[JediRach]

Where do you do most of your shopping? Are you done with your holiday shopping? What is your favorite gift you've bought for someone this year?

[**Jenn**]

We do most of our shopping online, other than that Target and Toys R Us are pretty much tied.

Not done yet. My parents are taking the boys this weekend to a train show so we're going to knock out the rest of our shopping (and all the wrapping hopefully) this weekend.

Favorite gift for someone else this year I think is the e-reader for my Mom. She's been wanting one since the beginning of the year and no one has gotten her one.

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I stick with the PX for the most part. It is cheaper then other places and everything else that is not super ghetto is like 20ish mins away. LOL. I am done with holiday shopping other then stuff for cookies! I am most excited to see Landen's face when he see's his train table!!!!

[Bre*n*Will=Reid]

We don't have the funds to shop for anyone besides Reid really I'm having a hard time this year, just really down and depressed feeling. I'm trying to think of nice, free/super cheap things to do for everyone, but there are so many people to "shop" for that I am overwhelmed and want to cry just thinking about it. Going to make cookies for my stepdad, peanut brittle for my step mom, enlarged a photo for my dad.....and everyone else (sister & BIL, brother, step-sis, little sis, stepdad, my mom, in-laws, BIL & SIL, grandma, etc) - nada. One of my photography friends was able to help me get something for my mom, so that was a bright spot of my day today.

I have been slowly stocking up on things for Reid, but they are mostly from the dollar store or Target dollar bin. I got him a lot of clothes on clearance and a few books....the only decent gift I was able to get him was a little kids digital camera at Costco. Thankfully he's 2 and will love the cheap gifts as much as expensive ones, but I still feel like s***. DH and I already agreed to not exchange gifts.

Okay, sorry for my vent. I've been on the verge of tears all day.

[JediRach]

Originally Posted by Bre*n*Will=Reid

We don't have the funds to shop for anyone besides Reid really I'm having a hard time this year, just really down and depressed feeling. I'm trying to think of nice, free/super cheap things to do for everyone, but there are so many people to "shop" for that I am overwhelmed and want to cry just thinking about it. Going to make cookies for my stepdad, peanut brittle for my step mom, enlarged a photo for my dad.....and everyone else (sister & BIL, brother, step-sis, little sis, stepdad, my mom, in-laws, BIL & SIL, grandma, etc) - nada. One of my photography friends was able to help me get something for my mom, so that was a bright spot of my day today.

I have been slowly stocking up on things for Reid, but they are mostly from the dollar store or Target dollar bin. I got him a lot of clothes on clearance and a few books....the only decent gift I was able to get him was a little kids digital camera at Costco. Thankfully he's 2 and will love the cheap gifts as much as expensive ones, but I still feel like s***. DH and I already agreed to not exchange gifts.

Okay, sorry for my vent. I've been on the verge of tears all day.

I'm sorry hon. We are really strapped for cash this year too, so much so that I had to go back to work, so I am working nights and we still aren't breaking even. I know how you feel. We just got Harper some clothes and some books on clearance at Kohl's. DH and I aren't exchanging gifts this year either and his parents decided to cancel Christmas so I'm not going to worry about getting them anything.

I hope things start looking up for you all soon.

[Frozendesire]

Umm variety however this year it was split between two places... Walmart and the baby boutique I work at. The boys got lots of Melissa and Doug stuff and other special toys from my work, and Curtis wanted some items that I found at Walmart. We don't have good shopping places here but thankfully we found everything we needed/wanted.

I did stocking stuffer toys at the five buck store

Our Christmas is going to be smaller then past ones but I feel very pleased with what we've gotten. Key items that I know the boys will love And some things that I'm writing off as gifts that are actually "needed" like a toddler bed haha. He'll LOVE it though

Also my new job came in super handy... with the shifts I've worked I've been able to pay for Christmas completely! This way it's not interrupting our budget with James' pay. Plus I got discounts

[**Jenn**]

I'm sorry for everyone struggling, we are too and it sucks! We wouldn't have been able to get half of what we've gotten had we not taken advantage of major sales, coupons, and clearance items. With 3 kids to buy for it can geat overwhelming and expensive really quickly.

Dh and I don't exchange gifts, nor do we with our siblings, so that saves there.

[.Brandi.]

Bre, I'm so sorry!!! I know exactly where you're coming from! Last year was hell for us! Chris was unemployed and I worked VERY part time at the Children's Place and everything I made there had to go for bills since Chris' unemployment from being laid off was coming to an end. My parents bought gifts for us to place under our tree for the boys so Santa brought them something and they didn't feel forgotten.

This year, Mason is too little and is getting nothing from us. I haven't done any Christmas shopping for Preston yet, but I have one item in mind. For Edward, I've only gotten a tee ball glove with a ball attached because he's going to start tee ball in the spring. Both the boys want a little kitchen thing but we just can't afford it. We're maybe going to do it for a joint birthday gift...I don't know. Everyone else is getting a sweater ornament that I'm knitting and my nephews are getting owl hats that I'm knitting for them too. Real exciting for them but oh well!!! My sister in law is a snob so I really don't care!

[**Jenn**]

You can really make out at the dollar store! We got the boys these train banks that they paint themselves a couple months ago and they absolutely loved them! It was a great activity and they really cherish them. Plus little kids don't care about name brands or anything so we don't feel compelled to get those high priced things. We got a bunch of wooden train track at the Christmas Tree Shop, it's not "Thomas" wooden track but its compatable and soooooo much cheaper--I'm talking like a couple bucks! We actually did a lot of shopping at the Christmas Tree Shop because its so inexpensive. We got a lot of great things for the boys there

I hate to see anyone feeling bad this time of year. All our kids and families love us and wouldn't want us breaking the bank for them. Do what you can and that's all that you can do. I think making cookies or breads or whatever is a great gift to family, I know I'd appreciate something homemade for Christmas!

Some other great places to shop are Walgreens, CVS, Home Goods, even the grocery store. You can get some really good/cheap bargains!

[.Brandi.]

We make out pretty well at TJMaxx and Ross too! As well as Gordmans! (I don't know what stores are in other places, but this is what we have in Colorado! )

[Mjp121212]

I got nearly everything on Clearance or with $300 that my mom gave me ($150 to pay me for working for her and $150 to get him stuff from her) I made out on black friday and got most everything then. I'm crocheted scarfs and made scrapbook pages for others. I had gifts I bought for my niece last year that were never given to her so I'm re-gifting those and a few bathsets I never used. Most of what is under my tree is school clothes for him for next year! I saved back a bit of my grant and saved up his child support and then I cashed in $80 of change to get that and Thanksgiving dinner.

Bre: I completely understand One of my mom's favorite gifts was the serenity prayer printed on pretty scrapbook paper (25 cents most places) and put in a 5x7 frame from the dollar tree! 1.25 and she still has it displayed! Last year I couldn't get hardly anything and I spent $5 on glass mason jars and got the dry ingredients for cookies, half yard of christmas fabric and cheap .75 ribbon....layered the ingredients, capped the jar with the fabric and tied the ribbon on with the recipe printed out. It was like a total of $15-$20 and i had gifts for 12 people.

[Mars]

Bre, I'm sorry. My situation is a bit different to yours but I give cakes to households for Christmas. I buy mine but you could bake something you know they would like and give to the house to use as part of the Christmas meal for dessert. You could also make different kinds of cookies and package them in 4s or 6s and give in a nice package that you made.

Bre, it seems like you got him great things so far so don't beat yourself up. I understand that the situation may not be the most comforting but Reid will be great.

I think it's good for children to see and understand that the "thought" of the gift is more important than the cost. I guess most of the children here are too young to understand that but these are lessons that should be thought and nurtured throughout the growing up phase so that they understand that parents don't always have the cash available to provide many things or expensive things but that regardless they are loved and when possible, they will get. And when not possible, you adapt.

As for me, it wouldn't help to know where I shopped since the stores here are not the chains carried in the US/UK/Canada where most persons are from. No Walmarts, Targets, Macys, Old Navy's, Kohls, Burlington, etc.

[Resi]

I bought most everything online. Amazon was #1, Nova Natural Toys, and PBK. I got my mom a coffee pot at JC Penney and bought a few things in the PBK store for Oliver. I prefer online shopping.

This year we went a little over board and spent a lot on Oliver. Damon and I are exchanging gifts but we have had years when we didn't because money was tight. Last year we were broke around this time of the year but this Christmas we are better off. However, we are only doing gifts for Oliver, our parents, and eachother. We aren't doing anyone else. That makes it easier on us.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Originally Posted by JediRach

Where do you do most of your shopping? Are you done with your holiday shopping? What is your favorite gift you've bought for someone this year?

I do it online.. I find if I stay out of the stores I spend WAY less money! LOL
I'm 95% done. Just need to get my grandma/brother and that is it.
London is getting a Bamboletta doll!!!!! (and troy and I just got Bose travel speakers!)