Holiday Shopping Randoms

[icedcoffee]

How's everyone doing on their shopping?  It's been quiet this year on gifts over here!  

I just started wrapping and I'm realizing we really don't have gifts for the kids which is fine if we go to my parents because she'll have plenty for them to open but if we need to pivot last minute to staying here because of covid we are kind of screwed although it's easy enough to run out to Target and just buy random crap.  LOL

So far we got the boys a pop-a-shot which is obviously the main attraction.  Then we got a few books, lite brite refills, a pair of PJS, 

I ordered this for DS2:  www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QV6V6YK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is so hard because we get a lot of free buy nothing toys throughout the year so they already have what they need.  A couple weeks ago they got the Mario hot wheels race track for free.  I can't compete with that!!

I also haven't really bought for other adults and I think I just might not....:::shrug:::

[momin2013]

We got DS a PS5 this year. That pretty much blew the budget, but I really wanted him to have a handful of gifts like usual to throw him off the track (if he sees just one gift under the tree he’ll definitely know what it is). The bundle came with an extra controller and DH insisted that he’ll also need the charging station, so there will also be those under the tree. The only other thing I’ve gotten him is a moon ball, but I’m thinking I want to find one more little thing just so he can open a couple of non PS5 things first to throw him off the track.

The only other people we buy for are our niece and nephew, but what we do there is my brother picks up something for each of them and wraps it as from us, and we get an extra item for DS and wrap it as from them, then we exchange/open when we all get together, so that’s easy.

Stockings are done - got the usual bath bombs, chocolates, scratch cards for all three of us, plus Fortnite card and also a mug cake mix for DS (saw the idea on here!).

I just need to wrap everything!

[kdubs923]

My kids are pretty much set. I have wrapped nothing so far. DH and I don't exchange (we need a new washer/dryer, so that will be our gift lol), but we do fun stocking stuff. Those are pretty much done. I buy my own stocking stuffers & give to DH to fill. For a few years, the stuff in 3 stockings (the kids & DH) all looked verrrrryyyy similar (overflowing with favorite candies & fun novelty items), and mine looked way different (a pair of socks/crap bought on CVS on Christmas Eve). So now I buy some of my stocking stuff because 1. I like my stuff better lol 2. the kids would definitely notice the difference. I know they won't believe in Santa forever, but I don't want DH's crappy stocking filling to be the reason they stop believing.

DH's family all buys for everyone. I've complained for years that there's no reason to buy for his brothers, their wives, their grown children & those kids' spouses/significant others. We are all very fortunate & live comfortable lives. There is nothing I could buy for my BIL & SIL that they could/would not buy for themselves at any time of the year. MIL and one SIL finally were on board with drawing a name. Or moving to experience gifts - family weekend vacation together/tickets to a show and dinner together/whatever. We brought it up at Thanksgiving and the other SIL said she had already bought for everyone and could not return them.... so. We're all buying for everrrrryyyoonneeee again this year. Ugh. I'm so uninspired trying to buy for people that have everything. Hell, DH and I don't want gifts from all those people. We're always trying to get rid of stuff in our house, not get more things.

[abs]

I’m all set for DD.

Everyone else?! Ehhh. I have no ideas and it feels like an obligation this year. My mom and I agreed on no gifts for adults this year so that’s good. I guess it will be lots of gift cards for DH’s side. I also don’t have much for DH but I’m calling it done anyways.

[expectantsteelerfan]

My dh's family decided this year that instead of all of the adults buying for all of the adults (we usually spend something like $40-$50 on each person, buying for a total of 8 adults), we'd do a grab bag and buy 1 $100 gift. So that cut down on a lot of my gift buying AND my gift-list making, which was nice. It seems a little odd not to buy anything for dh's parents at all, but we'll see how it actually plays out and if we keep this up. We are still buying for all the kids, which is more fun anyway.

I also didn't do the 'adopt a family' this year that I traditionally do, and instead just made a flat donation toward the charity that runs it. There were a couple reasons for it this year, but I honestly feel like not doing it cut down on so much of the shopping I usually do (I usually set myself a budget and then bargain shop as much as I can to make that budget go as far as I can for the family), so it's stressful, but also something I enjoy doing, so it's weird to not do it this year. It's a relief and a let down at the same time if that makes sense.

And I just organized my gifts for my kids this week and freaked out because dd technically didn't have anything to open other than some clothes and accessories because her 2 main gifts are Taylor Swift concert tickets and Pink concert tickets. And then I finally got her to pick something else she wanted that was on par with what ds is getting, a Switch game, and I went to buy it, and it's digital download only! So I was like, I guess I can print out a picture of the Switch game, and then I was trying to figure out how to do a mock up of concert tickets, and all the free templates I tried to download weren't working on google docs and I got super frustrated and complained to my bff, and she was like, I can make something in photoshop, and in 5 min. she made tickets using images from the actual concert promos that look awesome, and now I'm excited to print those out for dd to open (she knows about Taylor Swift but Pink is a surprise).

[VillainV]

I think we’re done! We get on a cruise ship in three days and disembark on Christmas Eve, so I really hope we’re done!!

[felicity]

We always get DH’s aunts and uncles a little small gift because they all get us stuff and I feel weird giving nothing. This year I picked up little potted paperwhite bulbs from Trader Joe’s. I have gotten the amaryllis bulbs for them in the past which went over well so I thought these would be fun. So the paperwhites apparently bloom really quickly and are all blooming now, and Google tells me they just bloom once for about two weeks and then they’re done. So now I don’t know what to do because we won’t see them until the 24th, it sounds like the flowers will be about done on these, and I know DH will be annoyed if I go out and get them all something else. And also adding to this is the blooms stink. I have six of these things stinking up the room.

[moonpie]

I don’t know if I’m feeling cheap this year or if my kids are just into more expensive stuff, but I feel like we have barely bought them anything and have spent a lot!

I wish we’d stop exchanging gifts with extended family. Our house is full to the brim with toys and the other families are so hard to buy for. For example, my nieces and nephews are teens but their family doesn’t allow electronics, video games, makeup, etc. Even books are pretty limited. You can only buy so many pairs of pajamas and fuzzy socks for a kid lol.

[ssmjlm]

The only thing I have left to buy is some chocolates for the stockings and a gift card for BIL.

I don't even know if we'll see BIL and his girlfriend, but I grabbed a candle at Costco and will do a HD gift card, so if they no show on us again, it's things we'll use anyway.

[christy082]

I'm done but have no idea when I'm going to get time to wrap.

My daughter is getting a scruf a luv, a Bluey playset and figures, the rest of Zoe's Rescue Zoo book series that she hasn't read yet, some clothes and accessories for her dolls, and some craft supplies and an ornament. Oh, and a mug I picked up when we were in Disney earlier this year for her to use for hot chocolate.

Santa is bringing her a Rainbow High doll and animal bead kit she wanted, but Santa doesn't wrap his gifts (best decision ever lol).

Nieces and nephews are done.

ETA- we stopped exchanging with all adults and that was also the best decision ever.

[momin2013]

Dec 15, 2022 16:49:10 GMT -5 christy082 said:

ETA- we stopped exchanging with all adults and that was also the best decision ever.

YES! I was the grinch-stigator of that in my family many years ago - best.decision.ever. We were literally just buying gift cards for each other so one year I just said, we need to stop this madness!!!

[186momx]

I have all gifts other than DD's wrapped. I have everything but haven't wrapped it as we are always home at the same time and I'm exhausted by the time she goes to bed. I have Friday off and hope to wrap most of it then.

[turkletsmom]

I've been done with the kids since last week but every year I impulse buy more random crap after I'm done. Like my $85 Target order yesterday- whoops lol. We go overboard every year but oh well.

All adults are done!

In lieu of gifts, my girlfriends and I go to a fancy jazz brunch every year. We wear big, obnoxious headpieces and gets lots of champagne. It's my fave. (for those familiar with NOLA we go to Commander's Palace- I can't waitttttttttt).

[dcn]

I’m done with the kids and H. Need to wrap, but usually H and I wrap while watching White Christmas and drinking a cocktail so we’ll do that next week sometime since he’s oot right now.

Need to get something for my parents still. My sisters and I usually coordinate (and I typically order things bc I don’t work and have some time) but they haven’t really answered me about it so I don’t know. I’m not going to stress about it.

[krystee]

I realized I didn’t really buy DS1 any toys and it makes me sad. He’s not quite 8. Anyone have any toy-ish ideas for that age? He doesn’t like legos.

He did get a talking Star Wars mask, which is sort of a toy. A basketball hoop and switch games are his main gifts, and that stuff added up fast!

I gave my seven direct reports their gifts today, and it feels so good to have that chunk done, out of the house and off their lists.

[tarajane]

I'm done with shopping and wrapping.

Well I have to figure out our mailman. And if I should do something for my kid free siblings that buy things for my kids.

[tarajane]

Oh they did have two last minute Santa requests so a mini elf on the shelf and drone are on their way.

[felicity]

Dec 15, 2022 21:15:20 GMT -5 krystee said:

I realized I didn’t really buy DS1 any toys and it makes me sad. He’s not quite 8. Anyone have any toy-ish ideas for that age? He doesn’t like legos.

He did get a talking Star Wars mask, which is sort of a toy. A basketball hoop and switch games are his main gifts, and that stuff added up fast!

I gave my seven direct reports their gifts today, and it feels so good to have that chunk done, out of the house and off their lists.

DS just turned 8, and he does love Legos so he got a ton of those, and he also got a basketball hoop and Switch games for bday/Christmas. Other things he got or will be getting are books - (Dogman, Cat Kid Comic Club, Where's Waldo, a Dogman how to make your own comics guide, a joke book, and a Pokemon guide), Pokemon booster packs, and art supplies. Other ideas I had on his list are snap circuits, board games, and a portable air hockey table, and art kits for some of his favorite characters. 

[aspentosh]

We are done for DD. She was tricky to buy for this year, so between Christmas and her birthday (January) she's getting two experience gifts, a shave ice machine, slime kit, a custom Tervis, and then stocking stuffers.

We don't usually do gifts for adults, but DD found a LEGO Groot that my sister would love, so we bought it and she assembled it so it can go on her desk. And we got my mom a corckicle coffee mug and a gourmet cheese box. Fairly easy.

[Blue Moon]

I'm done with all the major things-- just a few loose ends. Big gift for DD is a home gymnastics bar and DS got a baseball net for practicing hitting in the garage. DD (8) still asked for some Barbie stuff so I got that, a makeup mirror and drugstore makeup, sparkly snow boots, squishmellow slippers and an skeeball game I found at Marshalls. DS (5) got a nerf gun, Melissa and Doug toy food, Madden video game, slippers too, and some arcade basketball game from Marshalls.

I tried to coordinate with my siblings to get joint gifts for our parents and two aunts we all buy for, but I just found out my one brother didn't order the things he said he would for our dad and now I'm very annoyed at him and don't know if I should try to get something else myself.

The sheer volume of little gifts I had to buy was overwhelming-- bus driver, before and after care workers, classroom teachers, specials teachers, dance teacher, baseball coach, gymnastics coach, mail carrier, trash service, etc. etc. I just bought 20 hand soaps from the Bath and Body works sale and that's what everyone is getting, + a additional gift card for the classroom teachers.

I took a personal day earlier this week to organize and wrap everything with no one in my house. It was a million times easier than trying to sneak everything out when the kids are asleep.
'
All that wanted to do still is grab something personalized from my kids for my mom and dad, and am trying to order a last-minute photo calendar from CVS. My DD asked if I would take her out this weekend to pick out a present for her dad, because she doesn't think he'll like what I picked out for him.

[countthestars]

I'm a hot mess. I have a lot for my kids but I don't even know what I have or don't have for everyone else.

[redheadbaker]

DS is getting a new computer for Christmas. He uses my old PC laptop and it can't keep up with the games he plays on it. He's also getting a few Lego sets and a new Nerf gun.

Got H some music equipment he wanted; DS is getting him the LOTR + The Hobbit box set.

Just need to get stocking stuffers and a few treats for the dog and I'm done. We don't do gifts with parents or siblings.

[scm1011]

Dec 16, 2022 11:37:56 GMT -5 countthestars said:

I'm a hot mess. I have a lot for my kids but I don't even know what I have or don't have for everyone else.

Same. I keep just putting all the boxes in our (unused) basement shower as they arrive. No idea what's in there, what I'm still waiting for, and what else I still need to buy. 

[hermione]

I feel ok-ish. C is done and wrapped except for Santa gifts. Santa doesn't wrap gifts for our house - they come assembled, charged, and ready to play with the moment you see them. I still need to pick up some gift cards for my nephew and candy for stockings.

[ohgillian]

krystee Ditto the magic 8 ball.

My 10 and 12 still think this is fun: (this is just a random example like I found).

a.co/d/3YKOn6u

[egishere]

I need to get wrapping too to figure out if I need to get anything else for my kids! I think I'm done but I need to lay it all out.

[al dente]

I am pretty much done. My H drives me crazy though, I make my list and start buying in October so I'm basically done by early December. Every year a few days before Christmas he goes "oh but I didn't buy the kids anything..." And then will go and get them random crap and spend so much since it's days before Christmas. But then he also says that all presents are from Santa, which I do not abide by or agree to lol. We're a mess at Christmas.

Anyways, all that ranting to say I'm basically done ha. We don't buy for any extended family so it's pretty easy.

[noodleoo]

I think I’m done but DD1 kind of messed up plans for her big present so I’m saving it for her bday instead (otherwise she might figure out Santa and I’m not ready for that yet). I bought her something else, but it doesn’t feel big enough and I’m afraid she will think DD2 got more/better presents. Ugh, best laid plans…. I don’t know what to do. I got a big present for both of them (fort building set) that they will LOVE but I want it to be a joint gift because I don’t want any fighting. I’m not sure what to do and it’s probably too late to get her another present. Ugh…

[preppy]

I am done and doing all the wrapping today. The girls are at a kids holiday thing all afternoon (2-8pm for $30!!) so I’m making this my afternoon holiday prep time.

I have one thing for DH that has yet to arrive so hoping after today that’s the only thing I have left to wrap.

[lindyanne]

I’m done. Everything is wrapped and under the tree. I only had to ship one box this year and that was sent a few weeks ago and safely arrived. I do have two things coming for DH’s bday on the 30th still.