Christmas is 2 months from today.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Christmas is 2 months from today.....
7
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 1:15pm
Are you ready???

Maybe NOW is the time to start planning if you haven't already. As we all know, Christmas can put a real strain on already strained finances.

How about we start a Christmas Shopping plan? How would you all feel about, say, buying one gift a week starting now, rather than saving them all for one lump sum a week before the big day? (Depending, of course, on how many you need to buy).

Just a thought!



Powered by CGISpy.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 2:11pm
I will actually start shopping this weekend & be done by the end of November if not sooner.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 2:13pm
This year, I sat down and made a list of all my people and what I would like to give them. Added it up, and it just didn't fly. So, I lowered my price points and tried to get creative (without relying on hand-making anything, because I'm not crafty). My budget is a moving target these days with me being out of work living off the revenue from my (very small) home business. I am going on the assumption that Less will have to be More this year, LOL.

I don't think I can get my gift budget any lower, but I'm waiting to buy most things in case Frugal Inspiration hits, LOL. I'm targeting the least expensive things first and saving for the others, now that I know what I plan to spend. I need to have my family (parents & siblings) 'done' by Thanksgiving because I don't see them for xmas (by trading our packages on Thxgiving we save on postage). Then I will buy gifts for DH, my godparents, and my best friend.

Most of my inspiration this year came from an article about "consumable" gifts: http://organizedchristmas.com/article13.html For example, I'm giving my best friend a loaf (two if I can afford) of artisan bread from a local bakery that I know he loves...at $6/loaf, it is expensive *bread* but an inexpensive *gift* that will be appreciated and not gather dust in the years to come!!




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 2:40pm
I'm getting an early start this year, also. I printed off the Holiday Planner from the Flylady website this morning. I'll be following this plan and using the forms to get everything, food, cooking, shopping, wrapping, cards, handmade items, and decorating organized. I bought several gifts for my boys and their girlfriends last week. I bought cards, 2 more gifts for my boys, and wrapping supplies at lunch today. I'll be going to the bank this afternoon for saving bonds order forms. I give these to my young nieces and nephews. The older nieces and nephews that are married will get cookie mix in a jar. Co-workers and extended out of town family will get cards. I want to have everything finished by Thanksgiving.

Julie

Avatar for skinny42
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-12-2003
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 3:41pm
I like that idea, especially since I have to buy a plane ticket every year on top of all those presents!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 3:59pm
We already have our dd gifts on layaway at walmart and I have a few things I want to get her at Boscov's (also will go on layaway). We plan on having everyone done except for each other by the end of November. In december we will see if we have any money left over for gifts for each other. I am being very frugal this year and making a few gifts for family memebers. We also have a spending limit set for each gift.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2004
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 8:02am
Last year I shopped for the first time after Christmas to stock up for this year. Now I am really glad I did, as I changed jobs and took a pay cut. So, I'll be repeating it again this year, hitting the after Christmas sales!!
Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:13am

Ok, I'm the weird one of the bunch but 9 times out of 10, I don't go Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving because THAT is when they have the really, really, really good deals on most of the toys (at least the little kids toys!).