Christmas Shopping

After working at Hallmark in the mall for a few years I am totally turned off to shopping there around the holidays. I mean my boss used to litterally give a speach to the shoppers outside our gate before opening it the day after Christmas. She'd litterally been pinned to a shelving fixture for about a half hour. She'd also had 2 women get in a fight over something. So I tend to do my shopping elsewhere if possible. Online is great but I also hit the Officers Wives Craft Fair and do a bunch there. They have a huge variety of things. Then with my Husband's family we've just decided on buying for the kids and exchanging cards.

Originally Posted by caprice

I just started this week!!

I have over 100 people to buy for!! BIG family!!

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I hope you have a big wallet too!

Since 99% of our family is out of town and we like spending Christmas morning at our own house (we don't have any kids, but we sure pretend like Santa came and go all out for each other) so no traveling to them, we order almost everything online and take advantage of the free shipping most major merchants offer after Thanksgiving.

When shopping for each other we usually make a list of everything we could get cheaper locally than online, then go out to lunch one Saturday in December and split up to go "independent shopping" until evening. It can get tricky bringing everything in the house... the other one could pull up and see everything you bought as you're taking it out of the car!

Last year, I gave up trying to find my picky Aunt (surrogate mom, since she's my mom's twin and mom passed in 2002) something she'd like, so I gave my two Aunts an "experience"... a trip to the theatre. I told them to pick the show of their choice from the Civic Center schedule and I paid for the tickets over the phone. Of course they picked the most expensive show which was twice what we originally budgeted for them... a touring broadway show! But, it's one they'll remember for all time. If it weren't so 'potentially' expensive, I'd give all "couples" something like that each year.

I do Christmas shopping quite late. It's the furthest thing from my mind right now!

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

I do Christmas shopping quite late. It's the furthest thing from my mind right now!

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Remember you have a baby to buy for now Ryan?, so don't leave it too late because you know you'll be spoilt for choice on what to get Chasey

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Remember you have a baby to buy for now Ryan?, so don't leave it too late because you know you'll be spoilt for choice on what to get Chasey

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Chasey won't be hard to buy for.

This poll was totally made for people in the US. I don't know when thanksgiving is and the seasons ARE different. I start in November.

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

This poll was totally made for people in the US. I don't know when thanksgiving is and the seasons ARE different. I start in November.

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Thanksgiving is about the last week of November.

Ok thanks!

I had no idea either but start towards the end of summer here, then I can get the sales to send stuff to NZ where its summer at Xmas

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

This poll was totally made for people in the US. I don't know when thanksgiving is and the seasons ARE different. I start in November.

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Sorry Sam!!! You are right!!! I wasn't thinking when I did it! Thanksgiving is the end of November. Late Summer/Early Fall is more the end of August/September/beginning of October.


Sorry to everyone overseas!

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

I hope you have a big wallet too!

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That is why I have to start now I use 9 paychecks to pay for all of it....but I usually never spend over $1,000 every year.

I like shopping after November. It puts me in the holiday spirit.

I really dont start 'shopping' till after thanksgiving, but i already have in mind what i am gunna get. I go all out for people I am close to, and i am thinking about what i am gunna get them for the last half of the year. it is hard to shop for people who seem like they already have everything and are super picky, so that takes a whole lot of thinking and planning i think