I have SO not starting even considering Christmas shopping yet. Things change fast so it's hard to buy now for later. Plus, I'm still buying summer stuff. lol. I wish I could buy in advance but I end up losing everything when I do. (I'm not the most organized woman on earth....)

That would be nice... unfortunately there are too many day to day things that need to be bought instead.  It is the expectation that this year we will be in a better place financially once Christmas season comes around.

I started right after  christmas was over. I decided to try my mthers way to save money for the following Christmas

Nope.  Haven't even thought about Christmas yet. 

Every year, I start shopping for next Christmas sometimes on Dec. 26th!  By gradually accumulating things and taking advantage of sales prices, I can afford to be a better Santa but it also gives me a chance to listen to what people will innocently say they wish they had.  That's the best way to shop for people who may be a little problematic to please otherwise.  (Hint:  gift cards are a great idea and are sometimes good deals when redeemed from MyPoints or Discover card Cashback awards.)  A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL, IN A FEW MONTHS!

 

LOL, I'm famous for stashing things in the closet and then I forget all about them.  I find things during the year and say...oh yeah!  I bought that for so-in-so and forgot all aobut it.  Oh well! 

And to answer the original question, nope--I haven't begun to think that far ahead!!  Maybe in September!?!

I'm from the South. We don't have Christmas in July. (just kidding!) I can't seem to plan ahead for the next day, much less December, but I see that a catalogue has free shipping for address labels that my mom always wants for Christmas. Hmmmm.....

BayouBengal said…
LOL, I'm famous for stashing things in the closet and then I forget all about them.  I find things during the year and say...oh yeah!  I bought that for so-in-so and forgot all aobut it.  Oh well! 

And to answer the original question, nope--I haven't begun to think that far ahead!!  Maybe in September!?!

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We were cleaning out the shed one summer and my husband said, "Hey, whose tools are these?" I looked up and realized I had bought them so far ahead I had forgotten them. I just had to answer with "Merry Christmas!"

Must run in the family. I bought my son a football jersey. It was half off. Forgot to give it to him on Christmas as it was hidden in the top of the closest. The day I found it, I gave it to him. Ironically, it happened to be the same day that player got drafted to the NFL. He thought I knew. I didn't. My kid got to be Mr. Cool the next day at school in his hot jersey, and I was the max mom for having the right jersey and finding it on the right day. I still don't remember what player it was, but I'm sure my kid does.

I used to go crazy at the day-after-Christmas sales and would stock up for the following Christmas.  That used to work well until my kids, and my nieces and nephew, got older and their interests would change by then. 

Last Christmas, I had way too many things and ended up saving some for Easter and birthdays.  I also donated some to Toys For Tots, which was a good thing.

Even though Christmas is still quite a few months away, I'm finding myself buying stuff online that is too good to pass up.  I swore to myself that I would wait until October to start buying presents, but a deal is a deal.  I just hope that my son is still into Power Rangers this December.  Otherwise, they will go to my three-year-old daughter (lol).  

I usually do my x-mas shopping on the 24th of December.

Oh nnnnnnooooooooo!  I just finished cleaning out my garage.  It's been quite some time and it was really bad.  Guess what I found?????  Three presents I bought last year for my son's karate instructors!!  I thought I had bought things and put them away, but I couldn't remember!  I think I'll make a list of the things I buy and then stash away so I don't loose anything more.  At least I can cross those three people off for this year! 

My goal is to have it done by the end of October. (something I say every year, but I will do it this year...I hope :)

We now pick names on both sides and that has helped a lot with the prices going up on everything.  We put it at $30 for the person we get.  And then there is shopping for Scrappy (my cat)...that is all year round Christmas for her LOL.

Last year I had 99 percent of the shopping done by October. After last year and the unappreciative attitudes of our children my husband and I decided that we are limiting each child to a specific dollar amount. They can get one thing for that much or many things that total that much, but we are not going over, nor is it a lot of money. Our family has forgotten what this day is about and it isn't about presents. This year will be different and we will put more importance on the meaning and not on gifts.  

Are you kidding?  I have my nephews birthday on Aug 7, my mom's on Aug 19 and my sister's on Sept 1.  I think I have to get through that first :)

In the past, I did used to Christmas Shop all year round, meaning if I saw something that I wanted to give a person, I'd buy it and store it.  Usually I'd buy small things that add up to a big gift by Christmas.  This year I haven't even had time to buy bday gifts, it's getting harder to think of ideas!  Time is flying :-D

I'll be in Spain in Nov., so I'm planning to do all my shopping there.  Probably means a lot o' wine.  That'll make the kids happy. 

steve9631 said…
I'll be in Spain in Nov., so I'm planning to do all my shopping there.  Probably means a lot o' wine.  That'll make the kids happy. 

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Can I be on your Christmas list too?  hehe I like a good wine, unfortunately the little guy has prohibited my consumption for over a year now.

Don't forget about me!!!

I really need the cold crisp air to inspire me to the Christmas craziness.  I also have found that when I do buy ahead, I always seem to buy more, because as you are out an about over a greater period of time, you find more and more things that would be just perfect for somebody.  The time limit pressure means that I limit the number and expense of gifts too.  It is really easy to lose track of how much you spend when you spread it out over a greater period of time. 

Funny... when my kids were little, was the reason I started drinking wine.

I'm making alot of gifts this year since I'm poor*LOL* so I started my list and got all my yarn for crocheting and material for sew...ask me what I'm working on....a summer dress fo myself*LOL* I'll end up running out at the last minute again this year I'm sure.

Christmas shopping???   I don't want to hurry the year up; it goes by fast enough as it is! LOL! I start worrying about Christmas shopping maybe the day after Thanksgiving, or for sure the first part of December when it is colder, and I can get in that Christmas mood!