Photo by mlkeewa~
Every week I’ll pose a question for you to share your experiences and tips. If you have a question that you’d like me to post, I’d love to hear from you!
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that last year we were still wrapping gifts at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning, something we’re determined not to repeat this year! I’ve already started making Christmas plans for this year and one thing I’m looking for is homemade gifts that we can make as a family.
Have you started making Christmas plans? Have you started your Christmas shopping? Will you be making any of your gifts? Have you started stocking up on baking supplies?
Join the discussion — add your two cents to previous Ask DSM Readers questions too!
April
No I don’t have the money for Christmas, but I am saving my swagbucks so that I can at least get my daughter a walker for Christmas. I also hope to get her a high chair and 2 toys possibly a ball popper and some blocks. But more importantly I need to get her some clothes for the fall and winter season.
Heartland Hannah
Other than my son who never decides until the last minute, I have all my holiday shopping done. Discovering Groupon this year made things easy for those far away that need to have gifts sent and also meant bigger gifts for them and less money to spend for me : )
Renee
Yep! I’m making napkin rings in the shape of Stockings, Pumpkins, and Chili Peppers. I made a set of felt tools for my nephew. I’m planning on painting wooden blocks for him as well. I made my brother fish hook guards. I’m monogramming handkerchiefs for my father. The rest of the family I have a good idea of what I’m getting them except for my daughter – who I could easily buy the whole world for in five minutes so I’m reserving that as my reward for when I’m done with everyone else! :)
As for baking, the hubs and I are trying to lose weight so I’m not thinking about sweets right now! But I’m sure with my stocked pantry I could whip up about 12 different kinds of cookies.
Amanda Castleman
I’m so excited! I’m almost done Christmas shopping! Since I lost my job last year and haven’t yet found another, we knew that it would have to be a year-long process. We’ve almost finished, purchased great gifts, and spent next to nothing!
Candy
I have decided to make flannel/fleece warming pillows for Christmas for friends and family. We decided a few years ago to not buy actual presents but make presents for the adults. We buy only for the kids. I was given a bushel of lavendar at the end of summer so I’m adding it to the rice thats going in the pillow. I love mine so much I’m willing to share ;)
deb
I usually do not ever stop preparing for the holidays. While shopping, if I see soemthing I know a certain person would like and the price is right, I purchase it and put it away in the attic until it is needed. The only problem being sometimes I forget what I put up there and then have more gifts than needed, but then I just save them until birthday gifts are needed. I have done a lot of shopping already online and have supplies and craft ideas for making many of the gifts needed for school teacher, bus drivers, the mailman, etc.
Melissa
I start shopping for the next year on December 26th…everything from gifts to cards to gift wrap. A new addition to my planning this year is an app for my iphone called “The Christmas list.” You can group recipients (I have friends, co-workers, my side of the family, hubbys side of the family) and then you can type in what you have for each person and what you still need to get. It will create to-do lists for you and also keeps track of how much you have spent on each person and how much you have spent total. It takes some work to maintain, but it’s awesome for planning!
liz
Yup, I am probably 75% done with Christmas shopping. I wouldn’t normally be done this early, but I spied a big discount rack at Target, full of Yankee Candles, marked down to 75%. That took care of the majority of my gifts, with the things I’d set aside last year. Now I’m just waiting on all those photo gift codes to come out, so I can make our christmas cards! I have a few things to make, (blanket for my sister), but overall, I’m pretty ahead of the game.
Tara Kuczykowski
You’re in luck — watch for a post this afternoon!
Rachael Mercer
I’ev gotten a lot of ours done. I start the day after Christmas, literally. I shop thrift stores, sales, yard sales, consignment sales, etc. I keep a bin in a corner of the basement (tucked in with decoration bins) for each of the children. I drop off the gifts during the year (small stuff) or find other creative hiding places. I buy things like bath gift sets at clearance at Christmas and then give them to teachers ….. so yes, largely done. Still lots to go, though!