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Christmas: a gift buying poll
First off, no, I have not fallen and hit my head on the toilet seat (and thereby invented the flux capacitor, for all you Back to the Future fans). I'm totally aware it's August. However, I have just had two friends cheerfully inform me that they already have all of their Christmas shopping done. I thought I was pretty good because I usually have mine done by the first (OK, sometimes second) week of December, but they put me to shame! So here's a little gift buying poll...
* * * * *
When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)?
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)?
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit?
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy?
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year?
Do you make any gifts?
Re: Christmas: a gift buying poll
When do you normally start Christmas shopping? I start looking around the beginning of November and generally finish by the beginning of December (although sometimes not until mid-December). Obviously there aren't any post-Thanksgiving sales in Australia so there's no point in waiting longer.
How many people do you buy gifts for? I think about 15 people, almost all of which are immediate family. I used to buy for cousins, their kids, etc., but I have a lot of relatives and it's just too expensive now! We don't usually buy gifts for friends - we all just meet up and have a fun lunch/dinner at someone's house.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit? Mostly a set budget, but sometimes not. We usually set a $$ limit and try to stick to that - however, if we see something that we know someone will love that's above the price limit, we'll usually make an exception. We also tend to spend whatever we feel like on each other (we don't really buy each other gifts during the rest of the year, so Christmas is a time to splurge).
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy? Depends on the person. I'd say I shop with something in mind for about 90% of my people - the other 10% are generally people that are harder to buy for, so I have to wait for inspiration to strike.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year? FIL, mostly because he doesn't have many interests/hobbies that I can identify (and Ben is no help lol!). And my dad in a way - I always end up finding something good for him, but he's usually the last one I buy for because it takes me a while to find something good.
Do you make any gifts? Not normally. I have in the past, but I discovered that I was spending so much on supplies (not to mention my time) that it wasn't really saving me any money, which was my primary reason for doing it.I love Christmas but it's too early for me to think about it! I'm trying to enjoy these last days of summer!!
When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)?I usually wait until December to start my Christmas shopping. I would like to start earlier, but it never happens.How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)? Usually just immediate family -- my extended family is huge and it can get pricey to get something for everyone, plus be creative. Now that I'm married, that would mean getting gifts for 9 people. For other family and friends, I want to get Christmas cards made early and make sure those get mailed out in early December.Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit?I don't have a set budget, but am definitely am price sensitive. Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy?Shop with ideas in mind, otherwise it will take forever. If I happen to see something that reminds me of someone and think it will be perfect for them, then I will buy it.Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year?It's so hard to get my parents gifts - I feel like they have everything (molded handprints don't cut it anymore, haha). Even for MH, it can be hard sometimes.Do you make any gifts?
I wish I was more creative so I can make gifts. If I was a good at baking, I would love to give treats, especially around the holidays. Would be also useful if I knew how to knit or something like that. My best creative gifts have been photo albums made online!
When do you normally start Christmas shopping? Generally, I start thinking about ideas in September/October, and start buying in October.
How many people do you buy gifts for? Honestly, you might think I'm crazy, but I really only buy for MH and my three nieces anymore. My immediate family has just gotten too huge with remarriages, stepsiblings, kids, etc. My sister and I both decided a few years ago not to buy for adults anymore, only kids. I don't expect gifts, either, although (even though I tell her not too), my mom still ends up getting me something.
I do make everyone a gift box of homemade goodies, and I usually end up buying an ornament for my mom and sister (we've exchanged ornaments for years). Sometimes I buy random ornaments for other people too, if something strikes me.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit? No set limit. We tried setting a limit on what we buy each other years ago, and it ended up being just a gift card exchange. Therefore, like I said, we only buy for the kids now.
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy? Definitely need ideas. But for the ornaments I buy, I just see something I like for them.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year? MH! He already buys everything he wants!
Do you make any gifts? Yes. Like I said, I make goodie boxes. Usually they have my famous sugar cookies, fudge, chocolate-covered pretzel rods, rum balls, and caramel corn.....all that I make from scratch and put in a fancy white box. I make about a dozen of them for immediate family, neighbors, and a few select coworkers (boss, secretaries, etc.).Holy crap this sounds good!
Ummm...yeah...ditto this big time. I hope we do a holiday nestie exchange and you pull my name!!! lol
And can I just say how much i freakin' love that pic of Henry! Way too cute. And the twins. Lisa, are getting cuter with every new pic if that's even possible.
When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)? Usually after Christmas to catch the after Christmas sales! Then I continue to browse throughout the yr.
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)? Usually I buy for immediate family and close friends. Coworkers get smaller gifts.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit? I don't have a specific budget, but I am very conscious of how much I am spending.
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy? I'm a browser.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year? Not really
Do you make any gifts? Yes! I plan on making some baked goods, snacks, and homemade cards.
When do you normally start Christmas shopping?
Usually around November?
How many people do you buy gifts for?
10 My immediate family (and spouses), DH, and his immediate family (and spouses).
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit?
For my immediate family, we set a $20 limit. Christmas was never a big deal in our family. DH's family goes crazy... but we try to keep it around $50
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy?
Ideas already in mind. I end up getting the same thing for everyone each year.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year?
SIL and HH. Extremely brand-conscious and are ahead of all fashion trends... It always ends up being itunes cards or something like that...
Do you make any gifts?
I make jewelery, cards, chocolate & other goodies. I'd like to learn to knit and crochet stuff.When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)? I like to start in November but I'm usually not done until first week of December (I have to ship most of mine to Hawaii and Washington - from Germany - so we have to start early).
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)? I have a lot of siblings so that increases our numbers. We buy for my siblings, dad, stepmom, a collective present for my stepbrothers/their girlfriends/kids (just to be nice). We also buy for MH's parents and grandpa. After that we sometimes buy little things for friends but never anything big (usually themed - I did ornaments for everyone one year and Germany trinkets last year).
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit? We set a general budget (friends are a certain amount, siblings are another amount).
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy? I almost always shop with something in mind. Although I shouldn't stress, I really want to get people something they'll like or use. But as I am shopping I'll usually find something that strikes my fancy.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year? My dad. He never gives ideas and I don't live close enough to get ideas. I get tired of buying him t-shirts.... plus his birthday is three weeks after Christmas so after I'm done with that struggle I have to think of something again.
Do you make any gifts? I would love to make gifts but my fear is that people will think it's crap. I would hate for someone to open their gift and think "what the heck is this". One year I had every intention to knit scarves for some people... however, I forgot how to end the knitting and start a new one so that never happened.
When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)?
I try to keep my eyes open all year round, but we usually get it done by early-mid December. Never really waited until xmas eve though. I'm not a fan of the mall crowd during holiday season. People are simply MEAN and RUDE!
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)?
hmm... 10 to 15. DH has siblings, while I don't. So it's mostly his family plus some friends. And no, never 2nd cousins twice removed! We're not the super propoer type who buys presents for eeeeverybody and annnnybody.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit?
We do (I think). It's a per-person budget, not really a total budget, if that makes sense. DH does the budgeting for our famliy, and I know that he allocates funds for gift buying for the entire year, which also includes bday, special occasions, etc.
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy?
I brainstorm first, then start looking. Althoguh, i get sidetracked by other things i see randomly online or in stores. So, I guess my answer is "both".
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year?
DH's SILs. One of them likes fancy/luxury brand bags. UH, we can't really afford to make her happy every year. Last year, the other SIL put a pair of burberry rainboots on her wishlist. We were just speechless.
Do you make any gifts?
I did one year for then bf (DH now). I ended up taking a pottery classes so I can make a cereal bowl for him. The class itself costed more than a dozen bowls. Oh, and my other pieces from the classes were unusable, cuz the size/shape were just not practical. LOL It was fund though.
When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)?
Since 2008, I have been kicking it off the day after Thanksgiving. Before that, probably the beginning of Dec. I NEVER finish until the day before Christmas Eve. Something about making myself go to at least one store just to go and feel the excitement!
Hopefully Mrs IH will come down and spend Thanksgiving with me in a few years! She is welcome to bring toddler IH, I have 2 babysitters (by then 3) that work for freeeeeee!
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)?
Gifts for about 20 people.
Each year, we give each of our kids each a $100 bill and then spend about $200 on each of them (3 kids). We usually get something nice for DH's parents because it's important to DH and to them ($$ varies, this year they are getting a flat screen tv for the family room, I don't want to know how much that is going to cost). My parents are just happy to hang out and eat. We do get gifts for DH's brothers and sister (4) and his nieces and nephews (7) and my nieces and nephew (3).
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit?
Budget (except for MIL/FIL - varies). Will spend a little extra or a little less if the gift just really fits the person.
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy?
We get lists from the kids, so definately shopping with a mission. I don't care about DH's siblings gifts, he's on his own with that.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year?
Nope.
Do you make any gifts?
I make baked goods for the neighbors and some coworkers, but not as a gift really, just throughout the holiday season starting around Halloween time. My neighbors LOVE me Oct - Jan!
When do you normally start Christmas shopping?
I keep a running list of gift ideas all year, and do the actual shopping over Black Friday weekend for the sales (but I buy online if I can). My family lives far away, so I need time to buy, wrap, and then ship everything out again.
How many people do you buy gifts for?
We gift our immediate family, their SO's, a few close friends, and that's it. My immediately family is pretty huge, so that busts the budget most years.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit?
We definitely have to set a budget, and stick to it. There are just too many people to give everything we'd like to give.
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy?
I always have a list, but if I see something I like better and it fits the budget, I'll pick that up instead.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year?
Jon's mom is a challenge. If she sees something she likes, she just buys it, so the trick is finding something she's never seen. J's not very creative, he just wants to get her gift cards, so it usually falls on me to find something unique.
Do you make any gifts?
We do cookie tins for friends, and one year we made a CD of our favorite Christmas songs (some traditional, some modern) - that was a BIG hit. This year I started canning, so everyone can expect a little jar of jam, sauce or salsa.
Ummmm...hello....I'll come down THIS year!
But even better if all 3 of the H Family were in attendance with me!
Yes, please do! You can 'help' me through Thanksgiving Day with my IL's! I would LOVE for someone to see what I actually deal with! Then, we shop our butt's off on Friday, eat leftovers and get drunk! Ahhhhh, PERFECT!
When do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)? I used to start in July, but it's been more like Oct/Nov the last few years.
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)? Just family, so about 10 (MH adds 6). I buy for my side, MH buys for his side. MH is awesome at good gifts. Me, I need a list.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit? definitely a budget
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy? my family makes mandatory christmas lists every year, although they are just ideas.
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year? my grandmother!
Do you make any gifts? Does making a photo calendar on Kodak Galley count?
hahaha i was just thinking about this yesterday!!!!!
hahahah how i should get started cause i don't know how i'll be later to be in the stores... hahaha
do you normally start Christmas shopping (January for post-holiday sales? Mid-year? Christmas Eve?)? black friday. i know. i'm crazy. but this year i'm thinking internet is the way to go
How many people do you buy gifts for (a rough number, plus whether it's just immediate family...or all of your family including second cousins twice removed...or all family plus friends...or all family plus friends plus coworkers...you get the idea...)? immediate family (including ILs), kids in the fam, a few friends, coworkers.
Do you have a set budget for gift buying or the sky's the limit? budget per person! hahaha
Do you normally shop with ideas already in mind, or just browse until something strikes your fancy? i usually have ideas in mind. mh is responsible for his side of the fam. i think what strikes his fancy and is fastest is his idea...
Is there anyone on your shopping list that you struggle to buy for every year? my mom. it's like when doves cry...
Do you make any gifts? nope! but maybe this year i'll feel like nesting.. hahaha
hawaii 10.2008 plan ;P married bio ???