View Poll Results: It's that time of year. How far along are you on shopping for holiday gifts?
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What, are you kidding? I took care of that weeks ago.
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4 |
11.43% |
Just finished.
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3 |
8.57% |
More than half done.
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6 |
17.14% |
Less than half done.
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5 |
14.29% |
Haven't started yet.
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12 |
34.29% |
Holiday shopping? What's that? (Or, we don't exchange gifts.)
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5 |
14.29% |
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Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 12:33 PM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 62
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Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
I confess to checking "haven't started yet." In fact, this post is me procrastinating when I should be thinking about shopping.
One reason - besides normal procrastination - is that I find shopping difficult when most of the family members on my list are well-off and don't need much of anything. My nieces and nephews (ages 1-5) have basements full of every conceivable toy and shelves full of DVDs. I'd buy them an experience, like taking them to the zoo, but we won't be there in person around the holidays this year. So, it's a real challenge to come up with a gift that they'll actually appreciate and use.
I find gourmet food items work well for the grown-ups. Anything else tends to gather dust, and we're all trying to declutter our houses to some extent.
How about you? Care to share your strategies for successful gift shopping?
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 01:44 PM
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#2
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Atlanta suburbs
Posts: 900
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
Hey, this poll is discriminating What about people like me who don't know what "holiday shopping" is?
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 02:15 PM
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#3
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 62
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor
Hey, this poll is discriminating What about people like me who don't know what "holiday shopping" is?
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People like you are to be envied, that's what. I'll add an option.
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 04:24 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,743
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
Usually the last week and sometimes on Christmas eve. I just hate shopping in general. I'll bet most ladies on the board are done. I know my DW is.
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 05:35 PM
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#5
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 228
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
We talked to our kids about "downsizing" Christmas further this year. My son starts college next year, so we are reining in our budget. Both kids are past the "cool toy" stage. For the last three years, I have asked them to give me a prioritized list of most wanted presents and I set a upper limt on spending. They have cooperated without a lot of fuss.
Anyway, I asked if we could ratchet back to just stockings this year. Since they want mostly stocking-sized gifts (cds and the like), this was relatively painless. I think I am lucky, because my kids have never demanded a bunch of expensive junk, and they've never been whiney or ungrateful about the presents they're received. (They have gotten nice toys and games in the past, and they have an uncle who spoils them with cash bonuses at holiday time. So they are in no way deprived.)
We also agreed that as a family it would be meaningful to send a Heifer International gift. We like the whole "give the perfect gift ... a diamond necklace guinea pig!" concept.
I don't exchange gifts with my husband. I buy myself whatever I need throughout the year, and he does the same. We like getting away together for short trips better than jewelry, watches and new cars, so splurging happens at intervals not related to Christmas.
This works for us ... enjoy what works for you!
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 05:57 PM
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#6
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,924
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor
Hey, this poll is discriminating What about people like me who don't know what "holiday shopping" is?
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Four of us so far.
Buy no gifts
Give no gifts
Get no gifts
Do send $2000 to local charities.
__________________
"Knowin' no one nowhere's gonna miss us when we're gone..."
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-05-2006, 07:47 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,532
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
[quote=Corporateburnout ]
I just hate shopping in general. I'll bet most ladies on the board are done.
[/
uote] I wish that I was one of those ladies. Unfortunately, I don't like shopping either. I really don't have that much shopping to do. My kids, 18 and 28, prefer money to presents!
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-06-2006, 07:27 AM
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#8
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 62
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
I would love to forgo gift exchanges in favor of charity. (Heifer International is a great choice, too!)
Last Christmas I tried a Heifer donation in addition to the usual gifts. It didn't go over that well, as I kinda expected. Aside from DW, none of my relatives are much into charity. (I love my family, but they seem a lot more interested in acquiring the latest made-in-China plastic decoration than any kind of "greater good." You know the type: closets full of stuff they never use, and making a sport out of shopping for more.)
DW & I are spending about $50 on each other and sending $1K to charity.
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-06-2006, 07:56 AM
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#9
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 495
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
We are mostly done, other than a few items that my husband has to pick up.
I actually made a lot of gifts this year. Some scarves, 3 purses, and pillowcases for everyone (my mother made quilts for most of the family and I did matching pillowcases). I enjoy it and hopefully they will appreciate the time I put into them.
__________________
Yelnad --"What you're paying for is an education, not a room at the Sheraton,and sometimes that education is uncomfortable."- Jim Terhune, Dean of Student Affairs, Colgate University
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-07-2006, 11:42 AM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,375
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
Except for my immediate family, I give home-baked goodies. Still working on the baking, but family is done. I usually start and finish shopping during the 3 weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving. As a kid and young adult, I kind of enjoyed the cheery excitement of holiday shopping crowds, but now...I have a lot more peace and goodwill toward men without that trauma adventure.
__________________
You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need.
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-07-2006, 11:59 AM
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#11
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 91
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
I dont do christmas
i dont buy presents or other stuff
I just ignore it and hope it goes away
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
12-07-2006, 05:02 PM
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#12
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 816
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Re: Poll: Have you finished (or started) your holiday shopping?
We do checks and gift cards. DH and I see no need to fight the crowds at the stores. Love the places with the gift card kiosks talk about one stop shopping.
__________________
A todos los amantes del mundo. No importa el color de su piel, la pasion es universal.
_______________
La tavola e il letto non hanno restrizioni.
_____________
Any day your on this side of the grass is a good day.
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