floridasun5

About half done here. Im trying to save some items for December as I love to be out in the hustle and bustle Christmas shopping rush, but I'm just finding too many deals to pass up :) Only about 2 items left to get dd, 4-5 things for dh and then other than 2 things I am buying for myself, the only others that are left are parents.

I wouldnt say I've increased my amount of online shopping because I've always done a lot, however I do believe I have found some better deals online than I would in-store this year. For instance, my daughter wanted an Xbox 360 and after seeing the Best Buy ad that they werent really discounting the price or giving anything good away for free with purchase, I bought it through Dell.com for 15% off, plus I get the 5% back from my Discover card by shopping through them. I ordered yesterday and got the system TODAY! Quick free overnight shipping by Dell. There are a few other things I'm finding online, but still do plan on saving some of the items I need to buy in order to go out and get them in-store.

I'm not seeing anything that is worth standing in line for hours this year. But luckily, seeing the ads early and realizing the disappointment has allowed me to get a bunch of Christmas presents done already with deals online, and I get to sleep in! I will still be going out on BF for the regular deals, but doesnt look like there is any need to camp out this year.

http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=125373

Why not just have hors d'oeuvres, or a bunch of different finger food types? Or, if you really want to have a sit down dinner, you could do anything from a big pasta/italian type meal to be different from Thanksgiving, some other type of meats, gourmet pizzas, etc. All depends on how you want your party to flow and how casual/fancy you want it to be. Heck, even if you dont want to cook, or dont have the room, have it catered with store or restaurant prepared meals that you just take the lids off of! :)

Ok, so if it is a close family member, my next thought would probably be to make a joke out of it. "Dad, I know the huge spread of turkey and 15 side items that I put out for dinner, combined with the 5 types of cakes and pies weren't enough to fill you, but I will give you whatever I can to take home."

Well, depending upon who the guest is, as is if it is a close family member like a mother/father/brother, etc. I would probably have a different reaction than if it is just an acquaintance or a family member that is not close, however, if someone asked me for leftovers, I would just reply with something along the lines of "IF (with the emphasis on IF) I decide to give out leftovers, you will get some, but I am not guaranteeing anything, nor any amount". Now, this is just me, however I wouldnt just succumb to anyone's requests or rude comments when they were at my house eating my food.

Thanks! I was just at HotTopic.com this morning picking out a bunch of "junk" for my daughter for Christmas and elected not to checkout because I didnt want to pay shipping when I could go to the mall and avoid shipping, but this code made it easier and I ordered! Of course I had to re-add everything to my cart again LOL but another gift down! At this rate, Im going to have all of my shopping done by the end of the day!

YES!!! THANK YOU!!! I know where I'll be first thing BF morning then! :) I'm a frustrated PC user switching over to a Mac after buying an iPhone this summer and was really looking forward to a deal. I know the Macs are much better and supposed to last so much longer than PCs (with fewer headaches ) but that $1,299 for a smaller Macbook than I could get a PC for was hard to swallow! Cant wait to hear their offers!

I have a Macbook on my list this year to get as my Christmas present. Ive heard rumors that Apple sometimes offers a 5-10% discount either on BF, or sometime near the holidays? Can anyone that has ever bought a Mac computer on BF confirm this? Even if they dont offer any $$ off, would they offer any deals or freebies if you buy a laptop? Thanks.

Looks like I'll be skipping Best Buy this year too! Good for me, I get to sleep in at least! LOL Unless of course Target comes up with a deal, I can probably find just as good of deals online or in regular sale ads until Christmas! Im really shocked actually that with the way the economy is and people not spending as much money that the stores wouldnt give never before seen deals to get people into the stores!

This is torture with BF being a week later than last year and having to wait for these ads! This time last year, we had most of the big ads, so seeing the days go by without any is frustrating! LOL Come on Target and Best Buy!

Yep, that is YOUR opinion, but if you dont want others, then dont post on a public message board. But especially when you post questions within your post, you will get responses. Everything will bring out the skeptics in people because people dont generally like to be taken advantage of, that is all. I have also held my own angel tree programs and have helped tremendously in the community and I know Im not the only one that sees it as being greedy when parents allow their kids to ask for expensive or extravagant items. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree...if you have the means and want to buy expensive or extravagant gifts, then feel free.

Well, I'll give you my opinion at least. Most of these kids are not just given a peice of paper and pencil and told to write their complete christmas list for the tree. Parents have to be involved, in order to write down the needs, sizes, etc. of the child and should look over the things their kids list. I dont believe that a child knows the difference and to have some common courtesy and not ask a stranger who is buying stuff for you to have a good Christmas for expensive things, however a parent should! There is no way I would ever let my child ask for something expensive from a stranger if I was ever in the position to be needy. Its just rude, IMHO. And on the other hand, I dont believe that kids should be forced to only list cheap crap that no kid would want, however when it comes to listing only the expensive things and their parents allow it, it does too far and infringes on taking advantage of those nice enough to help.

I'll probably start about a day before Thanksgiving. While its getting cooler here, it still quite warm and just doesn't feel like the holidays to me yet. I cant believe how quickly its sneaking up and while I love the holidays, I'm just not yet ready for it this year.

Razors/ blades Candy Small gift cards to like fast food places, gas, etc. Small gadgets that one can find useful...usually things from like dollar stores Socks Toiletries Batteries if something I bought requires them etc.

I dont get anywhere near that organized LOL I keep my shopping list on my iPhone and I take just the ads with me that have things that I want, sometimes I circle or star the items. But, I just shop until everything from the ads that I take with me is done and I'm done. :)

Thanks :) I did see that one, but I need the 34 bottle, under cabinet one. It is retailing for $199.99. Hope it goes on sale on BF so I can buy it for myself or else I'll have to wait until after Christmas and buy it with my Christmas money LOL

#175098 6-1/2' 400-Light Clear Pre-Lit Christmas Tree was $58.00 $38.00 YES!!!!!!!!!!! NOW, if they would just put on my wine cooler on sale, I'll be there bright and early!

We have just a community wide mail box for all the houses on our street, so I never even see the mailman, thus no gifts here!

We dont set limits or anything. Last year we decided not to do gifts because we had just started a new business, but usually we spoil each other. My husband grew up really poor and never had much so I always like to go all out for him for Christmas.

You're not being ugly, I agree with much of what you said. I feel that the kids are the ones that people always seem to want to take care of first and the elderly with no family or the ones that can barely afford to buy food for themselves are more worthy, or at least just as worthy, so its nice to see others helping out them as well. I worked for a group once where I saw some of the actual angel requests that were put out. A lot of them do ask for things like winter coats, mittens, small toys, etc. however there were also the ones who had the nerve to ask for expensive items like playstations, hugely popular or expensive toys or big items like play kitchens or something that are really hard to send or lug. So, yes, I do find myself a bit cynical as well. I have just seen too many people try to take advantage of the situation. So, as I said in an earlier post, the elderly and the animal shelters are my priority this year.

Last year I got a real tree because of those reasons...I just liked the freshness, smell, etc. however (and I know its strange LOL), I felt bad cutting down the tree and watching it die. So, I have decided that I wont "kill" anymore trees and will use a fake one from now on. Heck, I'll even buy some pine scented spray or candles or something LOL

Up until yesterday I wasnt sure how I was going to do my tree this year, but I just found some beautiful birds at Z Gallerie that I would love to have on my tree :) so it looks like the tree is either going to be all white and silver or jewel tones and silver.

I'll be unemployed as we are shutting down our retail store the day before Thanksgiving. Dh is off on vacation for the week.