Have your holiday shopping plans changed?

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 10-08-2009, 01:21 PM

I heard on the news this morning that September retail sales figures are used as a preliminary gauge for holiday sales and the forecast looks "dismal".

So here are my questions:
Have YOUR holiday shopping plans changed since last year?

How will you remain frugal these next three months?

Any new ideas or tips you'd like to share with us on how to save $$ from Halloween through New Years?

**frugalfranny** · 10-08-2009, 01:27 PM

I do usually buy a 'few things' even if it is some little trinkets from Bath and Body.....but I am buying NO GIFT ITEMS this year. They will all be items that are homemade.......including the wrapping.

The only advice I have is just RE-EVALUATE your traditions and maybe this would be a good time to change some of them, if they were 'spendy'........and CUT BACK!!!

**TigerGirl1226** · 10-08-2009, 01:31 PM

I am buying more ahead this year like I always intend to but never really do. I usually worry that if I buy my niece or nephew clothes this early and they don't fit that returning will be a problem. This year, I figure it's worth the gamble...

I got my niece, nephew and FIL already.

**nancycg56** · 10-08-2009, 01:37 PM

No ~ we aren't big spenders at the holidays and this year we've opted to take a family vacation (in November) instead of gifts. So I really only have to get my Mom something and I'll do that next month

**savvy_sniper** · 10-08-2009, 02:23 PM

The way things are going right now we won't be spending ANY money on Christmas.

**McD** · 10-08-2009, 02:40 PM

We aren't really changing anything, other than when we will be shopping. We will be getting our Christmas Club directly deposited into our account around the 20th of this month.

My game plan is to be entirely done shopping by November 15th because I am due to have the little Maggie Moo Cow around the 27th and I REFUSE to deal with the malls.

We are still buying for the same number of people and our budgeted amount is the same that it was last year for those people. We are cutting out the annual bonus to the daycare provider, but it's not based on financial reasons. It's because we switched to a new daycare and her level of service does not qualify her for a bonus, but that is neither here nor there.

We are continuing our tradition of Hallmark ornaments for each of us, as well as new jammies for the kids to wear on Christmas Eve. We are planning on getting a bigger ticket item for each kid of Christmas, so the difference in the budget will be made up for by redeeming MYPOINTS and Credit Card Rewards Points.

And I am planning on shopping mainly thru amazon, especially since we get free next day shipping.

**gapeach** · 10-08-2009, 03:00 PM

We're not changing much this year. I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping and so far everything purchased has been on sale. Our stockings are stuffed with homemade candies and cookies. Our budget actually decreased this year for the holidays and it looks like I will be under budget once I'm done.

**shoiji** · 10-08-2009, 03:34 PM

I have been picking things up when they are on sale and putting them away when I find something someone may enjoy. The only person I am thinking about is my hairdresser. I think I will just knit a scarf and give her a gift certificate. Odly she is the only one I am worried about. I just want her to know how much I appreciate her since going to get my hair done is a big splurge for me, and she does listen and advise well.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 10-08-2009, 03:47 PM

I guess I forgot to add what I'm doing:

I am making most (I'd say 75%) of the gifts we'll be giving this year. A lot of things from the kitchen (with ingredients bought on sale).

**mauimagic** · 10-08-2009, 03:49 PM

I am cutting way down on what we usually spend during the holidays. Have been getting a lot of free samples for the stockings and have been creating gifts year round.

Our big expense that I will not budge on is transportation costs - bringing DD home for the holidays and then airfare for all of us traveling to be with the rest of the family. Total will be about $1600 - a huge amount, but very important to us.

What we are not giving up at all is the sense of the holidays, in fact, think that this may be our best ever!

**JanieD** · 10-08-2009, 03:55 PM

No really changes expected in the Christmas budget or the gift list this year. We keep things pretty modest anyway. I am trying to shop more throughout the year & thought I would find great deals w/all the talk about the economy, no one shopping & such. Not really the case so far. I've bought a few presents, but really need to get busy to avoid the last minute rush. I think that's the best way to avoid over spending ~ Plan Ahead/Shop Early.

**Trishagirl** · 10-08-2009, 04:59 PM

No christmas shopping until dh gets a job ):

**sabrelvssammy** · 10-08-2009, 05:02 PM

we are taking a family trip also so i won't be buying big gifts for my son and his girlfriend this year...i got a super great deal at an all-inclusive resort this summer and we will be going the 2nd week of dec...everything is free once you get there and we will certainly be getting our money's worth...lol....plus...it's already paid for since it was booked so long ago...weehee...... and it's a surprise as they don't know they are going and will not find out until they get to the airport that morning...(they think we are taking a trip to visit dh's family)

dh and i have a $20 limit on each other and we have to find a couple of items that we KNOW the other would like and appreciate and use all for under $20.....

all we have left is my mom/dh's mom & stepdad/3 young kids and a teenager and those gifts have already been purchased (since jan 1st after sale clearances)....
and a small gift for under $10 for each my brother & sister....(also from the gift closet).....

i do have a lot of 'little' things in the gift-closet that i will give my son & his girl for 'under the tree'....

x-mas wrap/tags/cards etc all bought 90% off last year and stashed away....

and i also do stockings for son & girl/dh & my mom.....i get the majority of the candy from the after halloween 75-90% off sales as alot of the stuff doesn't even have the halloween theme on the packaging.....and i round them out with stuff from the grocery (can cheese/crackers/cookies/beef jerky/pre-packaged items picked up on the cheap)..... free samples that i get throughout the year also make the cut.....

so if i never make it back into a store between now and x-mas i still got it all covered (except for the clearanced halloween candy of course...)......

**guest002** · 10-08-2009, 06:27 PM

Yes. In a big way. I'm going to be slashing our gift buying budget & in the next few days I'm going to propose to my SIL & BIL that we do not buy for the adults but just for the kids and we set a limit on that. It's gut check time and time to be frank and honest. We are not in a place financially to do what we've done in the past.

I've prepared my 8 year old son a bit for it and tried to explain to him about the economy and the recession. He's used to getting a lot & being spoiled by the entire family and frankly the entire family took a huge hit. The monetary aspects of Christmas will be different this year, but in a way I'm glad. It will bring the focus back to where it needs to be. Back on Christ.

**calimomx2** · 10-08-2009, 06:51 PM

We will be cutting back. My SIL asked that we not exchange this year, she is a single Mom and struggles on good days. My Mom and sisters and their families all live several hundred miles away so we won't be exchanging anything but cards this year. So it is just dh, 2 dks and myself this year!