Are you done holiday gift shopping?

[Sharon]

I am mostly done, still need one more thing for Dad and then something for Mom.  The issue with Mom is I am trying to avoid adding to the crap that is filling her house.  While I can't afford a years worth of lawn service for her I need to see if I can get a gift certificate someplace for X amount.  This way she could have some help pruning the shrubs etc in the spring.  That requires phone calls etc.  She will probably get a sweater.

Haven't even start wrapping yet.  I was going to start last night but Mom wanted me take her to look at the lights in the neighborhood. 

[dannylion]

I do Christmas shopping throughout the year because leaving it to the last minute causes stress and spoils the holidays. It took me a while to figure out that getting it done in increments throughout the year would eliminate the misery brought on by having to scramble at the last minute.  Once that finally clicked, though, it became part of my normal routine all year long to think in terms of future gift giving when shopping or upon learning that my regular recipients have a new hobby or interest or mention something they need.  Having the shopping pretty much all done by Thanksgiving has actually improved my holiday experience.  Up to a point. 

Now, ask me about the gifts that have to be sent.  I bought them months ago except for one, which I got 2 weeks ago.  Where are they?  Why, they are sitting on the couch waiting to be wrapped and packed and taken to the post office.  Apparently, I am capable of incorporating the acquisition of holiday gifts into my normal routine throughout the year, but when December arrives, it seems I am not able to make use of some of the time I saved by doing so to actually get them in the mail in a timely fashion. 

Oh, and I haven't sent my Christmas cards  yet.    

So, yes, my Christmas shopping has all been done for some time.  Just don't ask about the follow-through. 

[alabamagal]

I haven't started - well just the Toys for Tots at work is done. We don't do a lot of gifts. Feel like I have to do something for my parents. DS is getting truck tires, no wrapping required. Will just pay for them. Then have some small things for DS and DDIL. Not sure what to do for DD.

[Anne_in_VA]

I used to shop all year long but with eight grandkids under the age of 12, I really can't do that since what they want changes from month to month.  I do buy for the grownups all year though.  

[NoNamePerson]

I am now officially finished. Spent moe time finding son's card! We try to outdo each other in the crazy card department. One year we actually got each other the same card.  

[chapeau]

Need to stop tomorrow and buy 2 boxes of candy for DH to give, and pick up gift cards for DB.
I’m still waiting for DHs gift to arrive, and one package for my sisters. Haven’t wrapped a doggone thing. Should we form some kind of support group?

[stillmovingforward]

I love to travel and buy cool things I find but I don't actually want anything. So I buy it for others while I travel. So I'm done except for the wrapping. I need that support group!

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 14, 2017 18:25:21 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

I am now officially finished. Spent moe time finding son's card! We try to outdo each other in the crazy card department. One year we actually got each other the same card.  

My sister and I have done that. It's hard finding non-pukey Christmas cards for people that tolerate each other.

[NoNamePerson]

Dec 14, 2017 20:21:44 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Dec 14, 2017 18:25:21 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

I am now officially finished. Spent moe time finding son's card! We try to outdo each other in the crazy card department. One year we actually got each other the same card.  

My sister and I have done that. It's hard finding non-pukey Christmas cards for people that tolerate each other.

If I start giving pukey cards of any kind folks will think they are dying and no one told them  I don't do mush very well.

[lurkyloo]

I keep thinking I'm done and then I do something stupid like looking at the deals on Amazon.  

DH's big gift should arrive tomorrow.  Sent it to work, bc we've had a few packages go missing from the house (out of an Awful Lot of packages...).  I suspect it's the carriers but best not to take chances with the high-dollar items.

Planning to spring DS from school tomorrow morning and take him to cost plus to pick up FIL's favorite cookie thingies and maybe a few other things.  That's mostly important for the bonding-with-kid and teaching DS about the joy of giving though...FIL and I would both be fine with what's already ordered.

I wish my dad would let me know whether he's coming for Christmas or not.  I'd order/buy a couple of things so he'd have something to open for DS' benefit (if not, a $1K iPad is quite enough!).

[taz157]

Dec 14, 2017 18:25:21 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

I am now officially finished. Spent moe time finding son's card! We try to outdo each other in the crazy card department. One year we actually got each other the same card.  

One year, DH and I got each other the same anniversary card.

[giramomma]

Getting close to being done.

[toomuchreality]

I'm pretty much done. Just waiting for the last few items to be delivered.

Need to start wrapping! Wrapping takes me way too long, for every single gift. Every day I tell myself I'll do it tomorrow, for sure! 
I still haven't started. 

[zibazinski]

There’s charities that’ll wrap for you. I need to do ribbons and bows. Bet I end up just doing bows!!

[Deleted]

I'm so screwed.  I need to put in some effort today. 

[toomuchreality]

Dec 16, 2017 8:08:17 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

There’s charities that’ll wrap for you. I need to do ribbons and bows. Bet I end up just doing bows!!

True.
I usually make my own bows, add an embellishment to the top and am kind of picky about the wrap. that's why they take me so long.

  I want mine to stand out.  

[mamasita99]

On Friday I sent out the packages that needed to be mailed, what a huge weight off my chest! Felt like I had a big paper due or something!

I'm done with everyone, with the exception of my coworkers. I picked up gift bags of pretzels from "Dutch Country" on my trip to PA this weekend. But don't know if that is still too cheap...maybe I should throw in a little bottle of booze, too! But no, this is a new job so I don't want to push my luck! 

[sesfw]

I mailed most of the packages more than a week ago and DH mailed the last two last Friday ...... so that much is done.

We saw oldest g-dtr and family over the weekend to give the packages to the babies.  We will see the younger one on Christmas Eve.  My all-time Christmas wish is for those two sisters to get along with each other.  Become even casual friends ...........

Through the years one of the gentlemen in our church has made wooden toys for kids, so a couple of weeks ago I asked him if he had any extra laying around.  He and his wife are both in their 90s and he gave up his wood shop a couple of years ago.  He didn't, but yesterday he told me he made an airplane for my 2 yr old g-g-son.  I'm thrilled beyond words.  I'm going over today to pick it up.

This gentleman was a bomber pilot at the end of WWII and flew missions over Europe.  Of his crew, he is the last one still living.  Buddy is going to sign and date the bottom of the plane, and I''m going to write a short history of Buddy for my g-g-son to have as he gets older.

My g-dtr is finally seeing the value of handmade items.

[zibazinski]

Going through the boxes I found DH’s ornaments that he bought for his daughter. I’m mailing them to her. She won’t get them before Christmas but she’ll get them.

[Deleted]

I've been through shopping for the grandkids.  DH has been on a mission to find the 3 bottles of wine (basically asti spumante but a specific brand) that our daughter-in-law requested for Christmas dinner.  She generously offered to host us since DH is having surgery.

I have tried to stop buying for myself.  January will come soon enough.  While we won't have credit card bills for the gifts we bought, we do have six months worth of car insurance for two cars due in January plus tags for both.  

So it's time to stop shopping. 

[ohmomto2boys]

Well, I thought I was done - even put the wrapping paper away and cleaned up the dining room where I wrap.
DS#2 starting asking for new shoes.  Not just any shoes - Lebron Soldier 11 shoes.  So, DH asks where we were on budget.  We are way under budget this year.  Then DH asked if we get DS#2 the shoes, what do we get DS#1 to keep it even.  So, I ordered the shoes on-line this morning, and I am picking them up in-store on my way home from work  today.  DS#1 is getting cash to the tune of $115 to make the spending even.  
We are still under budget.  But my kids sure are spoiled.

[dee27]

Dec 18, 2017 17:18:48 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

I've been through shopping for the grandkids.  DH has been on a mission to find the 3 bottles of wine (basically asti spumante but a specific brand) that our daughter-in-law requested for Christmas dinner.  She generously offered to host us since DH is having surgery.

I have tried to stop buying for myself.  January will come soon enough.  While we won't have credit card bills for the gifts we bought, we do have six months worth of car insurance for two cars due in January plus tags for both.  

So it's time to stop shopping. 

Do your grocery stores sell wine? The wine rep at Kroger's was very helpful when DH was searching for a specific brand, and the rep offered to order what he wanted, but it was out of stock. The rep told DH that no other stores in the area stocked that wine and suggested alternatives. Finally, DH found the wine on line and the shipping costs were reasonable, so he ordered a case.

[Chocolate Lover]

I thought I was done except for stocking stuff and the wrapping but I just realized I have a package to pick up at the store since shipping was free. It's at the mall 

The email that it had arrived is 2 weeks old but got buried in the pile of spam/sales emails from said store. 

[cktc]

Realizing how behind I am now that online shipping is pretty much out. Still have to find something for DH, stockings, grandparent gifts, and make some form of holiday treats.

[bean29]

Dec 19, 2017 16:39:16 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I thought I was done except for stocking stuff and the wrapping but I just realized I have a package to pick up at the store since shipping was free. It's at the mall 

The email that it had arrived is 2 weeks old but got buried in the pile of spam/sales emails from said store. 

Hopefully it is still there.  I ordered from Target pick up in store earlier this month, and vowed between Christmas and New Years it is Ship to House only.  I ordered something from Target yesterday - no local stores had it, but it was $9 cheaper at Target, it is not projected to arrive until next Wed, but my Niece will get a picture of what she wants, a GC and the $9.00 I saved.  She will be fine.

On the bright side, I went to the mall last night on my way home, and there were not a lot of people there, and lots of sales - I moved the car from one end of the mall to the other, and both times, I got real close parking.

I think I am done, but while I listed everything out in a little book, I did not total everything out, and I gave one gift I bought DH to my kids and a couple gifts I bought for my family to my Mom - so hopefully I won't feel the need to go out again.  If I need to get something, it will be for MIL and DH and possibly one adult nephew (Godchild).

I discussed with my DS last night if I should get her grandchildren gifts and she told me not to.  She correctly pointed out that we have another niece expecting, and another one getting married next year - so the grand nieces and nephews could very well increase in number in another year or two.  I am struggling with same issue on other side of family - I have a niece who will just turn 21 next week, but she has a baby.  I want to buy her a gift, and wondering if I should buy her son a gift too.  There are a few other grand nieces and nephews on that side - but only worried about the one who's Mom is not really financially stable. 

[bean29]

Dec 19, 2017 16:43:59 GMT -5 cktc said:

Realizing how behind I am now that online shipping is pretty much out. Still have to find something for DH, stockings, grandparent gifts, and make some form of holiday treats.

Target's web site said they could do Christmas Delivery on most items until the 20th. You have to put it in your cart to find out though.

[Anne_in_VA]

Well the pet stroller we ordered didn’t get delivered.  Instead we got a cat tree!  Called the 800 # and I had to take pictures of the shipping label, the order label and a pic of the box front so they can see I got the wrong item.  OK did that and sent off the email.  Now I hope we get a somewhat quick response on when they’ll ship the correct item and let me know how to return the wrong one.  If their customer service number is anything to go by, it’ll be a long wait.  I called 4 times before I was able to get to speak with someone.  The first three times I was put on hold then was disconnected after being on hold for 3+ minutes.  I finally selected the option to place an order and was finally able to speak to a live person.

[Chocolate Lover]

Dec 19, 2017 17:53:33 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Dec 19, 2017 16:39:16 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I thought I was done except for stocking stuff and the wrapping but I just realized I have a package to pick up at the store since shipping was free. It's at the mall 

The email that it had arrived is 2 weeks old but got buried in the pile of spam/sales emails from said store. 

Hopefully it is still there.  I ordered from Target pick up in store earlier this month, and vowed between Christmas and New Years it is Ship to House only.  I ordered something from Target yesterday - no local stores had it, but it was $9 cheaper at Target, it is not projected to arrive until next Wed, but my Niece will get a picture of what she wants, a GC and the $9.00 I saved.  She will be fine.

On the bright side, I went to the mall last night on my way home, and there were not a lot of people there, and lots of sales - I moved the car from one end of the mall to the other, and both times, I got real close parking.

I think I am done, but while I listed everything out in a little book, I did not total everything out, and I gave one gift I bought DH to my kids and a couple gifts I bought for my family to my Mom - so hopefully I won't feel the need to go out again.  If I need to get something, it will be for MIL and DH and possibly one adult nephew (Godchild).

I discussed with my DS last night if I should get her grandchildren gifts and she told me not to.  She correctly pointed out that we have another niece expecting, and another one getting married next year - so the grand nieces and nephews could very well increase in number in another year or two.  I am struggling with same issue on other side of family - I have a niece who will just turn 21 next week, but she has a baby.  I want to buy her a gift, and wondering if I should buy her son a gift too.  There are a few other grand nieces and nephews on that side - but only worried about the one who's Mom is not really financially stable. 

I won't cry if it's not there, it's not one of the "major" gifts but still..... 

[TheOtherMe]

I am now finished with Christmas shopping.  

[lynnerself]

Dec 16, 2017 2:05:03 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Need to start wrapping! Wrapping takes me way too long, for every single gift. Every day I tell myself I'll do it tomorrow, for sure! 
I still haven't started. 

I've switched to bags and preprinted boxes as much as possible. Not only easier, but we save and reuse them each year. Makes me feel better environmentally.
DD says she saved all the holiday shopping bags that the stores put things in and is using them as wrapping paper.

I just finished up the last of the shopping for stockings. I decided to do 5 of them at the last minute and have been running all over town for 2 days.
The last gift is supposed to arrive on Friday.