Have you started Christmas shopping yet?

[StormRichards]

I come across a ton of complaints about how Retail quickly goes from Halloween to Christmas. I myself don't like seeing aisles dedicated to Christmas already.

This has been the trend for several years now, and I suspect it wouldn't be that way if people weren't responding with their money.

So who here is already shopping for Christmas?

[Jluke]

I did a free trial of Amazon prime in October and bought a lot of Christmas gifts during the trial.

I didn't continue the prime membership.

[disneysteve]

We don't celebrate Christmas, but no, we have not bought any holiday gifts yet. My wife is working on a sewing job for a friend, making something for her husband for Chanukah (which falls at the same time as Christmas this year).

I'm not even sure what DD wants for Chanukah this year. I don't think she has told DW anything yet. When she does, we'll order it all on Amazon or whatever site has it if it's a specialty item.

[creditcardfree]

Yes I have started! I purchased two wreaths for older and out of town family to be delivered at the beginning of December. That means I can cross off 2 out of our 8 gift recipients.

I've learned in the last two years that I would rather have a small gift list, a small Christmas budget and get the gift buying done as early as possible. Just so much less stressful to be done near the beginning of December.

[phantom]

This past weekend, I started making calendars with pictures of my daughter to give out as gifts. I made them last year, and they were such a big hit that I had to order more. But, my big mistake was waiting until right up against the shipping deadline to finish, so I'm trying to get an earlier start this year. I don't like thinking about Christmas so early, but I'd rather plan ahead than have one more thing to worry about in December.

I don't have a problem with early Christmas prep in general. I think it makes a lot of sense if you want to do a lot for the holiday (lots of gift giving, lots of decorating, lots of baking, whatever), and I totally get retailers wanting to convince convince to start their Christmas prep in their stores. I just wish retailers could find some clever marketing technique to single to people that they should prepare for Christmas early without resorting to snowmen and santa while there are still orange leaves on the trees.

[97guns]

Bought my moms gift yesterday, caught a great deal on a $78 Calvin Klein shawl for $13

[QuarterMillionMan]

My list is quite easy and I just send cash;

niece #1, $50 bill
niece #2, $50 bill


niece #3, $50 bill
nephew, $50 bill


Stress-free, no parking hassles, no waiting in the check out lines, no need for packing stuff, no need to go to the post office except to drop off envelopes in a mail receptacle.

[kork13]

I haven't actually started shopping, but I do have specific intentions for what I will eventually get for some people. I build my gift list throughout the year, but typically wait until 1-2 months ahead of time to actually buy them (whether for birthdays, Christmas, or whatever). When that time comes, 90% of it is bought online.

[cornfieldj]

I started buying a few things here and there in October.... nothing tremendous, and I'd really like my family to cut down on gift giving. Every person seems to carry his or her own crazy baggage.

My sister is an addicted spender who has way too much stuff. What does she need? Nothing. I picked up a couple of books for her (she loves to read) at a *very* good price. (My secret vice: a dollar store that has excellent hardcovers, NY Times best-sellers and very interesting random books that were probably returned but are in perfect condition. I'd be more than happy if someone gave me a $1 book as a gift.)

My teenage son probably wants a gift card to Modell's. My husband would like something related to model-kit building. I don't want anything.

So... yes, I started early but not because I have thousands of things to buy - just because I saw them and they seemed like good gifts.

[disneysteve]

I don't want anything.

This is me. My wife and daughter stopped buying me gifts years ago. For my wife, it just makes no sense for us to exchange gifts since all of our finances are joint. If I buy her a gift or she buys me one, it's all coming out of the same account. And my daughter knows there's nothing I really want that I don't go out and get for myself.

When my mother asks what we want, we usually come up with something that we were doing or getting anyway and she just gives us money towards it. For example, for our anniversary, she paid for tickets for a Broadway show that we were going to see. We didn't go because she gave us the money. We were going either way. But we certainly appreciate the gift.

[bjl584]

I have not started.

I do have a few things on peoples' wish lists, but I haven't bought anything yet.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Yes bought the kids lego advent calendars.

[cornfieldj]

This is me. My wife and daughter stopped buying me gifts years ago. For my wife, it just makes no sense for us to exchange gifts since all of our finances are joint. If I buy her a gift or she buys me one, it's all coming out of the same account. And my daughter knows there's nothing I really want that I don't go out and get for myself.

When my mother asks what we want, we usually come up with something that we were doing or getting anyway and she just gives us money towards it. For example, for our anniversary, she paid for tickets for a Broadway show that we were going to see. We didn't go because she gave us the money. We were going either way. But we certainly appreciate the gift.

Over the years it's turned out that the best gifts are the ones that cost next to nothing. Found some cute little thing at a yard sale once that brought my mother a great deal of happiness. I knew she'd like it. It was 10 cents. (Not that I'd hesitate to spend more, but you know what I'm saying.)

Another time I made cookies for my dad when I was living out of town and had someone hand deliver them with a handmade card. Brought tons of happiness and it was a fun surprise.

My son has a good eye for cool stuff - he's gotten us both terrific things at our building white elephant sale.

I love tickets as a gift. A fun evening out - and nothing to dust or get in your way later.

I really think this is something that starts happening as you get older - but it hasn't, with my sister. Though maybe it's having kids. I just want my kids to be happy and do well.

[StormRichards]

This is me. My wife and daughter stopped buying me gifts years ago. For my wife, it just makes no sense for us to exchange gifts since all of our finances are joint. If I buy her a gift or she buys me one, it's all coming out of the same account. And my daughter knows there's nothing I really want that I don't go out and get for myself.

When my mother asks what we want, we usually come up with something that we were doing or getting anyway and she just gives us money towards it. For example, for our anniversary, she paid for tickets for a Broadway show that we were going to see. We didn't go because she gave us the money. We were going either way. But we certainly appreciate the gift.

Most of your post is very similar to how we do things, but it really has nothing to do with joint finances. There are many families with joint finances where the couples still exchange gifts. It isn't about who's money it is. It is the thought behind it.

There have been years when we both said we didn't want anything and that is how it turned out. There have also been times when we said that and one or both still bought something. Never anything extravagant. Just a situation where we thought the other would like something we stumbled upon while out shopping. Like I found a soccer dad shirt that he loved and appreciated.

[disneysteve]

Most of your post is very similar to how we do things, but it really has nothing to do with joint finances. There are many families with joint finances where the couples still exchange gifts. It isn't about who's money it is. It is the thought behind it.

There have been years when we both said we didn't want anything and that is how it turned out. There have also been times when we said that and one or both still bought something. Never anything extravagant. Just a situation where we thought the other would like something we stumbled upon while out shopping. Like I found a soccer dad shirt that he loved and appreciated.

We're kind of the same way. It's just that we're at a point in our lives where there really isn't much in the way of material items that we want. We're more about experiences at this point. For example, last weekend I planned a "date" for us. We went into the city, had lunch, spent a few hours at an art museum, then had a really nice dinner. The day cost us about $175 and we had a fantastic time. It wasn't a gift. It was just something we did together, which is how we like to spend our time and money.