[Spontaneo]

Christmas shopping can be stressful. Even if you wait to shop on Black Friday. Then, some of you are brave enough to rush through straight until Christmas Eve!

Right now, it is the month of March. 9 months from now is the big day!

So, follow these tips for a smoothe Christmas shopping experience!

Get ready now!

—Do not hesitate! The sooner the better! Maybe buy one item each week!

Set aside enough money

—Maybe set aside $5.00 or $10.00 each week!

Don’t buy for every single person

—Maybe only buy for immediate family or only for the kids. Maybe pick names out of a hat to shop for one person.

Make a list

—Do NOT shop without a list! No impulse buying!

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Look for good deals

—Look for clearance and sales. Shop at thrift stores!

Do online shopping

—Do not stand in lines galore, tired and cranky.

Use a debit card, not a credit card

—With a debit card, you might buy nicer gifts then with cash.

Think creative

—Create gifts for Christmas giving! For example, scrap fabric wreaths, looming, diamond art paintings, gift baskets, gift jars, latch hooks, etc.


Don’t shop on an empty stomach

—Whether in a store or online, have a meal! If not, you are going to be one grumpy shopper, not being wise with your purchases. If out shopping in a store, pack a lunch in a lunch cooler to save even more money. If home online, you have the kitchen all to yourself!

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Buy a few extras

—Does a person show up unexpectedly bearing gifts? Maybe buy a few boxes of chocolates for these occasions!

Stocking stuffers

—Last night, I was thinking of doing the following myself for next Christmas… Instead of buying stressfully for my roommates, I am simply going to give them stockings with cute little stocking stuffers. I can make the stockings creative and within my budget. I should tell my roommates that Santa didn’t bring them anything, then on Christmas morning, while they are still in bed, hang up the stockings! What do you think?

So, this article has you covered for Christmas shopping without the stress! Everything from going right now to stocking stuffers!

Shopping can be easy, especially as I have explained!

Without this article, what would your usual Christmas shopping be like? A frantic mess? Has this article helped? Maybe you are a pro? If a pro, what can you teach?

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas with 9 months to go!

[mrki444]

Buy now. Probably some winter stuff are on big discount because stores need space for summer season. New winter sweater has no expiration date.

[Jem Smith]

Lists do certainly help, and I do like to get some things on sale if I can. There's a limit to how far in advance I can get some Christmas stuff, like don't want to buy food too far in advance, and with presents if you're buying for children sometimes what they want/need could change over the course of the year. Putting aside $5 a week to buy stuff later is a good idea though.

-- 11 Mar 2024, 08:10 --

Buy now. Probably some winter stuff are on big discount because stores need space for summer season. New winter sweater has no expiration date.

Yeah, off season sales are great. I don't buy many new clothes, but when I do, there is a store I like that has stuff that's normally a bit out of my price range. However they have sales a couple of times a year, and I get my winter clothes in Summer and vice versa. There was a pretty winter skirt I'd had my eye on for a while, and the price dropped from $50 to $10.

[Spontaneo]

Buy now. Probably some winter stuff are on big discount because stores need space for summer season. New winter sweater has no expiration date.

Would a thrift store winter sweater be too cheap to give as a Christmas present? I would like to know your opinion.

[mrki444]

Would a thrift store winter sweater be too cheap to give as a Christmas present? I would like to know your opinion.

No it would not but I would not give anybody already used clothes as Christmas present. For Christmas or any little more important event or brithday I would buy something new. Like we talk mention earlier in off season we can't get new stuff for much better price.

[Spontaneo]

Would a thrift store winter sweater be too cheap to give as a Christmas present? I would like to know your opinion.

No it would not but I would not give anybody already used clothes as Christmas present. For Christmas or any little more important event or brithday I would buy something new. Like we talk mention earlier in off season we can't get new stuff for much better price.

I understand you, but still think that a thrift store article of clothing is really nice. For example. one can find Polo or Claiborne for men. Lauren or Liz Claiborne for women.

[Spontaneo]

I have accomplished grabbing quite a few Christmas presents at yard sales this summer! 3 Christmas presents are kitchen appliances!

I am not going to mention all as would ruin the surprise!

Summer is not over and neither are the yard sales!

Also, I am still going to look on Poshmark.com and checkout a local really, really nice thrift shop too.

I am an elf and can't tell you everything!

[Jem Smith]

Buy now. Probably some winter stuff are on big discount because stores need space for summer season. New winter sweater has no expiration date.

Would a thrift store winter sweater be too cheap to give as a Christmas present? I would like to know your opinion.

It depends on the person you're giving it to. I'd be happy with that as a gift ( and I gave my partner a jumper from a thrift store as a birthday gift and he loved it), but some people wouldn't.

[Spontaneo]

May I ask how your preparations for Christmas are coming?

[Netherrealmer]

Raised Muslim... and now Atheist so Christmas is just a time for me to get drunk

[Spontaneo]

May I ask if you give to a good cause for Christmas? If so, what is the good cause? Such giving does not have to be monetary. Such giving can even be a plate of cookies.

[sweerie_banana]

The holiday season is about kindness, gratitude, and togetherness. Try to focus on what you’re grateful for, rather than what you wish you could buy. Often, the stress we feel around Christmas is tied to societal expectations of consumerism, but the real value of the holidays comes from connecting with loved ones.

[Spontaneo]

The holiday season is about kindness, gratitude, and togetherness. Try to focus on what you’re grateful for, rather than what you wish you could buy. Often, the stress we feel around Christmas is tied to societal expectations of consumerism, but the real value of the holidays comes from connecting with loved ones.

You even think that a plate of cookies is bad? There are people who are not around their loved ones for the holidays. So, for example, last Christmas, a gave a gift basket to my local librarians. When I spend the holidays with acquaintances, I always include a hostess/Christmas gift.

I am not spending zillions, just the thought that counts.

[eldavis]

The best way to avoid Christmas shopping stress would be to do your shopping months before Christmas.

[Spontaneo]

The best way to avoid Christmas shopping stress would be to do your shopping months before Christmas.

I agree. I like to shop during the summer at yard sales.

[Jem Smith]

You even think that a plate of cookies is bad? There are people who are not around their loved ones for the holidays. So, for example, last Christmas, a gave a gift basket to my local librarians. When I spend the holidays with acquaintances, I always include a hostess/Christmas gift.

I am not spending zillions, just the thought that counts.

Nobody said a plate of cookies was bad. You can give people cookies if you want to. I doubt anyone would ever be offended by that. Even if they don't want to eat them they probably have someone they could share them with.

-- 22 Sep 2024, 12:29 --

May I ask if you give to a good cause for Christmas? If so, what is the good cause?

In previous years I have volunteered as a gift wrapper to raise money for a local children's hospital. It's a good cause, and I enjoyed doing it. I didn't go last year because I had too much other stuff going on, but I'd like to get back to it this year if I can.

I also sometimes give to an animal shelter or a local wildlife rescue. Christmas is in the summer here, and there is often extreme weather, which can mean that there is less food for the animals, so I like to donate then if I can. Sometimes we give fruit to the bat rescue, or money if we have it to spare.

[Spontaneo]

You even think that a plate of cookies is bad? There are people who are not around their loved ones for the holidays. So, for example, last Christmas, a gave a gift basket to my local librarians. When I spend the holidays with acquaintances, I always include a hostess/Christmas gift.

I am not spending zillions, just the thought that counts.

Nobody said a plate of cookies was bad. You can give people cookies if you want to. I doubt anyone would ever be offended by that. Even if they don't want to eat them they probably have someone they could share them with.

I simply used a plate of cookies as an example.

[Jem Smith]

I simply used a plate of cookies as an example.

I know you did. You seemed to think that Sweetie Banana was saying you shouldn't give cookies. I don't think that's what she was saying at all.

[Spontaneo]

Every Christmas, as I am an elf, I give my roommate a gift card to Walmart for a so-called "nice" roommate. I have learned a lesson... give her a Walmart gift card or else! One year I didn't and after she was finished opening presents, she gave myself the most evil look. The day after Christmas she was still fuming and she told myself off!

I need to figure out one more gift for her to go with the gift card. I am not sure what to give. Maybe a wrist watch. What do you think?

[Spontaneo]

Do you like to wrap presents? Do you like to use gift bags?