I am already starting to buy for next Christmas got 2 gifts on BIG sale. I love Dollar Tree Dollar General and Big Lots. They just built our B G right near me but there are lots of them within 15 to 30 mins away from me. There use to be a Everything is a $1.00 but they moved them out of here why I don't know as I thought they were doing great business. We also have a Dollar Delight does not have as much as D T but is okay.
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Thought for the Day If you didn't start your day with a smile, its not too late to start practicing for tomorrow.~~~God Bless All
I've already started on Christmas 2009 too! Caught some after Christmas sales on craft things for kids, and saved a lot! 70% off! Han****s has their fleece on sale and I'm buying enough to make bed throws, caught cotton yarn on sale to make dish cloths and hot pads / pot holders (Walmart). I had already stocked up (store going out of business) on tossible pans in several sizes and shapes for my baked goods. Ans of course, I'm buying demos of Avon stuff all year I will be giving away for Christmas.
There is a thrift store that sometimes has brand new items (with tags still on), and a few that look new ( I go to when I can). Have bought several things and added just a special pin, button, lace, etc. and pack it away till I need it. I even found lg. bags of Hershey kisses for a dollar each, and have froze them in an airtight bag for next year. They had beed $4.99 each!!
I love to make gifts for people and really appreciate hand made gifts from others. Seems like some of the people and children have forgotten that time is worth so much than money! I'm going through some of my Mom's recipes (she passed last November) and will probably organize and make a cookbook of Mom's favs and ones she saved for my sister (older),sil, and my girls. Had told my younger sis and she rushed to get one done for last Christmas (2008). Don't know why she felt she needed to beat me but whatever, I'd rather take a little time and do it right and complete. There is ONE in every family I'm told, but it is fine with me. Like Mom always said "Anything worth doing is worth doing right, and worth doing right the first time".
I am planning on cutting back a little more this year. Most of our family is in Philadelphia, and the cost of shipping gifts s too high. This year I'll be sending gift cards instead of paying to ship packages. For my coworkers I am making baskets of baked treats, candy & a cross-stitch ornament. DH and I have cut back on what we spend on each other as well - just something small. DDs are both old enough now to understand that we need to cut back.
at this point no one is getting anything more than a 'Merry Christmas' from me and dh, unless dh can get a job real quick. I do plan on sending cards again-at least with FC and I hope to get a few items knitted but all my gks are young and won't understand if they don't get a little something so I'm trying to plan all that out now and pick up something when I can-the adults understand about not having anything this year, but the kids just wouldn't.
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“In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Things will be slimmer this year. Since we are both retired and both had to get another job to make ends meet and be able to buy my meds since I am still in the donut hole. We have 5 young grandchildren left to buy for, the rest are grown so we will buy for these 5 and not much else except dh mother, but we will most likely give her money. Hubby & I haven't exchanged gifts now for several years. There is nothing we need and when we do we just save until we can get it.
Although I still love the christmas season I must admit that as the boys get older the presents and hoopla seem less, it doesn't
excite them as much .... they think I'm such a dag sometimes when I go around singing christmas carols and being festive.
Therefore presents are less and the food is more as their appetites never go they just get bigger!
It's going to be different this year for sure. We are barely getting by now and with having to buy gifts that's just impossible. i'm making knitted dishcloths and towels for the adults and hooded bath towels for the kids.
We are struggling as it is so christmas is gonna be more about spending time together and experiencing new things with the kids - snow in the mountains and cypriot festivities. It is my mums birthday on 20th dec, my brothers' on christmas eve and my son's on christmas day. Presents for folks back in Ireland will be pictures and art work by the kids. Birthday will be hand made cards and as for our son's presents....we haven't decided on that one yet They are only 3 + 5 so I want them to have all the magic I can provide for them, I dont want christmas to just mean presents for them...
And I've gotta figure out when we will do the 3yr olds birthday, too much for him on Christmas Day lol!
They are only 3 + 5 so I want them to have all the magic I can provide for them, I dont want christmas to just mean presents for them...
