Christmas 2012... ONLY 364 days to go!

[Aqua Blue]

What wonderful deals you got!! Now make sure you remember where you store them!!

Am not doing family Christmas next year so there was no need to hit the stores today!! After buying year round for Christmas for the past 33 years, it is probably going to take a while to get out of the habit, but it's time.

Enjoy your goodies - hope you inspire others to head into the holidays year round!!

We decided to do that too. I will continue to buy for my young niece, but stopping for everyone else in the family. It seems odd not to be on the lookout for stuff. Freeing, but odd.

[ncarr]

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I loved this thread last year...really helped to keep me on track and on budget! Thanks for starting it ncarr!

I love this thread too! It gives me warm fuzzy feelings because I get soooo sad when Christmas is over. it's my way of keeping the holiday spirit going year round

[fernykins]

I don't do birthdays except for cards but I do Christmas so buying and making though out the year is easier on me I also use my my points to get gift cards for the grand kids too. This year I got 7 25.00 gift cards from my points. That always helps. picked up 4 more items so now I have 7 grandkids taken care of.
Fern

[Debbie-cat]

I only picked up a cute snowman/santa candle in a jar today. It will be added to the neighbor's gift basket for next year.

[oct2667us]

I am going to see what the sales still hae on January 1 , I am also going to keep couponing and get stuff for free. I am also going to get some of my stuff off my web site.
I am trying to figer out what christmas cards I might want and what i am going to make for next christmas.

[Frufru]

Bought a few personalized ornaments to stash away for coworkers next year.

[Spirit Deer]

All I bought was some gift tags half price. We don't do Christmas for each other and my mom doesn't want or need much, so I don't need to look for much.

I did already start making an afghan for next Christmas though.

[steelergal]

I picked up a few things. From Walgreens I got a nutcracker, an ornament, more garland for our tree and a bag full of gift bags and boxes. From Yankee Candle, I got a ton of the tarts (on sale for 50 cents), hand sanitizer, car airfreshners, and lip glosses- got a great head start on stocking stuffers for my mom, got my neighbor started for next year (and a ton of things for myself!). I think I may hit target again later today (I think they will be at 75%), there I got a few ornaments for my mom and aunt, a puzzle for my friends daughter, cat toys and some stocking stuffers for my girls!

[frugal me]

I picked up a pair of pj's for my sister next year. Only $3!

[valerian]

The only thing I got was three big rolls of Christmas wrap at half price...everything else was very picked over and didn't appeal to me. At least I've got paper ready for next year!

[BeachBaby]

I have wrapping paper left over from this year so no need to buy that. I did go to target but didn't see anything worth purchasing. We are simplifying here. Next year besides the youngest two (10, 12) all the older kids (17-24) will be getting gift cards.

I am thinking about getting the gift cards and putting them in envelopes and letting them pick which envelope to take. I mentioned it to them - and they thought it was a great idea. So we'll see.

[McD]

Every year the kids give each set of grandparents an ornament for their tree with their picture in it. I found a set of three ornaments on sale for 4$. So I purchased four of those and am all set for next year!

[greekislandgirl]

I am basically set for next Christmas! I have:

- the tree and all the ornaments, lights, and decorations for the tree. (I bought the lights for €2 at the after-Christmas clearance sale, very happy about that.)

- all home decor we could possibly want, because most of the hostess gifts I got for hosting a Christmas party this year were Christmas home decor things! (I didn't have any of this beforehand, so that was good.)

- tons of Christmas candles (which can be used year-round) from the after-Christmas clearance!

- paper plates (silver with Christmas sayings like Joyeux Noel etc. written on them) from the clearance sale! - for next year's Christmas party.

- kept several gift bags from gifts I received that weren't written on and would be great for gifts in the future.

So basically I don't need to spend money on ANYTHING next Christmas except food (I'm sure we'll do a party again) and gifts if we decide to do them - but we probably won't, since this year and last year we didn't, and the party covers us from a "generosity" perspective

[Bournecrazy]

I went out on Boxing day and hit the card shop, it is cheap all year round for cards and wrapping/gifts.

I got the following:
10 rolls of wrapping paper - 1.00 for 10 (bargin!!)
2 rolls of fancy shiny paper - 0.49 each
4 packs of tags - 0.27 each
1 cuddly bear for DS - 2.99
Thank you notes - 0.49
2 boxes of cards (32 total) - 1.98
and 1 large gift bag.

Also managed to get some toy story themed paper for 0.99 and some cards that you can put your own photos in for 0.50 a pack (i got 2, probably do me for 2 years)

I am going back to see if i can get some more cards and ribbons/bows then i'll be fully stocked up lol.

I have also saved all the bows and ribbons from this years gifts to re-use next year.

DH is also getting on the bandwagon and is suggesting getting gifts for christmas and birthdays now and putting them away, while all the store have sales on we may as well take advantage. That way we might be able to get a few gifts that we wouldn't get otherwise if we had to pay full price (like perfumes)

I will also be looking in the sales for DH birthday presents (if anyone has any ideas on what to get for a 1yo let me know)

It's a leap year next year so we've all got an extra day shopping

[oheoh's momma]

Bought 4 rolls of wrapping paper, a pack of bows, name tags, a pack of boxes, and 2 boxes of Christmas cards for $6.00