leefamily23

Not a second job, buy I am going to try to pick up more hours. I work 32 hrs per week. A nice schedule because I make more than I did at my former job, but w/ once less day. Anyhow, we're really behind and my boss has been asking me to do extra hrs, so I figure w/ Christmas coming I'm going to start trying to pick up the extra day every other week starting this Monday. The extra money will go directly to Christmas shopping.

I'm still going to go shopping on BF. I will be picking up some extra hours throughout Oct-Dec to try to pay for Christmas. The difference is I won't pick up anything "extra" on BF. I usually buy things for the household because they are a good deal. I won't be doing that this year. It will be strictly gifts. My company is doing really badly too- so that is scary. The joke is that we're going to show up one day and there will be locked chains on the doors. It's really not funny, but it's kind of stressful. I know we're trying to merge w/ another clinic and being management- either me or the other person at the other clinic who does the same thing I do will be let go. Doesn't help either........ Anyhow, yes I'm going to shop. I'm going to stick to the same holiday budget I had last year- which was greatly cut back.

Thank you.... we've seen the fights and all......but that is my favorite BF story. I hit the jackpot that day!!!

I have probably the best one!!!!! I met my husband in Walmart on BF. REALLY!!!! I had dated my husband for nearly 18 months as a teenager. He was my first boyfriend and first love. He ended up moving in w/ his father in another state and we lost touch. Fast forward 9 yrs- and I was at Walmart for the opening on BF. I was trying to make my way to the toy department for some toy or another (I honestly don't remember which one anymore). In the midst of the crowd I had back right up into someone pretty hard. I turned around to apologize and I came face to face w/ the person I walked into. It took a second for us to each recognize each other- but it was pretty much "I'm sorry.....oh my.....oh my god Chris I haven't seen you in forever....." We only talked for a few minutes. 3 days later though he called, we got together, and ended up dating- moving in and getting married. That is my best BF story!!!

My sister and I always do the list and plan of attack on Thanksgiving evening. We also get together a list of items w/ the ad's we'll price match at Walmart since we always start off there. We also decide our plan of attack as well. We do the splitting off our lists based on department so we can cover more ground. It seems Walmart is always the first big store we get in line for. Usually she goes after the toy's we need and I go after the electronics. Then we pick out our meeting spots for stores the night before too. We usually eat Arby's (at the mall) around 8-9am. It's got to be the only day of the year I have french fries and roast beef for breakfast. Though in reality--- we've already been up since 2-3am so it really seems like lunch. My son has his own BF tradition and that is spending the day playing video games w/ my dad. They've been doing this for nearly 10 years.

My son 15 want's the following: Skateboard or 2 (he goes through 1 a month it seems like) Snowboard, bindings, and pants to match his coat from last year Clothing and shoe's

My son is 15. I've been doing the bins/storage tote's for years. I always put a few regular items on top- so you don't know there are wrapped presents underneath.

I still don't know, and I'm kind of stressing about it. Every year, up until last year, we've always gone to my parents house. My inlaws always spend Thanskgiving alone. We also always have spent every Thanksgiving and Easter w/ my family. So last year, we moved into a new home 10 days before Thanskgiving, got unpacked, decorated, and settled in. All so we could host the meal at our home for my husband's parents. It hurt my mother's feelings and to make matter's worse, my grandmother passed unexpectedly 1 week before Thanksgiving. It was really hard because she used to be at my parents house for dinner too. Anyhow, I busted my hump to get the meal ready and my inlaws showed up literally 10 minutes before we ate and stayed to eat and then left right away. They took their dessert to go, because they were tired (neither of them works and they're both in the early 50's so there was no excuse for them needing rest). They stayed maybe an hour altogether. So, to say I was angry was an understatement. So now I guess I better start talking to my dh. I don't know if he's expecting to continue the new tradition of having his family over for Thanskgiving.......personally I'd rather go back to my mothers.

We'ver tried to go out for Christmas dinner, but never Thanksgiving dinner. It was near impossible here. For Christmas anyhow, the only place open was Denny's, everything else was closed. Now my inlaws went out for Chinese a few years ago for Thanksgiving. Honestly, I thought it was weird, sooooooo non-traditional to have Chinese food on Thanksgiving.

BF is a paid holiday for us too. I'm taking a vacation day the day before Thanksgiving- so I'm making it a really long weekend. Now we had a choice this year for Christmas Eve-- we could either be off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day paid. BUT.....then we'd have to work the day after Christmas. Instead, they took a vote and it got changed to working until 1pm on Christmas Eve then being off the rest of the day w/ pay and then being paid and off for Christmas and the day after.

Today only Fashion Bug has an additional 20% off their already clearanced items online and 40% off all regular merchandise online. This includes the new summer/spring items. Anyhow- I just ordered 3 regular priced tops-- added a code "776185902" and I was able to take an additional $20.00 of $50.00 purchase. Price for each item $29.99 down to $10.84 $26.99 down to $9.76 $26.99 down to $9.76 I'm pretty excited considering I almost paid full price in the store 2 weeks ago for these same shirts. I also have these codes that might work too- only a place for 1 code though- 25% off your whole order- 776205502 Free Shipping on orders over $75.00- 776205304

We ordered a new one a little while back. For work purposes my home computer couldn't have vista yet either. So, we go it from Dell.

Someone mentioned Walmart being very YMMV---- our Walmart still has toys from last Christmas (2006) in the clearance aisle at the same price they've been for over a year. Our's is really bad.

Our Target will NEVER budge on anything. I don't even try anymore. They act annoyed just to be there at all. Last year when the princess TV was clearanced, I got a really nippy response when I asked out of curiosity why they weren't clearanced here. Then I went to look for the wine cooler a few weeks ago, posted on here. Once again we had it, full price. I also tried to get the dollar spot batteries some of you were able to get for 75% off, I got a really rude lecture that day. They did go 90% off on Saturday. I grabbed a bunch of plain white gift boxes for $.19 a pack. They come in handy year round for b-day's. I also got a rope dog toy for $0.19. I got a few gift bags. The only real deal I got- they had the red box Ipod Nano speakers docking station thing. It was regularly $30.00- I got it for $3.00. It was shoved in the pet food aisles behind some things. So, that was my bargain. They had a lot of kids bath set's and perfume sets (4 endcaps full) and they were only marked 15% off. Also I noticed they had 2 endcaps full of the polaroid digital camcorder that was from BF. They were still full price, just wondering if anyone thinks they'll clearance these?

I know last year when our Target went from 50-75% off- they did it mid-morning. It actually made me alittle mad.

I'd still talk to the manager. I've had nothing but good exp. there. Last year we bought a used game for $17.99. It didn't work. I went to take it back- and they didn't have anymore of that one used in stock. So, they offered me a full refund-- or the manager (looking at my son's broken leg in it's cast) said I can just give you a new game. Yep, they exchanged the non-working used game for a brand new one- for no extra cost. I thought that was above and beyond.

About 1-2 yrs ago we got Aladdin w/ no movie in the case from Walmart. There was no problem exchanging it for another one.

Hmmm.. wondering what the chances are of finding that wine cooler this evening. I'd have 4 Targets I could check. I might give it a try. My husband wanted this back at full price. I have a return for Target so it wouldn't be a wasted trip.

DS (15) Only 1 miss- which was Rockband- it's not really getting touched too much. I was suprised.

I think the thing is--- we are not distant from my mother or my MIL. We're close w/ both sides of the family. We see them at least every couple of day's or no more than every 10 day's. On my husband's side- DS is the only grandchild- and on my side there are 3 in total. We are really close to both families. If this was someone I wasn't super close to- I'd understand- but it's not the case here.

It's a tough situation. If the kids are still going to have a nice Christmas, and you know this, then I guess I wouldn't give them. If you think the kid's are not really getting anything too much- then I'd probably mail them w/o a return name. Even this late. Or possibly leave them in her car.

I'd be very, very disappointed if they didn't open it in front of me. Actually, I'll be honest- I'd be offended.

This is the first year in a long time I have to work the day after--- so I'm not sure I'll be shopping at all that day. Though we did Christmas w/ my family yesterday and ds already has $150.00 in gift cards and 2 more families to go (my husband's and his own dad's family) so I'm sure he'll be itching to go out when I get home from work to shop.

Ahhhh......I'm sorry to anyone who has to go through this. I've lived for 3 years w/ a "pissy, moody, depressed" husband. Only in his case- it was true clinical depression he refused to get treatment for. This will be the first holiday ever we're not going all out w/ gifts for each other. Money was tight this year and we're only doing stockings w/ each other. BUT....I got the greatest gift of all-- I have a husband who is back to the man I married and fell in love with. So, nope, no grouchy, crabby man here---- but I've been there for too many, long, lonely day's- so I send you a big MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We had a nice snow storm last Sunday- all of it pretty much melted off in the last few day's though. Today's been rainy- but in the last hour it's turned to snow. They're calling for light snow showers starting tonight through Wednesday. I'm hoping for just that- light snow. Last year it was warm here on Christmas (very rare) and green. I didn't like it. For me though- come January 2nd the snow can stay far away. :)