Christmas shopping 2008
 

So who has started their Christmas shopping? I've been looking at Black Friday ads online but more and more companies are sending them cease and desist letters so we can't see as many as usual. I understand that these companies don't want to be undercut by their competitors, but it's so helpful to be able to view these ads ahead of time too!

My daughter is totally set on getting a new cell phone that is $410!!!!! :eek: I found out Saturday that my phone is eligible for an upgrade and I can use that upgrade for hers instead so I can get it for $240. I've got her totally convinced that there is no way I can afford a $400 phone for her, so she's going to be totally surprised when she actually gets it :D That's what I love about Christmas morning.

My family does not exchange presents.

However, I do need a new TV set. Mine is 16 years old and very small. I have been looking at TV prices. Black Friday is tempting but I have an extreme fear of crowds. I have worked on Black Friday before- it is not too bad when you are the employee, but I can only imagine being the customer.

I have 45% of my Christmas shopping completed. I started shopping in August. I start early because then everything is in stock, crowds are less, lines are short, parking is available, and most importantly the monthly bills are lower and easily paid off each month when I spread it out over several months instead of all in December/right after Thanksgiving.

Peice of advice...for those of you thinking about getting a Wii or any NEW electronic item that is coming out...get it NOW....after Black Friday, the stores will be in short supply...or do like one of my friends did...get it now and play it and just get new games for the kids for Xmas



May I add to the question?

Who on here is going to be affected by the recession and how?

I know for myself, that a lot of my family memberes may come up a bit short this year and the only one that may get an 'expensive' gift is my nephew who is getting an up to date (read: not new!!) PC so he won't keep using his parents' PC to do his schoolwork...he is in kindergarten and believe it or not they are already doing a lot of work on PCs.

I would have given him a new one but....hey....that's his parents' job...heh!

I started. It wasn't that I was out looking, but ran into some things that make great gifts. Heck, I have my neice's 5th birthday present. I've been hanging onto it for 3 years already. Sometimes you just know what will be perfect, but it's just not the right time yet to give it.

This is exactly what I do every year. I hate chaos.

I've got all my shopping done.

We had our annual Holiday Bazaar last week where I bought small gifts for family from here in Europe.

Because of the recession, slow-down, whatever you want to call it, we're tightening the purse strings this year. We're big savers, and while we have a recession-proof job (the military), we just want to be careful.

So, instead of spending lots of money on individual gifts for our immediate family, we're purchasing some camping gear that we all will be able to use together.

Everyone has an agreement this year. Since the economy is in such a shambles, we are not exchanging any gifts. The only kids in the immediate family are 20 and 17. They like gift cards, particularly the one in college likes Barnes and Nobles since they own the book store at college. I usually buy them something inexpensive, but personal to wrap with the gift card.

I haven't decided if I will buy for my cousin's kids since they live 1800 miles away and the parents have never acknowledged the gifts in the past. Even if they aren't sending thank you notes, they can at least call or email to say that they got it.

I am throwing in a do-it-yourself kit for my dad to make his own Pulled Pork. He is always asking me to make it and it's so easy. I'll make up the dryrub, give him the bottled sauce I will always use, put in a copy of the instructions and say, "Just Add Pork".

I haven't started holiday shopping as of yet, but my wife and I have vowed to do things much earlier than in past years. We'll probably start this weekend, and hope to be done by early December.

Personally, I have always been a last-minute shopper. That worked well when I was living in Boston, and only needed to take the T downtown to do my shopping. If the lines were long, I could just wander around the city. Now, living in CT, waiting too long means I have to deal with traffic, etc.

As for the recession - my wife and I are very lucky in that we still have our jobs and our companies are doing well (knock on wood). That said, we're not going overboard this year, and we're trying to save even more just in case one of our companies gets into trouble.

LOL...I was picturing a teen.

They start them off fast..what can I say....

Won't be a huge Christmas at my house.

I'm buying myself a digital camera and maybe a web cam and maybe another Ipod. The offspring will be getting practical stuff from Mommy and will be getting spoiled by both sets of grands; maybe I'll splurge on a Shuffle for her. This will be our first Christmas without Daddy, so I am not doing anything super special.

I haven't started at all. I think this year, everyone is getting gift cards.

U know u are getting an Ipod...why are u fronting....LOL

We only exchange gifts at Christmas, and we have a small family, so it looks to be a normal Christmas. Unfortunately, most of us must provide a list on Thanksgiving, so I can't do any real shopping until then. I've perfected the internet/Christmas Eve Shopping Spree over the years!