leefamily23

Okay we ALWAYS put our tree up Thanksgiving weekend.....but I really wanna do it now. DH say's absolutely NO!!! I'm home from work this whole week as I've been put out of work w/ the flu. I think I'm on the downside of it, and I get little bursts of energy. Anyhow, I want to use 1 of those bursts to get the tree up. So, has anyone started putting up Christmas decorations yet?

I got 1 gift so far. I've gone shopping twice and that is all I came up with! Unfortunately, I'll shop all of Nov and Dec but I buy a lot last minute because I tempt fate w/ just how low I can wait for a price to go. Anyhow, I think by this time next week I'll have a second gift at least ordered. May not sound like much but it's "the big one" for my ds--- he wants a specific BMX bike that is about $450 and w/ that he'll only be getting a handful of other things. To get that purchased will leave me w/ a decent list still, but not a costly one if that makes sense.

At this minute I want Swine Flu out of my house. I've been sick since Friday, dh since Sunday. I pray and hope we're on the downside of it....but right now I'm praying so hard that ds (16) does not get it. He got the immunization same day I started being sick... I'm hoping the fact he was gone at his dad's Fri-Monday night, his health, and the immunization kicking in a little everyday-- he does not get this. That would be my #1 Christmas Wish! Second big thing....dh got a job 2 weeks ago to drive school bus for our local school district. He should start training next week- but that is unpaid. You don't get paid until you start runs on your own---so I'm hoping he can bring in at least 2-3 checks before Christmas. It would make the all the difference in our Christmas budget. Now for the "gift things"-- well of course there are things I'd like: Skeecher Boots Clothes Perfume (though not sure of the scent)

34 wrapped??? I've bought 1 gift.....I usually have a handful done by now. Only thing is either I didn't have money, or I didn't have time, or now we have the flu sweeping through the house..... Anyhow, I get paid this Friday and dh on the Monday right after-- we've both been working so much we have a nice amount more than our normal budget. Which was semi-planned out. So, I'm going to get my ds's big gift at the very least ordered.....that is if I can find it. He swears he saw it listed on danscomp the other day, I looked last night and did not see it.

I don't think it will change anything. As for protecting ourselves. If you're going to go out Christmas shopping at some point during the season then you're going to run the same risk as you will on BF. The only thing it might effect, is if a certain store has a widespread outbreak amongst employees that weekend. That could mean for much longer lines if they are down staff by 25-50%. However, I don't know how many stores will encounter a widespread outbreak that particular weekend. I'm sure at least 1 in this big country will, but I don't think we'll see it simutanously at all of them that weekend.

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I have a Christmas Village we add pieces to every year. I also collect the Disney Hallmark ornaments.

I wish I could avoid the subject, but I won't be able to. Unfortunately, we've heard the stories too often about how she spends "XYZ" on their nieces/nephews in her dh's family and yet her kids only get "XYZ" spent on them. I'm going to use the economy rather than the fact she has more kids now and see how that works.

We have a 6 yr old Shih Tzu and this year we have a now 6 month old Lhasa. Our dog always got a stocking. We just fill it w/ treats and new toys. Also, they get a "special" breakfast and dinner on the holidays. Usually the left overs of whatever meats we're having. Our older dog has always been right w/ us in the thick of it when we open our presents Christmas morning.

I usually wrap some every weekend starting in early December. My son spend usually 3 weekends w/ his dad, so my husband and I have those free to wrap. He's really good about helping me, so w/ 2 of us it usually takes us about three 2 hour sessions to get everything wrapped, tagged, and "prettied" up w/ ribbon and bows.

In JR High I dated a boy for almost a year. He was the first love of my life. Though we were young and split ways the year we entered high school when he moved from our Buffalo NY suburb to the Pittsburgh area to live with his father. Fast forward to Black Friday morning, 1997. My sister and I were at the local Walmart trying to get the hot toy deals for my then 4 yr old son. We both took a different strategy for getting through the store. I was weaving in and out aisles trying to make my way through the crowd to the toys. It was complete mayhem around me, and like many other shoppers I was not fully watching where I was going. I ran full force into somebody (in the storage bin aisle) and looked up to say I was sorry. I intended to keep making my way towards the toys, but when I looked up I could not believe my eyes. The person I had run into was "my first love" from jr high who I had not seen in years. It had been so long since I had seen him or thought of him, but I would of known him anywhere. We caught up for a few minutes and parted ways. The rest of that day and weekend I could not get him out of my mind. So that following Monday I took a gamble and called information to get his mothers phone number. I struck gold when he answered the phone. We talked a little longer and made plans for later that evening. We began dating again that week and got married in August 1999. We just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary this year. Who would of thought that of all the people at Walmart, first thing in the morning on BF, I'd of run into the guy who was my first love and we'd reconnect right there in the middle of complete chaos. That store was packed to the brim, and yet destiny somehow put him right in path. People ask me all the time if I'm crazy to shop on BF morning. I always tell them you'll never know what you'll find. He was the best find of my life!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Trust me I think the $200 is way over the top. There is 9 years between my 1 child and her oldest. So, for the longest time my son was the only child in the family at all--- and gift giving got out of control. Then when she had her's- and it was the first girl since her and I were kids--- well the trend kept up. Honestly, back when she first had my niece, we had more money too. We had better paying jobs, lower rent, no car payments....ect. I will try the "economy" route rather than the # of kids route. She never struggles around Christmas because her dh draws 4 weeks of vacation pay every year that she saves for this. He's lucky his employer lets him do that. It's like an automatic built-in Christmas bonus.

I usually go w/ my sister. Sometimes my dh goes and drives us, but not in the last few years.

I noticed under your name it said S. New Jersey......you don't get regular snowfall??? I learned something new today!! :) Dh and I were just talking at dinner today that it could be anytime for snow here. Sometimes the snow starts in early October others we may not see a flake until January. Contrary to belief Buffalo, NY is not ALWAYS in a snowstorm! I like it w/ the holiday lights, but other than that I don't care for it.

Okay my mom and I were having a conversation today. I only have 1 sibling. Anyhow, she now has 3 kids and I have 1 child. Well back when we each only had 1 child we started a trend of spending $200 per kid for Christmas gifts. Then she had another, and I didn't know how to tell her I thought we needed to cut back then. Anyhow, now this year I'll have 3 kids in her family to buy for. To keep tradition- I'd have to spend $600.00 for her kids while she only has my 1 to buy for. I really want to approach her about spending less on my son and then I'll be able to afford to keep it fair across the board w/ her kids. I just can't do $600.00 for her kids alone. I was thinking about approaching her about taking it down to $75-100 for my son- and then I'll do the same on each of her kids. She's already mad at my mother-- because my mom went the wrong route w/ it. She told my sister it wasn't fair that she spend so much more on her family than mine. So, she was going to cut each of her kids back and not my son. Rather, I think my mother should of set a budget she could afford and break it up equally between the grandkids no matter which family they are in. So now my sister is already mad about Christmas....and I still need to approach her. How do other families handle this?

DS 16-- He'll get clothing and new sneakers. For a big gift I know he'd like a snowboard-- BUT I think it's something he'll only use once or twice. I'm thinking along the lines of a laptop. Though I'm not sure it will depend on where my budget takes me. DH will be starting a new job this week (THANK GOODNESS because Christmas money was starting to scare me!). I haven't thought any further than him yet.

Thank you-- this must of just came out on the website- because I looked literally last weekend for the free camping in May and there was no word of it yet. Now to pick where to go. We have quite a few nice KOA's within 2-3 hrs and getting 1 night free makes for good deal for a weekend trip.

I got an email from Gamestop. 1/16-1/22 they are offering an extra $10.00 credit when you trade in any game over $1.00 for Wii, PS3, or Xbox 360. http://www.gamestop.com/gs/weeklyad/current/011609/img/olfsi_011609-1.jpg

Went to a store in Buffalo, NY today and there was tons and tons of Christmas stuff left, marked 75% off. I only picked up a few things. I did also get a winter wool peacoat for 75% off. Marked from $54 something down to $13 something- very cute.

The Icarly camcorder. It is all my neice asked santa for. I guess it's a TRU exclusive item. We have looked at all of them and been on their email notification list forever. This thing has not been in stock for going on 2 months!

I had that happen to one I gave as a gift once too. It was for Sears though. I gave it to my BIL for his birthday ($50). He went to use it and it denied for no money on it. He was embarassed I believe and told my sister not to tell me. She did though, and I was glad she did. I still had my receipt and took it back to the store. They then activated it. From that point forward I always give the receipt w/ the gift cards too.

My MIL is the queen of bad gifts. She buys or regifts whatever she can- never thinks of who she is giving it to. Last year for Christmas she gave me and dh a joint gift of an inflatable shower. Not sure what we were supposed to do w/ it- as yes we do have indoor plumbing these days. A few years a go she gave me 1/2 a pack of childrens socks. They were a pack of 6 athletic socks for girls. She removed 3 and taped the package back shut and gave me the other 3. She also gave me a used hair dryer stand crusted in old hairspray. She told me she used to use it because her arms would hurt from holding the dryer- but she got a new one. So, she packaged back up the old one and gave it to me for Christmas. She gave my son when he was 12 a toy that was for a toddler. It was a fisher price toy truck. Also, she gave me "sticker earrings" from a vending machine one year. Now, it's not about the money, as she has no problem dropping $500 on a sports card for her boyfriend for Christmas- she's just always been really cheap w/ us. I know one year she asked what we wanted and we told her new bakeware. She bought us 2 disposable aluminum cookie sheets and a disposable aluminum roasting pan. The best though was the broken christmas decoration from the Dollar General. I thought at first she didn't know- but then there was a piece of paper taped to the box stating "75% off damaged". She said- I figured you could glue it back together. It went in the trash as soon as we got home!!!!! This year though I have her #--- I bought her 2 little glass figurines I'd never buy for anyone!!! Okay well almost anyone.... I got them for $0.99 each at Walgreens. No thought- only that they were butterflies and she likes butterflies. I just refuse to put effort into her gifts anymore when she puts none back.