Christmas shopping 2008

ThetaPrincess24 · #1 11-17-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

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!!!!!

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

That's what I love about Christmas morning.

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.

DaemonSeid · #2 11-17-2008, 08:50 AM

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!

Benzgirl · #3 11-17-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

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!

LOL...I was picturing a teen.

DaemonSeid · #4 11-17-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

LOL...I was picturing a teen.

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

ComradesTrue · #5 11-17-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

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.

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

scbelle · #6 11-17-2008, 09:55 AM

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.

Benzgirl · #7 11-17-2008, 10:19 AM

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".

APhi Sailorgirl · #8 11-17-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

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.

My brother and sister-in-law live only 1 mile down the street and can't even get their kids to "thank you" to our faces when we give them presents.

Plus after they didn't get us a wedding gift I've decided they're getting a family gift and I'll be damned if I'm going to hunt down stuff for their 5 kids.

SWTXBelle · #9 11-17-2008, 02:19 PM

The Wii system I got this summer was the "big gift" for my boys - they will get new games for it. My youngest daughter will get an i-pod, and I'm stumped for my eldest daughter. I need to get her an electric guitar, but the music store I had good credit with changed banks, and I can't get a new account - even though I NEVER missed a payment for her last guitar. Sigh.

There will be no adult gifts this year. I have my nieces and nephews taken care of thanks to clearance sales I've come across throughout the year. My children will have their usual bountiful stockings, but no other gifts from me. I love Christmas shopping, and hate that I can't do more this year.

AGDee · #10 11-17-2008, 03:19 PM

I'm making sure that I'm paying cash for everything. I just don't want to go into debt for Christmas. Since I get paid every other week (26 times a year), I really only have pay household bills out of 24 of those paychecks so I get ahead of myself twice a year. We're at that point so I'll spend one whole paycheck (minus gas, groceries, misc. cash needed for the pay period) on Christmas. I don't buy for that many though.. 2 kids and their Dad, My dad, his wife, my brother and then three aunts/uncles. I get something for my boss too. The aunts/uncles will get something ordered online from somewhere like Figi's, Hickory Farms or Mrs. Prindables Apples. I'm waiting for lists from Dad, His Wife and Brother. My girlie is getting that phone. It's up to the kids, but I'm going to suggest a digital photoframe for their dad, loaded with pics of them from birth to current. I get my brother stuff on his list, usually DVDs, CDs, and U of Mich stuff. I found a bottle coozy that said Michigan on it from Walmart a while ago and got that already. My son can't think of what he wants other than 3 video games and some video editing software. I want him to come up with something better!

DaemonSeid · #11 11-17-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APhi Sailorgirl

My brother and sister-in-law live only 1 mile down the street and can't even get their kids to "thank you" to our faces when we give them presents.

Plus after they didn't get us a wedding gift I've decided they're getting a family gift and I'll be damned if I'm going to hunt down stuff for their 5 kids.

yeah...when u start getting ungrateful folks, regardless of a recession or a progression (do economists ever call it that?)that's money that shouldn't be wasted.

KSigkid · #12 11-17-2008, 10:22 AM

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.