Too Early For Christmas?

[amastewa93]

Sunday afternoon, the first day of November, I sat down and budgeted my Christmas list. Wrote names, about how much each gift would cost and added the totals up. Do you think it is a bit too early to be thinking about Christmas? Also, are Black Friday deals really worth the wait?

[Fishindude77]

The whole thing of gift giving at Christmas is out of control.
We get a few gifts for the grandchildren and our grown kids, but the Christmas season is more for just getting together having a good time, lots of good food, etc.

[ua_guy]

What you're doing I think is fine (and constructive!). If exchanging gifts is tradition in your family and circle of friends, then it makes sense to come up with a planned expenditure and to try to find good deals while time is on your side.

Regarding Black Friday and kinda what FishinDude said, I think there's too much emphasis on buying crap and I'd personally never get up that early (or stay up that late) just to fetch a deal. When I've looked, the deals are never that great or it's not on stuff I really want. So there's that aspect. I pretty much completely ignore Black Friday and just try pick competitive prices when I decide to buy.

Then there's the whole "early Christmas excitement" with stores putting out decorations and playing Christmas music ...on November 1... and those people that literally start the Christmas countdown 90 days in advance. I totally admire their excitement, and if it makes them happy, then GREAT. Personally, my excitement for Christmas comes and goes in the week surrounding Christmas but I'm not going to get down on others if they want to celebrate it half the year

[creditcardfree]

No it's not too early to plan for Christmas. Our gift list this year is only eight people. We have slimmed way down.

There can be some good Black Friday sales, but if you find a good price price before I say buy it and get it done. And worst case, you return it and get the better price if you see it later.

[phantom]

I think it's too early for Christmas music. But, too early for planning? No way!

My mom's family does a gift exchange and we drew names a few weeks ago. That felt too early. But, I keep thinking it might be nice to buy for the person who's name I drew and have that done and out of the way.

Rarely, do I find Black Friday deals on things I actually want to buy. If I saw a decent price on something today, I'd probably buy now rather than wait. But, if I wasn't seeing good prices on something now, and it was the sort of something that usually goes on sale Black Friday (like a TV), I'd wait.

Last year, I ended up going out late Black Friday evening and getting a good deal. My parents wanted to buy a new leather jacket for my husband. I happened to hear from friends who had been out shopping that there was good sale at the Wilsons Leather outlet. So, my husband and I went out to a relatively quiet store and found a nice jacket for a great price. (I paid for it, and my parents paid me back later.)

[FLA]

When my kids were younger, I had to work on BF but since I'd drive from patient to patient, I would occasionally pop into a store I drove by. They were decimated by 10 am, so I stopped. Then one year, my Dbro and I went at 4am and scored a doorbuster tv for my parents and we amazingly were able to get the really good toy deals. And we got a cartful of other stuff at CVS for free after extra bucks. That one time it was fun, now that we are past the toy age, my kids don't play video games, the gifts they want aren't really BF related, I don't plan to do it again until I am a grandmother, lol.

I like CyberMonday better, but again work made it so I couldn't really participate. So this year I can but I truly feel like I myself need nothing else, clothes, home goods or tech stuff, nor do my family. Besides, I already got their stuff for the most part having had time to search the deal sites and sales the last few months. The ex bought the kids iPhone 6 and while my son does need a laptop, that is not something i can afford this year (I could if he wasn't a musician who only uses Apple).

We have cut back so much on gift giving, just immediate family, hostess gifting, and with friends, we do stuff instead. Christmas comes in around $500, since we don't entertain at Christmas but rather at Thanksgiving. I may be under by $100 because of the good sales and deals I got. I'll use it on the kids because I've cut so far back on them, if I have $100 left, I'd like to do extra.

The thing I got the best deal on were nice luggage sets for the kids at like 75% off, maybe I could score better on BF but for what I saved, I don't care. Not worth it. Plus, I'd have to go in a freaking wheelchair, that would add a whole 'nother layer of "get me outta here!", lol.

If you're into BF, there are tons of websites to help you figure out prices and a plan of attack.

What do people think about BF starting on Thanksgiving? Not a fan.

[creditcardfree]

Not a fan of Black Friday starting on Thanksgiving. I think it is sad for those employees who don't even get Thanksgiving off.

I also like CyberMonday best simply because I can do it all online!

[97guns]

I only need a small handful of gifts and I'm 80% done already, I think about christmas gifts throughout the year and if I see something good at the right price I will buy anytime

[pflyers85]

Thankfully my immediate family is just doing a secret Santa type thing where we pick a name and buy one $50 gift for that person. We are all the age where we don't need anymore stuff and we all have the resources to buy what we need when we need it.

[amastewa93]

My fiance and I take a photo that we send out in cards each year... Now we have gotten one of our bigger gifts out of the way along with a few smaller ones. We both have huge families so Christmas is a busy season for us.

[myrdale]

Most of the time I have my Christmas shopping complete before the end of October. I am running a little late this year.

All my mother wants this year is a 2 cup measuring cup. I've already ordered her a full set of used William Sonoma measuring cups off Ebay. <$50.

I still need to find something for my sister, probably $50-150 depending on what I come up with. And her kids, 1 & 5, $25-50 each.

I don't care anything about Black Friday. It is worth paying triple the sale price to buy early and set at home on that day!

[marvholly]

Since I only buy for the grand kids and that is age appropriate magazines my holiday shopping is DONE.

However, 3 grands have bdays in March so I do try to shop the holiday sales for those gifts but most recently do it online at Target, Walmart or Amazon.

I 'might' go out to hit CVS or WAG but NOT standing out in the cold anywhere.

[amastewa93]

I have five birthdays before Christmas as well, so planning ahead is always a must. I do mostly online shopping and only go out on Black Friday for stocking stuffer type stuff (Bath & Body Works, tiny gifts).

[Cristen Wyght]

It's never too early. I start buying Christmas gifts around March so I don't get hit with the sudden expenses come the season.

[amastewa93]

March! Wow. I wish I could be that organized. Our Christmas list varies right now because we are still establishing careers and often get gifts for people in the office, etc. I am full of the Christmas spirit.