big bag of their fav. Candy, & popcorn to make a theam gift. ..but by time I got all the treats, it really added up! One big bag for my parents w/ moms treats on one side & dad's on the other, & same for my sister & bro-in-law.

This year, I thought I'd get sheets for them. ( well, not my neice & nephew, they usually get gift cards), so just my parents, sister & my bro-in-law. My sister said they needed new blankets, so got them a nice big queen size one instead of sheets. I'm also going to get them a gift card for Ruby Tuesdays ( spend 25.00, & I get one for 5.00 ) then something else for my parents, but don't know what yet. I picked up a couple of small things at Walmart for my neice (make-up gift set), & a calone me set my nephew likes. Now I just have to pick up gift cards for them. They are 20 & 22, so gift cards to their fav. Store are the way to go.

If finances allow, for Angel,I saw one of those free standing laser pointers in the bed, bath & beyond paper for 19.99 + will use a 5.00 cpn.
He has SO many toys already! Otherwise, some of those big jingle bells to play soccer with. He loves those!

Natalie_ca said:

 
I'm on medical leave so funds are tight this year.  I'm only buying one gift and that is for my brother and his wife. And it's a lot less than what I would normally spend.  I'm giving them the gift of Netflix. I'm increasing my subscription from being able to view on a single device at a time, to being able to view on multiple devices. And I bought them a Chromecast device for their television so they can watch Netflix on their TV.  They like to watch movies and TV shows, so I figure it will be an appreciated gift. 

I've discussed gift giving this year with my friends and asked if any of them minded if we didn't exchange presents this year. None of them did.  In fact I suspect they were probably as relieved as I am considering how expensive gift giving can get.

Click to expand...

Netflix is a great gift.

I forgot a couple. I only buy for 2 friends,& usually keep it simple. This year I found some fun things on zulily. I love that site! I got my friend that does my hair a dish towel that said " Drink your wine, we have crafts to do." LOL! We have done crafts together before, so she will love it. Then, I got my closest friend a shirt that says " suck it up buttercup. " ha,ha, sounds like something she would say, so I think she's gonna love it. Fun stuff!

Thanks to the magic of the internet I am now 90% done with my shopping. I just have to wait for things to arrive. :cross:

I did some shopping online last night and this morning. Most of our shopping will be done next weekend because we are waiting for my husbands bonus.