ohitsunshine

I think that some stores should have extra staff on hand to help with carrying purchases or holding them somewhere. This would cut down on the amount of carts being jabbed into your sides. Also more cashiers, and for those without a lot of cashier stations, they need to hire a temp company or something for the day. I love to go to Kohls that day, but I know I will be in line for at least an hour and up to 2 hours.

Thanks!

I never really set a dollar amount, for our 3 kids we go by amount spent and number of presents. A $200 present for my 12 year old can mean the same as a $50 present to my 8 year old. This year each one is getting a laptop but it is not normal we would spend that much on each one- especially because I don't want them getting just one present. 3 kids My parents My other parents His parents My Grandma His Grandma 2 Nephews 1 Niece 2 Sisters 3 Aunts/Uncles My dogs

Well I can honestly say if my kids receive a gift from someone we don't have daily conversations with, then I have them write a little thank you card. But I thought I was on the extreme end of the spectrum because I never see thank yous happening. Kids birthdays, I never see thank yous for, but again I will have my kids pass those out as well. But I don't expect to get a thank you because 1. I chose to give them the gift, I didn't mean to create work for them 2. People are busy and maybe they get gifts from not only you but 20 other aunts, uncles, cousins, etc and they don't want to spend all their free time writing thank yous. 3. I feel good being able to give to others and that is what I appreciate about the Holidays

Haha , I was thinking that yes, the day after deals will come in handy! But my OCD self will still want to have their presents done before anyways!

Me too!

Everything I want is gone but thanks!

For the sake of your kids, I know how they feel and I would think they would appreciate it more. I had one of the big family events moved to mid December and it was great. It was one thing done and we only had maybe 4 or 5 stops to make between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But for that day we were able to relax and not be running out the door to the next stop on our list...

We love to drive around and look at the lights, we always decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving, and we always bake about 5-6 different kinds of cookies and mail them out to our family. Living away from everyone we are forced to start some new traditions of our own- our holidays used to be filled with daily events we had to drag ourselves to.

My spot is in my walk in closet...the kids are almost afraid to walk in there as it is. I wrap and box/bag everything and then cover them with all the blankets and clothes that are normally thrown about in there. They never even suspect a difference and really you almost can't tell.

Thanks all for sharing your recipes! Now I could use some that will travel well too- last year I sent out packages of cookies and some ended up demolished and a little melted. I need to figure out a better solution this year...

I was going to reply Wal-Mart, I am surprised you can find them cheaper anywhere. I always look and look and look and come back to Wal-Mart.

What kind of tile do you buy? Do you have a pic of a finished one?

I'm at the $600 range too

Daughter- 12 -laptop -new cell -new camera Son- 10 -laptop -cell -World of Warcraft expansion pack Daughter- 8 -laptop -cell -bedroom stuff (loves to decorate her room)

great ideas!

Sent to cfnews13.com, The Gainesville Sun, and The Ocala Star Banner.

I have a bad habit of wanting to get everyone something. So for the past couple of years I make up cookie tins and hand them out with cookies and an ornament. Wrap them elaborately and wah laa...

For those that do a letter, how do you make it not sound like you are bragging about how things are? I was thinking of doing one as we now live 1200 miles away from everyone, but as I was thinking of what I would put in it, I thought it sounded like I was bragging or something.

In for later! I need some new ideas!

So I think we should meet up because this is exactly my answer!

Sounds like me! I will work, do dinner, do homework, get kids to bed and then....my time. But I am usually asleep 5 minutes later! It will take me a week to do all my cards!

well...I am trying to talk my parents into coming down but if they dont we will probably just go out!

I'm thinking of taking the kids out next weekend to do pics. I love to take their pic and we set something up every year. Now in FL we like to do a beach or palm tree pic to make our freezing family in NY jealous!

My tip is to carry the least amount you can. I put my credit card in my pocket and that leaves my hands free. I also organize all ads so I can grab that one ad and run in with that. Also I paperclip all coupons to the ad by store.