bluebear

I struggle with stockings every year, especially for the boys. Gift cards (steam, playstation, Xbox) usually end up there, but they don't take up hardly any room! Sometimes a game. This year I have a outlet plug with USB and 3 outlets. And probably also a sliderule (yep! That oughta be fun! I'll also include a book on how to use it.) I also try to get little things related to the other gifts. Like a tablet case for the new tablet, or paint brushes for the paint sets, sandpaper for the model kits, etc. Portable phone batteries, cool (or cute) charging cables. Oh, and my youngest son is into playing cards this year, so we got him a nice set. They were $25 after shipping, so those might get wrapped! My oldest son needs a new wallet, so that may go in the stocking too.

Sugar cookie, anything with vanilla. And gingerbread.

Kohl's is always first because that's where mama wants to go after dinner. That's her favorite. Since their online sale starts Sunday night, that's my first online stop as well. For Friday morning, first stop is always Home Depot. Mama buys everyone poinsettias every year.

I once got in line at Home Depot 30 minutes early, for my tree. Many many years ago, me and mama would get to Walmart maybe 30 minutes to an hour early, and just hang out inside the store waiting for the sale to start. Some years they let us get our stuff and head to the registers, then wait until 6 am then we'd check out. I do not care to stand in line. Or to be cold. Just not my thing.

Those sugar cookies are beautiful Bopeep. Wish I had the patience to roll dough and cut out cookies. Maybe one year. And both chocolate cookie recipes look delicious. I love chocolate cookies. My family prefers sugar or chocolate chip though. I am the dessert maker (mama cooks the dinner), but the cookies are mostly from the Betty Crocker bags, or the Nestle refrigerated cutouts. Last year someone here posted about spritz cookies and a cookie press. I had NEVER heard of a cookie press. So me and my friend went out and bought one. My husband and boys didn't much care for the cream cheese spritz or butter cookies. But others liked them pretty good. A few weeks ago I experimented with sugar cookie dough. Those were a hit, although the dough wasn't quite right. So if anyone has a sugar cookie recipe that works in the cookie press, please post! My big thing I make is buckeyes. Those are the big hit, with everyone except my youngest that doesn't eat a lot of chocolate. And my nephew who's allergic to peanut butter.

We got my son an Aurora last summer, and I can tell you we paid a whole lot more than $799!! Over a year later, it is still doing great. He said there was maybe a "few" Dell things, but didn't seem to bother him. It also came with some Alienware utilities, that change the color on the case and some other things. We did get him an SSD for Christmas last year. He wanted that extra speed. We got a great deal on a 750GB for $99 last BF, so keep an eye out. And it doesn't come with keyboard or mouse, but we got him a gaming mechanical keyboard and mouse that he likes. So anything that came with it would have gone in the closet. Good luck, hope you can get one!

Definitely The Big One throws. At least 2, usually more every year. Batteries and poinsettias from Home Depot. Cat litter and milk bones and stockings from PetSmart, but that might not happen this year. Toilet paper from Walgreens (not sure they had it last year though) Flash drives from Best Buy.

I go with my mom and sister every year. My daughter came one year when she was about 22. And maybe one other time when she was maybe 18 or 19. She lives shopping, but why would you go with mom and grandma?? Also, I would buy kids gifts so I was fine her staying. My husband came and picked me up from PetSmart when the others were done one year and went a couple places with me. He and my son are sweet, they both said they'd go with me if I want... My son even ended with,"but please don't ask me to!" But yeah, I'll stick with the girls!

On the main black Friday site, all the way at the bottom under Black Friday, it says My Shopping List. There may be another way to get there, so anyone else feel free to share!

Yay, got my list started with the Gotta Deal shopping list. Got the standard must haves: Blankets, jammies, towels, and blankets. And blankets. And a few new things: Toys, Google Home, and Echo thing. My family is going googly now I guess and leaving me in my windows world.

I love that Paw Patrol wooden table on page 6. Too bad my daughter won't make the grandson keep the pieces together and organized. All the pieces would be lost in a month.

Our local Christian station starts on Nov 1.

Yeah, seems there's always a pre order on my list as well that I can't get. I was excited my son gave me a list of three games this morning... All are listed on the site, and I thought I'd actually be able to do the sale... But one is a 7 month old game and is no longer available. Boo. Maybe somebody will think of another. Between two sons and a nice and nephew, there's a good chance so we'll see.

Michaels has a 7ft pre lit tree on sale this week for $79.99. It has good ratings. Plus you also get a free tree bag, and free shipping.

Yep. Especially when you have spent your (early) December check on Christmas. Then waiting until January 31... No fun, but you just have to prepare. It was easier when my husband had a different employer and was paid bi weekly, but the last five years he's been monthly too. Glad this topic was started... Had not started thinking about that yet.

It will be 62/45 here, and mostly cloudy. So not bad. If I stand out for home depot I might grab my coat, but for everything else a long sleeved shirt with my gotta deal t-shirt over it, with just my jacket should be fine.

We get paid once a month, at the end of the month. However, in November we get paid the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and December the Friday before Christmas. Then not again until end of January. So while getting paid earlier sounds nice... There's the potential for almost 6 weeks between paychecks. When Christmas is late in the week, there are still several more days to shop, plus less time between Nov check and Dec check. So that part is nice. But this year will be a little harder, because there will be over 4 weeks between checks, and the check before Christmas will come just a couple days before Christmas, so no last minute online shopping. A few years ago, Thanksgiving was early, and payroll decided to not pay us until the normal date at the end of the month, saying that the money wouldn't be available from the sources, and guess they were afraid they couldn't cover it. I was okay, but a loy of other people I know weren't able to go out shopping. That was very sad, and that hasn't happened again.

The last few years I have done the majority online. So easy, especially with Kohl's. Seems most of the stuff I get comes from there or target anyway. I will sometimes get maybe one or two things from a few other stores, so it's nice to just get that and not have to make trips to a lot of places. I still go to Kohl's, mostly to help my mom and sister carry all their things, and wonder why they just didn't order it. But Kohl's usually has a $10 store online coupon, so I usually find something for that. A couple years I haven't though. Guess it depends on my mood. We still go to Home Depot and PetSmart, and sometimes Target or Michael's since they are all in the same shopping center. I do agree though that it was exciting before to spend several hours making lots of stops, getting the car filled up, then bringing in all your great finds from the morning all at once. Now they all trickle in... But at least that gives me time to find places to put it. As I've gotten older I get more stressed driving and riding and being around so many people. Which is all sad for me. Because I do so much like being in the stores with all the decorations and Christmas music and excitement.

Yep they do!! That's actually there only store I've ever waited outside for. And they have doughnuts and an outside heater set up!

Awesome, thanks Brad! I usually don't care much for Rite Aid, but there's a few things I may consider visiting for. The drug stores are my favorite for black Friday shopping!

I also love my Home Depot tree. I arrived about 20 before opening and was able to get one fine. But there were lots of people after them. They are heavy, so don't try to carry it, but at my store there were lots of people around to help. It also was available to order online when the sale went live (around midnight?) but I was too impatient to wait for shipping. They were sold out by the time I got up to leave that morning.

My son recently has become interested in playing cards. Cracked me up the first first I went in his room and saw him sitting in front of his computer playing solitaire, with actual cards! Spread out right in front of his monitor. A nice deck of cards would be a great stocking stuffer for anyone that likes cards. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008Z1XE3Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1508725290&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=black+playing+cards&dpPl=1&dpID=61XOkenKq%2BL&ref=plSrch

Love that! They also have one with a train. And along the lines of advent calendars, I love these necklace and bracelet charm sets. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075JJPLHJ?psc=1

You can also go to the main Gotta Deal site, and click on Stores at the top. There is a list of all the stores he has affiliate links for. They are listed alphabetically and by category. I always go through that link when I make a Shutterfly order, since there usually isn't a post with their deals. And I was just there checking for another store I was considering making a purchase from, but sadly that store isn't there.

Did some more shopping for the grandson this week. Did two toy orders with Kohl's with the $10/50 coupon. First order something was cancelled, but they still retained the coupons and KC, so I just bought it again today. I think I have about 6-7 gifts for him so far. I could say I could be about done, but when Christmas sales start I know I'll buy more. He's almost 3, so this is a fun time.