Has anyone started their Christmas Shopping?

**ScrapMama** · 03-19-2006, 03:48 PM

This year I am vowing to stay at 3 presents per child. They get so much from their grandparents and family friends. I am also vowing to make at least one gift for everyone on our list(except for FIL, unless I bake him something).
I already have at least one gift per child already.(except for oldest dd). Is anyone else getting started?

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-19-2006, 03:55 PM

Well I actually did some bartering for Christmas Presents and so far I have 4 which is for my 3 step-daughters and 1 for my step-daughters fiance.

This year things are tight since we're on a budget and the kids know this already, I usually shop at this store called 5 Below, it's where everything is $5 and under and some of the items are really neat, it's geared more towards girls but you can find boy items there as well. I usually try to spend no more than $50 a kid for xmas since I have 3 and family to get for (step-daughters, their boyfriends, hubby, mom and dad).

I will be making a jean purse made from old jeans and I am gonna put embellishments on them and stuff so my daughter can use it for stuff (she likes the one I have and she keeps trying to get it

).

I am having another barterer make me crochet sachets filled with rose petals for my mom and grandmother so that's 2 more gifts done. I hope to do a bit more bartering to get some more gifts out the way!

**ScrapMama** · 03-19-2006, 04:37 PM

How do you find people to barter with? I'd love to have other crafters to barter with, but don't have a clue on how to find them.

**PrairieRose** · 03-19-2006, 04:57 PM

I've started, already have about 5 gifts for certain people bought on the clearance racks and tables.

**frugalfarmwife** · 03-19-2006, 05:24 PM

I'm already set for the year, we have beef to butcher in November so it's our usual yearly bag of beef per family, home grown and hormone free. We also throw in a few bags of home grown frozen veggies and they're all set!

If there's time and we get creative we might throw in home made projects, in the past we've made horse shoe candle holders (welded into the shape of hearts that hold votive candles) and Home made squirrel feeders out of old barn wood with home grown field corn on the ear.

It's not fancy but time and effort goe into it and the families love it.

kj

**halloweenfreak** · 03-19-2006, 05:29 PM

well i just ordered my son some buzz lightyear pjs and a buzz lightyear sweatshirt. (disney store is having a pretty good sale) not to mention im watching several buzz auctions on ebay. ive also decided to do his room in it. i dont think he'll every grow out of buzz, thats fine with me. less i'll have to change in the future.

**dwallyfam** · 03-19-2006, 06:12 PM

I haven't started buying but I have been making the list. I feel pretty good since I have my FIL birthday present bought and we already gave it to him. (winter coveralls). Next payday I am buying my dad's bday present/fathers day present.

Kellie

**McD** · 03-19-2006, 06:20 PM

ScrapMama---I looked at your little banner at the bottom of your siggie and you and your children are SO beautiful!

Anyways, on to the topic at hand. I have gotten started, I bought my younger brother a Napolean Dynamite shirt on sale for 5.00, I bought my dad an Andy Griffith DVD collection that was on sale for 9.99 and then I got Baseketball for one of my three brothers for 4.99. I also bought my older brother a HeMan DVD set for 24.99. Pretty pricy, I know, but by Christmas he will be in IRAQ and I wanted to get him something he could watch over there, so I felt the extra was worth it.

I'm really bad about this though---I bought my song a stuffed Heffalump from the Disney store on sale for 5.00 and 4 Eric Karle books at Kohl's that were 5.00 a piece (all proceeds go to Childrens Charities and I can claim it as a tax deduction) to give him for Christmas, but I already gave them to him.

**McD** · 03-19-2006, 06:22 PM

Also, I know how to cross-stitch and there ARE tons of items to be cross-stitched, so I would be willing to barter with you and ship the item to you if you wnat.

**pita1213** · 03-19-2006, 07:09 PM

i'm trying to buy as little as possible and make almost all of the gifts we give. we are going to limit the kids to 3 gifts this year after saying we are and then not doing it.i've made a lot of dishcloths to give to my mom and sister. a hat for fil. i made household notebooks for sil's last year and will see what i can figure out to add to them. as it gets a little closer, i'll buy a few things to go in stockings and something for my sister. she's dealing with a divorce right now and i want to wait till closer to christmas so i can get her something she needs then whether it's something to encourage her or something practical. i'll just have to see what's going on then.

**nodmicks** · 03-19-2006, 07:15 PM

Lets see on dec 26 I bought for my niece, my sons god mother, my best buddies b-day, my sil for4 next christmas.

**poppyseed** · 03-19-2006, 07:50 PM

Yes, I've started.... nothing much, but early days yet.

We are going away to visit family for Christmas this year, so we have to travel light, and I'm looking around for ideas for the kids.

**pecunierrant** · 03-19-2006, 09:56 PM

No, I havent started shopping for Christmas yet. We dont have the space for storing them this far in advance.
I probably would if we had the space though.

**emily_hope** · 03-19-2006, 10:20 PM

Yes, I've gotten started already. Actually, I started last October. Reason being that I got an idea from another website about doing a "Year of Holiday Socks" basket. I am doing one for my two DDs, my BFs DD and my DNeice. After each holiday, I am purchasing that holiday's socks on sale. So far I have Halloween, Christmas, and St. Patrick's Day socks. I missed out on the Valentine socks, they were all gone. None for the sale. I will have to find some on the internet and order them. Right now I am on the lookout for Easter socks on sale. Then I decided I would do holiday dishtowel/potholder sets for the ladies I work with. I got the Halloween ones for 25 cents each. I have some from Christmas and for Easter already. Got the Easter ones for $1 at the Dollar Tree. Never did see Valentine towels.

I also ordered a DVD of Mr. Bean...all the episodes...it was 1/2 price. We draw names in my family, but all the kids love Mr. Bean so I will be able to give it to someone.

I have a gift closet and I buy things thru out the year that I find on sale and save them for birthdays and such so that I don't have to run out at the last minute when my girls get invited to something. And sometimes I have things that I use as a pick me up if the girls have been sick or had a really bad week.

Sorry to be so long.