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I know just shoot me - how depressing , 4 months to xmas . Any one started shopping yet.

I do it all a week or two before....

Actually ours is easy. This laptop IS my gift. We want a new TV, but when we get it that will be Rick's gift.

We only buy for the grandkids and my niece. Gift cards all around.

pantsonfire321@aol.com wrote: I know just shoot me - how depressing , 4 months to xmas . Any one started shopping yet.


Yes! Lol! I start shopping in July and buy little bits and bobs every month. It really helps spread the cost!

*eek*

Ghads, 3 weeks until school starts, that's depressing enough...................I go back to teachers meetings in 2 weeks.........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Rapunzel wrote: Yes! Lol! I start shopping in July and buy little bits and bobs every month. It really helps spread the cost!


Me too.

pantsonfire321@aol.com wrote: Me too.


Yay! I'm not the only wierdo!

Way to go pants ol' buddy!

Diuretic wrote: Shopping? Now? It's not 24 hours until Christmas Day yet. Guilt, terror and panic are my shopping motivators.


:wah: Yep, Same here!!

So, we could have a virtual Secret Santa here in the Garden. Give each other virtual gifts.

Marie5656 wrote: So, we could have a virtual Secret Santa here in the Garden. Give each other virtual gifts.


We did last year - it was fab!

I got a BEAUTIFUL diamond necklace!! :-6

Thankyou Secret Santa! :-4

I wear it virtually all the time!

I want new Ugg boots.....

Ha-Santa will have to get out the wish list.........................

tmbsgrl wrote: Chonsi- you are lucky you don't live here! School started already!!
yes, they start earlier there, and get out sooner also. We start in 3 weeks, my college class won't start until the end of September.

Is that what Christmas is all about----shopping? I do buy gifts...but after Thanksgiving.

I plan on enjoying autumn first. No shopping...just enjoying the cooler weather and the colorful leaves

A secret Santa in the garden. What a brilliant idea!!! I would love to join in when the time comes.

pantsonfire321@aol.com wrote: I know just shoot me - how depressing , 4 months to xmas . Any one started shopping yet.
Only 139 days? I came home in a good mood. Now I'm depressed.:-1

Grumpaz wrote: A secret Santa in the garden. What a brilliant idea!!! I would love to join in when the time comes.
I think in November, we will have a little letter writing contest-and those who want to be Santa can apply for that position. Ha-I will pass over Santa to them, and oh boy! (still having Elf and crew in reserve) :wah:

Father Christmas

Father Christmas,

He got stuck

He got stuck

Going down the chimney

Going down the chimney

Phew, Thats just luck

Uggh I hate the Christmas count down.. :-5 :-5 Just make me even more aware of the fact I will be broke again in 4 months..:p

l.plates wrote: Father Christmas

Father Christmas,

He got stuck

He got stuck

Going down the chimney

Going down the chimney

Phew, Thats just luck


My kids used to sing this when they were little, but with a different last line:

Father Christmas

Father Christmas,

He got stuck

He got stuck

Going down the chimney

Going down the chimney

What bad luck

What BAD LUCK!!! (shouted)

It was Hilarious!!! :wah: :wah:

CARLA wrote: Uggh I hate the Christmas count down.. :-5 Just make me even more aware of the fact I will be broke again in 4 months...


Thats why I start now!

Quite a few years ago I used to buy it all on Christmas Eve. But one year I found all the good stuff AND the cheap stuff was gone, and only expensive rubbish was left! I spent a fortune on stuff and NOBODY liked their presents! And Boy, did they complain!

Since then I've spread it out and it works much better. I love buying on Ebay! Some people (who don't use Ebay) think it is all second hand junk, but a huge amount of stuff is actually brand new! I like to buy from the USA Ebay site because you can get stuff that just isn't available in the UK.

For instance, my daughter loves the Powerpuff Girls. On UK Ebay I can buy magazines and odds and ends, but the USA Ebay has HUGE cushions in the shape of each powerpuff girl, so I bought her all 3 for last Xmas.

This year she fell in love with a Tinkerbell bedding set. Isn't it gorgeous?



But its very rare and costs nearly $200, which is ridiculous! It's also for a Queen size bed, so waaay too big for her bed!

However, I found a lady selling the fleece with this pattern for only about $10 and another lady sold the matching pillowcases for $5! This will suit her much better and I know she'll be thrilled when she receives them!

I also bought her this adorable little polar bear rug for her room.



It was only £4 to buy and £3 postage, which is much cheaper than you'd buy it for in a shop! And its really cute and cuddly!

Next week I'm going to strip my son's walls and paint him an underwater scene. He's mad about Spongebob and so hubby (the artist) is going to paint spongebob and patrick on them. I've got some small wooden boats and a tiny treasure chest that I'm going to hot glue to the wall and a wooden fish mobile to hang. I've also got a treasure map which I'm going to stain with tea and hot glue to the bottom of the wall (the sea bed!)

I bought him a gorgeous book called 'Pirateology' for Christmas and from USA Ebay he's got a spongebob fleece and a spongebob rug!

Sorry to rabbit on so much, but I really find that if you buy stuff as you go along, you can REALLY buy all the stuff they want AND not be stoney broke come Christmas! Then you can buy lots of scrummy food and drink and something nice for yourselves because its not all gone on the kids and those distant rellies that you only see at Christmas!

Whew! Rabbit over! hehehe

I'm actually starting to buy my chirstmas gifts online more and more.

On sites like

DesigningMe.org (for a unique customised gift)

ebay.com (for anything i can find)

The good thing is i can save money, but it does take planning cause you have to order things a month or so before christmas, so they don't come late.