I know, Ho freaking Ho

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elsie6hickman wrote: »

I am one of those people who doesn't even want to hear the word Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving.

Same!!!

Exiting this thread till December.

I have a Christmas obsession..... Also, I am the person who starts Christmas shopping in August/September..... and is finished before December.

rickswifey83 wrote: »

tinak33 wrote: »

I have a Christmas obsession..... Also, I am the person who starts Christmas shopping in August/September..... and is finished before December.

I start shopping in August because my list is extremely long and it gets expensive. Without a backstory, I add children who I have no relation to just because their parents suck.

That's sweet.
There are usually "angel trees" or something similar, around here, where you can get gifts for kids who won't get any otherwise. I usually grab one or two kids (usually 3 gifts each) depending on my budget. Also drop a few things in the Toys for Tots drive.

My family is so huge, that we all buy for our own kids, and draw names for the nieces, nephews, and siblings. As of this year, the family is now 24 people (just my parents, siblings and their kids). I love buying for everyone, but it gets really expensive.... We do a white elephant gift exchange between us siblings.

I've 2 rules, when it pertains to purchasing gifts for others:

1st especially when shopping for items so early that the receipt expires for returning an item, that it's something that you'd purchase for yourself because either they dislike the gift, someone else already gave it to them, they don't deserve it or unfortunately they become deceased prior to giving them their gift.

2nd anything electronic, clothing or requires ability to use it, should be purchased & given, prior to the receipt expiring to return it because it mightn't work, fit or they become disabled within that time.

rickswifey83 wrote: »

tinak33 wrote: »

rickswifey83 wrote: »

tinak33 wrote: »

I have a Christmas obsession..... Also, I am the person who starts Christmas shopping in August/September..... and is finished before December.

I start shopping in August because my list is extremely long and it gets expensive. Without a backstory, I add children who I have no relation to just because their parents suck.

That's sweet.
There are usually "angel trees" or something similar, around here, where you can get gifts for kids who won't get any otherwise. I usually grab one or two kids (usually 3 gifts each) depending on my budget. Also drop a few things in the Toys for Tots drive.

My family is so huge, that we all buy for our own kids, and draw names for the nieces, nephews, and siblings. As of this year, the family is now 24 people (just my parents, siblings and their kids). I love buying for everyone, but it gets really expensive.... We do a white elephant gift exchange between us siblings.

That is awesome! I am the relative that makes sure all the nieces and nephews have at least 1 gift to open when we get together. I don't expect my husband's siblings to reciprocate to my children because their circumstances are not as fortunate as ours. Luckily my children realize they are fortunate and love to give to others, so we will also be adopting a family with 4 children (since we have 4) and an elderly person I love the spirit of giving and find ways to do it throughout the year, you are amazing, a true Earth Angel, because of people like you I had a Christmas when I was a child.

I have spent a lot of time with kids who don't get gifts or who aren't as fortunate, and it hurts my heart to see the joy of gift giving everywhere, but not reaching some of these young ones. When it was just me and I was doing pretty well financially, it would take me an hour to pick the kids from the angel tree. And there were a few times when I walked away with 5 different kids to buy for (I couldn't put them down!). And if I couldn't afford it, I would ask one of my friends or siblings to help. Which they always did. The little ones were the popular ones. I tried to go for the 11-14 age range.
Christmas shopping (with my santa hat on, of course) is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. And baking cookies for everyone. I made 8 different cookies one year and had 14 tins of cookies for friends. haha
And now that I have less people to buy for, I am always looking for other people to give to. It's harder to keep up all year long, but we do what we can to bring smiles to those who don't smile enough.

rickswifey83 wrote: »

tinak33 wrote: »

rickswifey83 wrote: »

tinak33 wrote: »

rickswifey83 wrote: »

tinak33 wrote: »

I have a Christmas obsession..... Also, I am the person who starts Christmas shopping in August/September..... and is finished before December.

I start shopping in August because my list is extremely long and it gets expensive. Without a backstory, I add children who I have no relation to just because their parents suck.

That's sweet.
There are usually "angel trees" or something similar, around here, where you can get gifts for kids who won't get any otherwise. I usually grab one or two kids (usually 3 gifts each) depending on my budget. Also drop a few things in the Toys for Tots drive.

My family is so huge, that we all buy for our own kids, and draw names for the nieces, nephews, and siblings. As of this year, the family is now 24 people (just my parents, siblings and their kids). I love buying for everyone, but it gets really expensive.... We do a white elephant gift exchange between us siblings.

That is awesome! I am the relative that makes sure all the nieces and nephews have at least 1 gift to open when we get together. I don't expect my husband's siblings to reciprocate to my children because their circumstances are not as fortunate as ours. Luckily my children realize they are fortunate and love to give to others, so we will also be adopting a family with 4 children (since we have 4) and an elderly person I love the spirit of giving and find ways to do it throughout the year, you are amazing, a true Earth Angel, because of people like you I had a Christmas when I was a child.

I have spent a lot of time with kids who don't get gifts or who aren't as fortunate, and it hurts my heart to see the joy of gift giving everywhere, but not reaching some of these young ones. When it was just me and I was doing pretty well financially, it would take me an hour to pick the kids from the angel tree. And there were a few times when I walked away with 5 different kids to buy for (I couldn't put them down!). And if I couldn't afford it, I would ask one of my friends or siblings to help. Which they always did. The little ones were the popular ones. I tried to go for the 11-14 age range.
Christmas shopping (with my santa hat on, of course) is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. And baking cookies for everyone. I made 8 different cookies one year and had 14 tins of cookies for friends. haha
And now that I have less people to buy for, I am always looking for other people to give to. It's harder to keep up all year long, but we do what we can to bring smiles to those who don't smile enough.

Extra hugs for you!!! The 11-14 is the range of children that most people are "meh about" One of my favorite gifts last year was a box of cookies my cousin-in-law baked for me. She included all my favorites, it isn't always about buying but sharing your talent and love with others. Like you said, just putting a smile to the faces of those who may have trouble finding a reason to smile.

Yes, that age range isn't as "fun" or "easy". But if you look, most of what they need are clothes. It might not be as "fun" as getting toys for a 5 yr old, but it sucks to wear things that are too small. Or to always have hand me downs and never something that was only yours. I used to pack clothing boxes with cute fun clothes for them. haha
Cookies make EVERYONE smile. lol
One of my nephew loves Snickerdoodles. I make sure to bake those every year for Christmas. I make enough for everyone, but I make sure he knows that it's more for him. Last year I got Christmas tree ornaments for some of my coworkers (the ones on the same floor I work on). Maybe I will bake cookies this year!

Christmas is the best time of the year defoooo

I started in August, and also get out my snowman inside decoration too.