Holiday Shopping When Do You Do Yours??

I shop starting the black Friday the year before the gifts will be given. Prtly its because my daughter birthday Dec 17, husbands Dec 27, and we are expecting out 2nd on Christmas Day, so if I dont start a year before it would really break the bank. I buy stuff when I see it on sale through out the year and stash it away. I actually am all finished except for some odds and ends for friends.

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I usually start on Black Friday. Love going then ! For some reason it really gets me in the holiday mood. But this year I'm trying to get some stuff a little early. For example - Wal-Mart has a bike on sale starting tomorrow that is at least $20 cheaper than any others and the brand is a great one. I don't think I will get a better deal between now and Christmas so I am going to go ahead and get it.

All year round and mostly on line because I hate crowded stores.

Eh, I feel like Black Friday is a lot of hype. If you watch deals you can get similar deals through the year and not have to stand in insane lines or beat the rush.

I am constantly watching for deals. I buy majority of my gifts online. Amazon, and other reputable sellers. I have a few "deal" websites where people post amazing sales or great deals with published coupons that stack with sales. Like a while ago I got the Blu-ray combo pack for Beauty & the Beast for under $10 from Toys R Us. I already have a few gifts hiding out in my closet. :)

I keep the holidays cheap, but my kids are never the wiser because of how I bargain hunt. If I *do* hit the stores.. it's TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or a *really* good sale at Kohls. I really love bargain hunting though. Just how I am. I joke with my friends that part of how I made up the loss of my income when I decided to be a SAHM was learning how to make a $1 spend like $1.50. :)

I have begun already. I started from about August.
Any sale I see, I buy things that are good buys.
In terms of my kids/family/my kids' friends... and what they would like.

I am absolutely in the minority!! Not until after December 1st can Christmas be thought of. One holiday at a time for me. I would never, ever go to a middle of the night black Friday craziness. That's what my computer is for. I have no immediate or extended family on my side and on hubby's, names are drawn. My daughter takes care of her friends. I would really prefer to be in France, on a cruise or Hawaii during Christmas. Paris was the best!

I do very little shopping and most of it online.

I had the opportunity to buy tons of toys on clearance for 75%-90% off this past summer. Just yesterday I posted some on a website called bookoo to make a little extra money for my own xmas shopping. I already had several people today come & purchase items for their own xmas shopping. They all said the same thing that if they have a little extra money now, they need to spread out their shopping.

When I'm in the mood, and usually after the crowds start forming which really makes me mad at myself ;)
I do as much of it as I can online tho. So much easier.

I start shopping end of summer when all the summer toys are on clearance. I have a place in my closet that I put everything and I just keep an eye on who I have things for and who I don't and try to buy things when they are on sale. That way it spreads the cost out so I only have the "big" item to buy for xmas. good luck!

I usually prefer to shop after Thanksgiving just because I'm more in the Christmas shopping spirit. But with the economy today - I'm finding myself already planning my list. Plus I sell AVON - so most of my gifts are going to be AVON.... I LOVE Black Friday - I used to work in retail and that was one of my favorite days to work. Call me crazy, but people are so funny and fun - Good spirits and it's just a fun day!!! The time just passes by so quickly. But this year - I'm being a little more reserved and my sister and I are going to make gifts this year too. That should be fun - found a book on creative things to make and you can make basket things and ornaments out of dough - go figure. So that should be an adventure. I know I went off subject a little bit - but that's my plan this year.

When ever I have extra cash, starting around sept.

I try to start in October to spread out the cost.....

My husband and i always try to do our christmas shopping in October. Very seldom do we wait until December. When we do it so early, we aren't fighting the crowds or falling victim to "price gouging".

Good luck.

I started in July when I saw a good sale on a toy I knew my daughter would like. Now I continue to buy things as they come on sale. It's better for my budget to do it little by little instead of all at once.

Start in the summer and finish before november.

I do about 60% of my Christmas shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I would rather it be called "golden Friday" because of all the money you save. I do about 25% of my Christmas shopping during the year (especially right after Christmas) because I watch the sales and the other 15% between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

FYI: I learned over the years that each of my little kids would be invited to two or three birthday parties through out the year. I would use the after Christmas sales to buy birthday presents the kids could give out when they were invited to a party. You save lots of money that way.

I feel that neither the gift or the giver is diminished because the gift was bought on sale.

I've talked to several people that don't lile to go to the after Thankgsgiving sales. Hire a babysitter so you can go.

Good luck to you and yours.

wow....lots of responses!

I LOVE to shop on Thanksgiving weekend & all thru December! I love the crowds, the hustle & bustle, the sights & sounds! I love carrying shopping bags full of treasures! AND the bargains! (hate the parking lots, tho!) It is the one time of the year when I do this.

I do the basics prior to Thanksgiving: the books, the unusual/quirky items - the stuff I know is not going to be on sale. For the rest, I watch the sales & sometimes wait until the last minute.....as long as it's not a hugely popular item- this system works.

Make it fun! We wear Santa/elf hats, the kids have been known to wear red noses that light up. We dress well....really embracing the season. We make sure we eat somewhere cool/unusual/fun. We take carriage rides if available. We do everything to make the Thanksgiving weekend FUN! In fact for the past 10+ years, we've been going to Branson/Silver Dollar City - in addition to shopping the malls/outlets! All thru the weekend!

& as a heads-up, my husband & the other men in the family usually stay home!

I usually buy year round and then finish up my shopping on Black Friday. For some bizarre reason I love the energy and fun of Black Friday!! This year though I will be starting my shopping that day, which kinda sucks because I feel like I am already behind!

Hi S.!
I do it all year long, little by little; there is a huge difference in money and I save time. I get exactly what I want and at a better price.
In my opinion Thanksgiving season, and December are not actually the best seasons to buy Xmas presents, probably it's more fun to do it during those days, I love it, I love the smell of X-mas and stores' decorations and ornaments, so I join the crowd and I get a few during those days!!!!

All year long, whenever there is a clearance sale, and when I have a coupon! I get gifts for birthdays and Christmas whenever there is a great deal.

I sell Celebrating Home and have a lot of customers already shopping ~ plus my hostesses get FREE & 1/2 Price items so a lot of them use that to purchase Christmas items. You are welcome to look at the my website and don't miss the TREASURE CHEST! www.celebratinghome.com/sites/lindashgp

Any questions email me at ____@____.com Have fun shopping!

Usually start during the summer. If I find something, I purchase it and put it away. I purchased several items last week that I happened to come accross while I was out.

I usually like to have most of it done before Thanksgiving. I hate shopping with all the crowds, and would rather enjoy the holiday season at home or with friends, than fighting for a parking spot. Sometimes I'll go out on black Friday, or wait until I can get a good deal for something on my list.

I get what I can when I can, if I am out shopping and I see it, no matter where/when I pick it up if I can and just hang on to it until it is time to give.

I shop all year long. Usually I end up picking up a number of things while on summer vacation. But I always end up with one or two things left til the last minute.

i used to start right around thanksgiving but now that i am a single parent the money is tight. i have a 2 y/o with no sitter so i cant get out at the crack of dawn on black friday so this year i have LOVED kmart layaway !! i started in june and just done a little bit and now i am almost done. just a few little things left. i also enjoy things at the after Christmas sales that are good for next year