Finished wrapping presents and I realized I had bought too much. I do my shopping throughtout the year, picking up bargains/good deals as I go then stash them downstairs. I put some back in the hiding box for next year's birthdays and Christmas. Next year I'm going to keep a log/record of what I have already bought.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who did this. I have to keep better records next year. We definitely went overboard this year.

Yep, us, too...although dollar wise, we are probably running on the low side! I am going to do a list, too, though...cause it would have made my life SO much easier!!! LOL

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I have done that before, but two of my boys have birthdays in the following weeks so it's not bad

Did the same thing this morning when the girls were unwrapping. i actually threw like 4 presents behind the couch and I am going to save them for new toys throughout the year. Next year I am cutting down big time. Probably half of what we did this year!

I thought that this morning, too, lexikatiesmom. It didn't feel like too much when I was putting it out, but when they were unwrapping, I thought, "WAY TOO MUCH"! I am going to try to cut down this year, too, by using the spread sheet idea. I think that will help me get quality items...and less "stuff".

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Guilty with this also! It looked like the girls had tons of stuff on Christmas morning- but after we undid all the boxes- it does not look too bad! I am going to start keeping a little notebook in my purse for all the things I purchased throughout the year- and keeping it to the minimum. I think I may be a rubbermaid tote and specifically have it for Christmas and wrap the presents as I got them- Christmas is all together craziness here (especially after we get home with everything from everyone else!)

I didn't buy too many gifts for my kids but everyone else did! Now I don't know where to put it all. Our house is only 1000 sq feet. I stayed up last night cleaning out the kids' rooms as they sleep getting rid of old or broken or rarely used toys. They didn't even notice when they woke up because they were so excited about all their new things.

I worked with an excel sheet for my Christmas shopping for the first time this year. Actually I did it through google documents and spreadsheets because it's free and I'm frugal. I bought one nice gift for each person on my list and as soon as I got home from buying it, I'd put it in my spreadsheet and highlight it so I knew I had a gift for that person. Then I could see really clearly who was left to buy for. I keep a birthday list going all year too!

I'm just not sure what I am going to do with all the other gifts my kids got from extended family. I think I'll put many of them in storage and bring them out in a few months when it would be nice to have something new and fresh. I am tempted to put them away for next year or re-gift them for kid's birthday parties but that wouldn't be fair when the kids have already seen them.

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This is EXACTLY what happened to us. DS got spoiled and we aren't even done with Christmas yet -- I am going to my parents house this weekend, DS in tow, and going to come back with a HUGE lot of gifts.. He's the only grandson on both sides of the family now and he's got surrogate grandparents and aunts, etc.. We have so many toys from Christmas last year and his birthdays and people passing things down to us, it's insane. We live in a very small house (like 700 square feet), and DS's closet is packed with toys, they're outside in the garage, all over the living room, under his bed, and stacked on top of his dresser almost to the ceiling. It's over the top, and has to stop! I'm taking a whole lot of things up to my parents house so my sister can ebay them to help my parents raise money to build their house (my dad's handicapped and has been confined to just the living room and side porch of my parents house for over a year now) so my dad can live a full life.. Other things that we know our kids (or family member's kids) can use down the road will be put in storage, and I'll get my sanity back! I need to get my house in order - I'm going nuts!

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

For those who mentioned they were going to start a spreadsheet,,,,DO IT! It really works!
I have been using the same one for 8 years now and have just set it up again for next year. I can look back through the years to see who I bought for, and what the gifts were, along with the cost.
This really helps because I like to shop throughout the year as well. It really helps the budget in the long run and I am able to pay cash for Christmas each year.
The other nice thing is that as I hear people say "wish I had a..." or " I sure would like this.." then I add it to the sheet. It's great for giving me gift ideas when the holiday pressure mounts!

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