tn20

I wake up Thanksgiving morning, go get a paper and get into line at Kmart. I buy anything there that I'm getting (usually little things like Christmas socks, DVDs, stocking stuffers, etc) and head home. I start cooking while the kids watch Christmas movies with DH. Everyone comes over at about noon and we eat between 1 & 2pm. Then we'll all sit around and play the Wii or a board game for awhile (nothing beats watching my grandpa playing Wii Sports). Our guests leave around 6 or so. MIL will stay the night so she can watch the kids while DH and I shop. At about 7, I finally get to sit down, look over the ads, and finalize the game plan (DH doesn't really participate- he just does what he's told on BF :) ). Kids go to bed at 8, DH and I go to bed right afterwards, then we'll get up at about 1, leave by 1:30, and drive an hour to get to the stores.

I don't spend anything on stockings. Those are 100% up to Santa. So it completely depends on what each kiddo asks Santa for. Sometimes DS7 will ask Santa for a $50 video game, while DS3 will ask for a $10 train. They usually also get candy, little toys like bouncy balls, cars, etc. Santa does leave them the same number of items, but their cost is not the same. If I have a feeling that Santa is going to be leaving some pricey stocking stuffers, then I cut back on how much I spend on that child's gifts and make sure things are "even." For my stocking, DH always gives me funky Christmas socks and my favorite candy, Applets and Cotlets, that I am only allowed to have on Christmas (it keeps them special :) ). DH gets his favorite candy, Turtles, and little hunting or fishing accessories. We probably spend $20 on each other's stockings.

I'm really hoping for a great deal on a DS (Lite), as well! DS7 and I both have 1 and love them. I really want to get one for my MIL (she loves games and puzzles), but our budget is already stretched pretty thin (1 income, 4 kids and a LARGE extended family). $99 or less would be GREAT! I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for some $10 games like Sudoku, Uno, Yahtzee, etc. DH told her she had to babysit our kids on BF so we could get her present... she's convinced it is something for the kitchen (she hates to cook) so she'll be excited to get "toys" instead!

I don't know where to get a deal on Spike... I've only seen him recently at TRU for $130. But, I bought Spike for my boys last Spring when our Walmart was clearancing them out. We paid $65 for him. My boys (then 3 and 6) could hardly be dragged away from Spike at Toys R Us (where they had him set up in a demo case). Once we got him... well, they played with him constantly the first day, quite a bit the second day, a little bit the third day... and he hasn't been touched by them since March. Not all kids are the same, but I've read several comments from other parents on other boards where their experience was the same, so I just wanted to warn you. Especially if $119 is expensive to you, as it is to me. If I had paid retail for it last Christmas, I would have been really disapointed. I, however, think Spike is a lot of fun and have spent a fair bit of time making Spike stalk our Shih Tzu. :)

See, I was thinking this, too, but my step-dad thought that I would have to use his account but could choose to have it shipped to me (which isn't really important anyway, as he lives about 20 minutes away and I visit regularly). I'll have to go look into it and see...

The EXACT same thing happened to me! I ended up returning a TON of stuff that I bought because Amazon had it for SO much cheaper! There were probably 20 toys & 10 games that I saved 50-75% more on what I already thought was a good deal from BF! I actually just posted about this on another thread, but I had bought a bunch of this Rose Petal Cottage Cherry Blossom Market stuff for my foster daughter on BF. I paid about $200 for all of it. Well, a couple of weeks before Christmas, Amazon had the stuff for CHEAP (I paid about $75 for the playhouse alone, Amazon had it for like $15!!!). Then Walmart.com lowered their prices to compete with Amazon, so I ended up getting everything for about $50 and returning the $200 set! A ride on toy that I had bought for my foster son for $40, Amazon had it for $9.99! I already have a bunch of Christmas shopping done (Target, Walmart, and Kmart toy clearance), but I have all my receipts (too late for Target returns, but that stuff was all DIRT cheap anyway) put up and will do the same with BF receipts. I don't want to take a chance that Amazon won't have deals on what I want, so I'm buying them if I see them in stores. But I will watch all the items on Amazon and if they have a better price, then I'll order them and return the other stuff. Plus, this year my step-dad has Prime shipping (all purchases- free 2 day shipping, approx. $3 for overnight shipping) and he told me he'll give me his account info, so if there is anything I want, I can order it, then just pay him back. The only "bad" thing was that the markdowns would sometimes sell out or go up in price FAST (Kota the Triceratops dropped from $300 to $99 for about 10 minutes, then went back up to $2XX). I didn't want to pay for shipping, but sometimes there wasn't $25 in things that I wanted to buy right then, so I missed out on great deals. With Prime, I could make 20 $1 purchases in a day if I wanted to and still get free shipping on all of them!

Everyone posting about toys that were broken or never used reminded me of something else... Last year I spent a bunch of money on the whole Rose Petal Cottage Cherry Blossom Market set for my then foster daughter. I thought she would LOVE it and she sure seemed to Christmas morning. Well, Christmas evening, come bedtime, she decides she doesn't want to go to bed. When I insist (it was 10pm, well past her 8pm bedtime), she got mad, and I heard her in her room yelling, screaming, and thumping around. The next morning, I went in to find the cash register cracked, the dishes and utensils snapped in half, the paper money torn up, and the FRAME to the market bent all up. I'm guessing she was hanging from it?!? The only things that survived were the stuffed fruits, veggies, cake, etc. I was so disapointed... I had pictures of her spending hours playing in her little play house. I used to have a playhouse and I loved it- then I had 2 boys. She was my first little girl, so I had big visions of us playing house together. I'm just glad DH talked me out of the $300 wooden doll house I had been considering for her! She also got a big Princess throne that she broke the arms and legs off of... The only thing that kept me from being too upset was that a week or 2 before Christmas, Amazon & Walmart.com had put everything on sale for CHEAP, so I was able to return the expensive set that I bought on BF, so instead of destroying something I had spent about $200on, it only cost us about $50.

I'm looking forward to... Kmart Thanksgiving: They have some CUTE decorations that I am hoping go on sale. TRU: Hoping for Thomas stuff... DS3 is getting the train table with starter set thing for his bday in November and would love more sets for it! Walmart: They usually have a huge bag of Mega Blocks for $10 that my foster son would LOVE, plus I want to get one of the Cabbage Patch Kids that they normally have for cheap for my neice and for my foster daughter. And a cheap Kitchen Aid mixer would be GREAT for my Holiday baking! Gymboree: Not really an ad, but I need to get a winter coat for DS7 and I'm hoping they have a great sale on them again this year. Target: Nintendo DS games, DVDs, toys. Anywhere there might be a great deal on a Nintendo DS. My FIL passed away a couple of months ago after a car accident and MIL needs something to occupy herself. She loves games and puzzles, so I want to buy her a DS with Sudoku, crosswords, and other games like that. Oh, also a NW store, Bi-Mart. DH wants a reloading kit and they are $300. Bi-Mart has had some great BF deals in the past, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they have a deal on them. DH wants to see the Harbor Freight ad... every year he buys new ratcheting straps for our atvs.... I keep telling him he wouldn't have to buy new ones every year if he would buy NICE ones for once...

WOW- $200! I want you to adopt me, too! My sister has 1 daughter and I currently have 4 kids (this varies, because I'm a foster mom- I have 2 of my own, though). We don't have any required minimum or maximum amount for the kids' gifts, but I generally spend $50-$75 on my neice... my sister usually spends $15-$20 on each of my kids. This year will be less because she is laid off. When she asks what my kids would like, I plan on telling her items that are no more than $10. Honestly, it doesn't mean anything to me that her daughter gets more expensive items than my kids do. If I were to spend $10 on my neice, my sister wouldn't think anything about it, either. We do have a maximum for adult gifts exchanged between adults, though. DH and I buy one thing each for my sister, her hubby, my mom, and my step-dad. They do the same. We have a $5 per person limit, so 4 gifts for $20. Then we have a competion to see who buys the best gift with the $5. I always win because I find things on clearance. Last year, my tatooed, Harley driving BIL got one of those Guitar Hero Air Guitars (was about $30, WM.com had them for $5) and my sister got a book called The Cookie Sutra- fully illustrated with Gingerbread cookies, well, you get the idea...). My step-dad got a sling shot monkey that screams when you fling it. And my mom, who has a strange sense of humor, got a book called, "The Bunny Suicides" or something like that.... a whole book with illustrations showing bunnys spearing themselves on light sabers, jumping into blenders and all kinds of other crazy things. This year, a local store was clearancing out holiday items for .10 each a week after New Years (it was mostly stuff nobody else wanted), so everyone is getting HUGE gift bags with the craziest Christmas ornaments, decorations, etc. Like my sister will get a gorilla singing "Its a Wonderful Life" while BIL gets a rocker snowman singing "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," among other things. It is SOOO much fun and everyone puts so much thought and effort into everyone elses gift... unlike before when we all got each other bath gift sets. :)

Last year I thought I was done Christmas shopping and had everything wrapped within a couple of days of BF. Then Amazon started having great deals on toys that I just could not pass up, but all my kids already had more than enough. So, I went through, unwrapped a bunch of stuff, and took it back to the store. So then I start getting my Amazon stuff in and was really procrastinating getting it wrapped. Christmas Eve comes around and I have about 20 things that need to be wrapped. Not too big of a deal... until the power went out. It didn't come back on until midnight. I was up SO late wrapping (I'm a S-L-O-W wrapper)... then I had to wake up at 6:30 and get breakfast started (in-laws were coming over at 7:30 for breakfast and presents). This year, I need to find a balance. Only wrap gifts that I know won't be returned on BF weekend, wait on everything else, but make sure all gifts are wrapped before Dec. 20th. I prefer watching Christmas movies and tracking Santa's flight online with my kids on Christmas Eve to staying up by myself wrapping gifts.

My kids' (DS7, DS3, DFS2, DFD2months) stockings aren't filled by me... they are filled by Santa, so it depends on what they asked Santa for that year. They usually get a Lifesavers StoryBook & some candies, but everything else is up in the air, depending on what they ask Santa for. Sometimes its something small... sometimes it is their biggest gift that year. Gifts are wrapped, candies are not. Anything too big to go in the stocking is laid on the floor below their stocking. DH fills my stocking with Christmas socks and Applets & Cotlets (my favorite candy, but I only get them on Christmas Day). I fill DH's stocking with Turtle candies (his favorite) and little hunting things or tools. I will also do a stocking for DN1 and put some of her favorite snacks in with socks, hair bows, etc.

I didn't buy the Nerf Vulcan on BF, but my DS REALLY wanted one, so we drove all over BF, didn't find any, then the next day, we called a WM 45 minutes from our house and they had 1. We drove all that way to get one, then on Christmas morning, DH puts it together, it fired one dart, then jammed up and wouldn't work again. We were planning on exchanging it for a new one, but I looked online and found a site where TONS of people had started posting Christmas Day about their Vulcans doing the same thing. So, we returned it, gave DS the cash, he bought a Nintendo DS game, and everyone was happy!

I can't think of a darn thing! I don't think I've ever made a big purchase on BF... most of the time I end up buying toys, video games, DVDs... Wait a second, a few years back (I'm thinking 2003) we bought this cheap DVD player... like $25 or something. It still works to this day (actually, my foster son is currently watching cartoons on it in his room as I type this). Oh, and I guess my Sony DVD/VHS machine that I bought for about $179 around the same time. I needed a VHS player because of this Jim Hensen movie called A Christmas Toy. I loved it when I was a kid, it was never released on DVD (I think it actually has been by now, but with cut scenes) and I had paid $175 for the VHS tape on ebay. So then I needed a VCR to play the movie. The DVD/VHS combo has survived my own 2 boys, 4 foster children, 14 day care children (one of whom decided to stuff the tape deck full of foam bath toys) and is still alive and well!

Thank you, theimage13, len_mullen, and theblackdragon! You have all been INCREDIBLY helpful and I really appreciate it!!! Before reading your info, I know I would have paid too much for a tv that was too big and, for what we'll use it for, unnecessary.

I did take your post as directed entirely at me, so I do apologize for that misunderstanding. And like the very first sentence that I typed on this thread said... I did not vote that I would not shop in a store if they didn't say Merry Christmas. Saying Happy Holidays is wishing everyone a Happy Holiday, and to quote Darianwiccan "you are participating in the spirit of good will that nearly everyone enjoys." But going out of your way to rename items to remove the word Christmas from the name is implying that Christmas is offensive. Why should I spend my money in a store that implies that anyone has a reason to be offended by the word Christmas? Just because someone does not celebrate Christmas does not mean that they should be offended by the word Christmas (especially because everyone knows that, despite what stores call them, they are still Christmas trees or whatever they were called before), just as someone who does not celebrate Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Yule, etc. should not be offended by them. And whereas you say "GET OVER IT," I say healthy debate and conversation are perfectly fine. I can't imagine what this world would be like if everyone were told to "get over it" when they did not agree with someone or something. I have read a few posts that I certainly do not agree with and feel they were offensive and rude, but telling everyone who does not agree with you to just "GET OVER IT" could be considered as close-minded as you are accusing others of being.

In regards to this part of your post, I don't believe that you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I just do not agree that calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree is in any way offensive or that it is "pushing" Christmas on anyone. Calling a Pagan tree of life a pagan tree of life is not offensive. Its what it is. And its not pushing anything on anyone. I don't believe I ever said that I had a problem with someone wishing me or anyone else Happy Holidays. I never said I wish everyone Merry Christmas, regardless of their beliefs. I probably say Happy Holidays as often as I say Merry Christmas. Where did I say that I get upset when someone doesn't say Merry Christmas to me? When did I say I wouldn't shop at a place that wished me Happy Hannukah? Like I said before, I've been wished Happy Hannukah numerous times and far from being upset, I wish them a Happy Hannukah, as well. Where did I say that I didn't want everyone being included in well wishes? I did not say that because I absolutely do not feel that way. What I think you are misunderstanding from my posts, is that I don't feel like Christmas is the only Holiday that should be celebrated, BUT I do get upset when a store is decorated for countless other Holidays and celebrations, but when I ask where the Christmas trees are they reply, "The Holiday trees are on aisle XX." If I asked where the Menorahs were, they would not reply, "The Holiday candlabra are on aisle XX." My issue is NOT with including all the Holidays and the people who celebrate them (that's a great idea), my issue is stores leaving all Holidays, but doing away with Christmas. Hannukah items are still Hannukah items, but Christmas items must be renamed, because CHRISTmas is offensive. Why is it only Christians who are accused of pushing their religion on people? Would a Jewish person saying, "Happy Hannukah!" to everyone be pushing their religion on people. I certainly don't think so. So I think that the "rules" should apply to everyone. I have said nothing offensive in my posts, but your response to me is to "get over it already" and "roll your eyes." All I've done is given my opinion, which, simply put, is that there is nothing offensive about Christmas. That calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree is not pushing my religion on someone else. That if a store feels its ok to decorate for Hannukah, then they should feel its ok to decorate for Christmas. Whether the store heads believe in Christ or not, they should respect the fact that believers celebrating Christmas is critical to their bottom line. Equal treatment instead of this ongoing trend.

DS7 is getting: Night Vision Goggles, Nintendo DS Games, Star Wars Lego sets, Mega Blocks King Arthur sets, Transformers... DS3 is getting: Night Vision Goggles, assorted Handy Manny fix-it toys, Transformers, Imaginext Dinosaurs, Thomas stuff for his train table... DFosterS2 is getting: Handy Manny toys, Sesame Street toys, Leap Frog stuff, lots of educational things (as of right now, they only way he knows how to play is violently- crashing, smashing, etc... we're hoping to focus on toys that he can play calmly with instead) DFosterD2months is getting: A couple of typical baby toys and a bunch of Gymboree clothing. I probably wasn't too helpful to you, though... sorry! And good luck figuring out what to buy! I know what you mean about changing minds. Especially my 3 year old... one minute he REALLY wants something and the next, he wants nothing to do with it. The only good thing here is, he typically comes around to wanting it again... eventually! :)

I'm considering a new TV set for the master bedroom for DH, but I'm completely clueless about tvs. In our living room we have a 42" Panasonic Plasma 1080p (at least I think that's what it is) that we LOVE. It was purchased when Plasmas had just recently been released from Best Buy for $2500 (which makes me SICK when I see people posting prices like $399). I'm assuming that 1080p is better than 720p...? So is 1080i better than 1080p? Is it worth the extra money?

That's what I thought, too. I bought something at KM, I believe, a couple of days ago, and the return by date was after New Year's.

Hmmm... I had been planning on TRU at midnight (assuming those rumors are true!), WM at 5, Target at 6. If they both open at 5, I guess it'll just come down to the ad... My Target seems pretty laid back on BF. I've never had a problem getting exactly what I want... but now that I think of it, I'm not sure if I've ever been after the "hot" Target items.

Beautifully said! And a very Happy ChristmaChunaKwanzaYule to you, too!

Maybe you should re-read my posts before you start assuming things about me and giving me the "eye roll." Neither of my posts say anything about having a problem with the phrase Happy Holidays! And actually, both of my boys have old Hebrew names and many people assume we are Jewish. I have been wished Happy Hannukah more times than I can count and what do I say back? Happy Hannukah to you, too! I have tried to make it VERY clear that I am NOT AGAINST any religions being allowed to celebrate their Holidays. But calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree is by NO means offensive or pushing anything onto anyone! Just like calling a Menorah a Menorah is not offensive or trying to push Judasim on anyone. I do not find Happy Hannukah, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, or any other well-wish to be offensive in the least. I just wish that Christians were afforded the same as other religions and their Holiday greeting was not seen as "offensive" or as trying to "push their religion" on to someone else!

Just to be clear on what I meant (I don't want anyone to think that I have any issues with menorahs or any other religious item), I just used a menorah as an example of a religious item (decorative or otherwise) from a religion other than Christianity, and how some stores that I have been to, have no problem displaying or decorating with religious items from religions other than Christianity, but will not display "overtly Christian" items, such as the cross. Most stores, if they decorate for Christmas, it is with Santa Claus, but I have yet to see a cross (although I have seen many decorative Menorahs... they are not seen as offensive, but for some reason, a cross is). Christmas tree becomes Holiday tree, but Menorah does not become Holiday candelabra. About Pagans and their trees, I would say that although Christians initially got the idea for the Christmas tree from pagan traditions, they are 2 separate things. There are Christmas trees and there are pagan trees. I don't think I've ever heard of a pagan going to the local Kmart, buying an artifical "Holiday tree" to use in their celebrations (not saying its never happened), but if you could sit down and talk to some high-up at WM, KM, Target or where ever, and ask them, "These trees that your company is selling, are you mass producing them, stocking hundreds per store, year after year, with the assumption that pagans will be buying them or because, year after year, Christians buy them for Christmas?" If you could get them to give an honest answer, its obvious that they are producing, marketing, decorating, selling, and profitting off of Christmas, and yet they refuse to call it what it is- a Christmas tree. Sure, some people may have different uses for it, but just because you use it for another purpose doesn't take away that it was produced with Christmas in mind. If I go to your store to buy a Christmas tree with my hard-earned money, find out that you have re-dubbed said Christmas tree as a "Holiday tree" as to not offend anyone (What's so offensive about Christmas anyway? You don't believe, then don't celebrate it, that's fine, but there is nothing to be offended by.), then I'm going to walk back out and go somewhere where my religion and religious celebrations are not classified as "offensive." My big complaint is simply stores expecting to profit off of Christmas, but find even the word "Christmas" too offensive to use in their marketing. WOW! I can't even pronounce half of those...

I vow to stick to my budget! I always end up spending more than I intend to and on stuff that isn't necessary, just because its cheap. I have about 15 DVDs that I bought last year because they were cheap and have never even opened.