Have you started your (non Black Friday) holiday shopping yet? I have.

[CTyankee]

Yep. I got two art DVDs from PBS.org. for my dtr and s.i.l. There will be a cash gift for my unemployed dtr who needs the money, and 3 months of delivery of fresh fruit for my son and his wife (to their 12th floor apartment in NYC) who will have their first child in mid January!

I'm cooking for my very helpful neighbors (my imcomparable minestrone) and hubby knows he's getting some really nice leather and fleece slippers.

Cash gift also for the paper deliverer and the lady who faithfully helps me clean once a month (much needed help since my husband who used to be able to help out more is now disabled). What would I do without my helpers!

I feel good about my choices.

[murielm99]

1. No shopping yet, and I will be doing most of it online.

I am baking today. I have baked and will soon freeze gingerbread boys and girls. There will be more to come.

This is as good as shopping. I give them for Christmas gifts.

[OriginalGeek]

2. My wife and her aunt snuck out to Toys R Us

they had some Wii Us left. One for our daughter (and me!) and one for the granddaughters.

[CTyankee]

4. My granddaughters all get something fun from J. Crew (one of their fave stores).

My dtr in CA helps me get the gift for my grandson (I have real problems with Amazon...long story).

I am much out of the loop on Wii and other more recent technie stuff. The kids understand...

[OriginalGeek]

15. my son and I have a long history

of getting our kids the latest video games so we can play with them. lol

Luckily all mine and both of his are interested in them so we have a built-in excuse to keep getting them.

[HereSince1628]

3. Why would I shop before the 2/3rds off sales start in Mid Dec?

I don't understand this younger generation. What is it with the rush to waste money?????

Even if you don't observe the REAL christmas in April, I don't understand why a person cannot hold their horses until the Gregorian calendar brings around REAL mark downs in January.

[CTyankee]

5. I really don't care about the calendar at this point. I am a nonbeliever in religion.

However, I do believe in white sales in January (drilled into me by my mother), altho I do also believe that Home Goods, etc has erased a lot of that belief...

[HereSince1628]

8. That might matter if there was a home goods store around here...

[CTyankee]

9. It's actually a combined Home Good/TJ Maxx here.

[pinboy3niner]

6. I feel good about my choices, too

Going HAPPILY and PROUDLY to Wal-Mart on Black Friday...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021875701

The BEST Wal-Mart Black Friday strike/protest in the country: Paramount, CA (*PIC HEAVY*) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021875581

[CTyankee]

11. pinboy, you never cease to impress me!

You are the BEST!

Love ya! See you this coming week for the Challenge?

[xchrom]

7. Du rec. Nt

[Honeycombe8]

10. I don't really buy gifts, any more. Except for one...sis in nursing home.

I give nieces and nephews gift cards. I don't buy gifts for adults.

I may give some cash to my lawn man.

I don't buy gifts for the office.

I give money to a local animal rescue organization, and throw in some food into the food bank collection boxes. I try to look for nicer clothing and jackets that I haven't worn in years, to give to charity.

Oh, and I buy myself gifts. This is when I buy a new mattress topper or tv or new dishes, if I need these things. Last year I bought myself a Kindle, though - a frivolous gift - on a great sale, when I bought one for my disabled sis in an institution.

[CTyankee]

12. There comes a time when all this gift giving changes and we see the human need more closely...

I now buy for cultural, need, nourishing reasons, depending on the person's individual situation. A gift should be a gift. some of my family members are affluent and some are in need so there has be be a delicate balancing act...

[pegasis]

13. My holiday gifting is well underway

I've informed the last 2 traditionally gifted relatives that their gift is going to a charity. They were happy to designate a favorite cause. A good lump sum is going off to my favorite charity. DONE! Definitely cash gifts going to the special helpers - like my garbage lady (sanitation professional)! Gift from my husband - we do not have to spend the day with the in laws. Now I just need to get tickets to a great Christmas concert. It's looking like a wonderful holiday.

[CTyankee]

14. Isn't this great? I love being free of so MUCH dependency on the big chains...

[GP6971]

16. Yup

Went to Costco.......they had some really good prices on LED bulbs

[RB TexLa]

17. Over before it started. Nothing to buy.

[Ruby the Liberal]

18. No more kiddos in my family!

We donate to charity in each other's names now. Everyone is at that stage where they have everything they need, so this was decided by my parents/extended family some years ago. Really takes off the pressure!

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. those are good choices.