KrystalMae1231

I have given away my ticket at circuit city before but never asked for money. Although it endedn up being someone I work with and they gave me a 25.00 gift card to Walmart for giving it to them. :)

wow guys thanks 4 all of the info. keep it coming i am learning sooooo much!!!

I am glad I am not the only mom up until late hours. We were up last year until almost 4am. AND I do start early in December, I just buy so dang much. This year I plan to wrap early for the most part. My daughter is with her dad this year on Christmas morning so it wont be as important to have them all wrapped for the morning. We never put one thing under the tree until Christmas eve. We always enjoy the surprise factor on Christmas morning. :) Too bad I will miss that this year

We have to APBT's even though we have a DD8 we still go all out for our pups, which we treat like children and our parents even call them their granddogs. Last year we got them each a new bed from Ace for 10.00 each, and walgreens had a really cute gift set which had a bowl a rope toy and some squeeky toys in them for 10.00 each. then I usually go to Dollar Tree- Where everything is a dollar each and buy them toys there. We always do treats and such for our pups on Christmas. We even threw them a 1st birthday party (both from same litter- feb 7-07) with a doggie cake, made especially for dogs by a local dog "barkery" :) I don't think it is crazy at all. Pets tend to be like our children and I think could be treated as such. Spoil them. It will give you something to look forward to on Christmas morning......It'll be like watching kids/grandkids opening their gifts. And I bet they will probably get a bigger kick out of the balled up wrapping paper than the actual toys :)

I am in the market for a new camcorder. I have no idea what brand is better than others, and what specs to look for and to avoid. Post any thoughts or ideas on what you have bought and/or looking for this year. thanks!

TRU, Kohls, Target , Walmart, Kmart TG sale.

I would think if you were to ask him he may tell you to use the money for his little brother instead. Like your husband said he got x amount for 12 years. It's the little ones turn. I would def get him a big gift like a gaming system access. or something like that and then do the necessities and things he needs but wont buy on his own.

Try and pick a theme maybe. Like do the girl's with all Hannah Montana stuff- lip gloss, socks, undies, etc. (or whomever) do the boys' with some other character. Or you could always use the stockings to do a miniature scavenger hunt for the large family gift or something like that. It would give the kids a chance to work together to solve a puzzle and it is something you could do every year no matter how old they get. My dad still sends my sister and I on a scavenger hunt every easter for a 20 or 50.00 egg. We are 23 and 26. We still love having the competitive side come out of us once a year.

posted and up and running!!! Just became a fan too. Can't believe I didn't do that sooner. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_2309869772#/KrystalMae1231?ref=name :)

Yah something to look at!

I am in the same boat. My only sibling (sister) has 3 children and I only have one. She never buys for my daughter because she only gross' about 1k a month. She can barely afford her kids christmas. I never hound her about it. I understand. I have every year bought her child hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas presents since she couldn't and this year my husband and I were both laid off and can't afford to do that any longer. So I went to a 50.00 budget/child (of hers) It's amazing how far 50.00 could go if you watch for clearance items and coupon codes etc. I am already done with all 3 children and I was able to get them each an entire outfit w/ undies and 5 toys each to open with their large toy being about 20.00 each (IPOD shuffle for DN8, Optimus Prime voice changing mask for DNephiew5, and a Diego Mountain for Dnephiew4) IMHO I would do between 50-100/child. I would just approach her and let her know now that kids are getting older and economy isn't doing so well lets teach them more about family rather than what they receive as Christmas gifts. Hope she understands. Good luck with your situation, I hope all works out for you.

We usually give to our Salvation Army tree every year. We always pick a girl and a boy to give to. Unfortunately my husband and I were both laid off this year and are still looking for work. We are not going to be able to give this year. BUT my daughter and I ALWAYS volunteer our time to the tree and hope that what little we do helps. It's getting really tough for her to believe in Santa when we help with these trees. She doesn't understand why some kinds don't get anything and others do. I am just glad she has such a big heart at only 8, and I know someday she will fully understand why we do what we do. She loves to give and I love to set a good example. I hope others are introducing their kids to helping out even if they don't have the money to give.

IMHO sales through the year on anything could be better than BF. if you are seriously in the market just watch the ads and online posts often. You never know when you may come by a coupon or a sale that is slightly or way better than a BF price. Then you don't have to deal with the BF rush. Sometimes people tend to think BF sales are by far the cheapest. that is definitely a mistake in a consumers mind. ie I got a 42" LCD last year on newegg.com for about 200.00 cheaper than any BF sale. AND I didn't have to deal with the crazy BF crowds, (which don't get me wrong I love watching and participating in :) ) Good luck in your search and I am sure you will find a great deal.

Check this out. It may vary by state. I have heard of this but not really dug too much into it. This may help you. http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5941&p_created=1247840438 Let us all know if/what you findout

Yah!! I can't wait for a shopping buddy!!! We don't talk about Santa anymore, I don't bring him up I just say tell ME what you want for Christmas. She doesn't even want to go see him at the mall anymore because she knows that's not the real Santa and he is too busy so what's the point she says. Although I love the look in her eyes when he calls her on the phone a week before and asks her what she wants. I am going to miss that, maybe we wont have to forget about him until next year.

Live in Central Illinois and sometimes it snows, sometimes it spit very cold rain (not sleet), and one year it was 70 by noon, you never know what you are going to get here, I just don't want an ice storm like we had 3 years back. thank god it didnt come until dec 1st that would have been a nightmare! Last few years it has been rather nice, about 35 at night and dry. We'll see if we are that lucky this year!! :)

I can't believe I see this on here. This is what devides our nation. Although so many have great points and views on the subject, I still don't see the point. Other than athiest we are basically believe in the same thing. Lets remember that we all occupy this earth and will one day occupy Heaven or Hell. (Your Choice) Gottadeal.com is a place that we can all come together for one thing.......To not pay retail. This is a uniting site and I feel some of the posts are causing us to do what so many people in our nation do now. God teaches us to love and respect everyone no matter their religion, culture, color, or anything else that makes us who we are as human beings. We are all someones child and we all occupy this earth and we all come to this site for great deals. So lets, (despite our religious preferences), celebrate the holidays for what they are really about.........family and being thankful for everything we have. :)

Thank you very much for the post. I wont be near one but plan to do online shopping I may just wait for good codes to come out and combine with my Stuff for stuff certificate. Thanks again

Sweet! Can't wait. We have one about 3 miles from my house awesome way to get some great deals before the crazy rush. Gotta watch it though some of their "SALES" don't compete with even regular priced items at other stores.

I don't think the full list has been posted or will be yet but have seen more and more. I was at Target tonight they had several things marked 50% off listed as a price drop not clearance. A few things I saw were barbie dolls for 5.00 reg 9.99 and a classic magna doodle for 10.00 reg 19.99. The lighted magna doodle was 19.99 from 34.99 some pretty good deals. Didn't have anything I wanted but could be a pretty good find for some.

Brad and all others, Just want to thank you guys for the site and for putting out awesome contests to keep us temporarily not thinking about the fact that we haven't seen any ads yet. THANK YOU GUYS!!!

I vow to not go over budget on people including my DD8!! Just because she doesn't have 40 presents to open doesn't mean she is going to be upset or saddened. I put more pressure on myself than she does. & I vow to tell her the truth about Santa this year if it comes up. She's starting to ask a lot of questions that I don't have the answers too :) Smart girl.

Saw this post and went right away got. Diego Mountain for 19.00 Diego Triceritops playset 9.00 Barbie Cruise ship 25.50 Sharpay Bedroom set 13.00 Leapfrog piano 7.50 MP3 Player 10.50 Not too bad considering the original cost!! Thanks all

actually can't say other than sis going into labor WHILE I WAS IN THE TWO HOUR KOHLS LINE 4 years ago, that's the most eventful thing I have ever experienced, oh and I watched an old lady get her nose broke about 9 years ago over a razor scooter when they first came out. Other than that pretty normal. LOL

Decatur Illinois, and Tuscola Illinois- Our outlet mall in Tuscola opens at midnight!! AWESOME.