well i have all the extended family done i did them thru out the year. now i need to work on my kids and mil,fil,bil,sil. these are the only ones left and dh and i don't exchange gift except for a cd that the kids give us.

oh and dh gets a rona check next week and an extra check in november so we will easily be able to get those done with cash only since i don't figure those into the budget.

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

Well, to start with, try not to stress. I don't know what you plan on spending, or how many gifts you have to buy. Do whatever you can to save in other areas. Watch the sales like a hawk. Mine are 3, 11, 12 and 16. So their aren't really any 'it' gifts I have to get. The 3 year old will be happy with whatever. The older ones I was thinking of getting each of them a mp3 player, and if we can afford it, maybe a game system for a family present.

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"It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."

-- St. Francis of Assisi

Everytime I click on a thread about this, it is the only time I am SO thankful that we were flat out busted broke our first couple years of marriage. We set the precedent that we weren't buying for everyone and their brother. Around the holidays I start to feel bad that I can't get anything for our siblings, but on our budget, it just doesn't happen. I try to save through the year, and it doesn't happen either, so that's just how it is. But anyway, we use a huge chunk of the extra paycheck he gets before Christmas to buy gifts for just the three of us. If there is any extra money, it will go to getting gifts for our parents, but that's about it. The only other thing I do is a few food baskets (cookies, coffee/tee, etc) for a couple people DH has professional relationships with. Oh, and we do a gift exchange on my FIL's side, which will cost me $10 to make a movie night basket for. I just keep telling myself that I'm not forcing anyone to give me anything and I can't beat myself up about nto being able to give back. When we get our debt paid off maybe it'll be different. But ultimtately, it isn't about gifts - and that's what I remind myself of when I start getting all flustered over it.

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~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

WE'RE ADOPTING!!!
http://daughterinthedistance.blogspot.com/

I don't really stress about the holidays. We get a couple of gifts here and there for different ones - I haven't purchased anything yet but pretty much know what we're getting. The baby is probably the hardest one to buy for.

I hadn't realized it was THAT close... I'm hoping to pick up most all of what I still need Black Friday, I'm figuring my baby should be popping out any time now, and I should be recovered enough then to go shopping for the last of what I need and mail it to people, so I hope it goes that a way!!

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

oh man.. that is awful. If I were in your situation I would want to (but probably couldn't do it just because I am a softee and just think these things)... not get him anything... saying remember the $$$ you found in my sock drawer?? Merry Christmas!

-that is soo funny! I will have to do that with him!

I don't feel as bad right now- I hit the toy store and got the girls a few things that they asked for and had a few great coupons ($10 off and a few thing of playdoh) and only had to spend $18 with my cash on hand. I also hit Target and got a few things for my oldest on clearance. My list is not as long now and I think I can handle it!

Start a Christmas club account NOW for next year. I have one and it's wonderful. We don't have to come up with any extra money for gifts. Whatever you can swing, put it in. I put $50 a check in and we get paid semi-monthly - so I end up with $1200. This year I am NOT spending it all!!! I am going to put the left over in my Christmas club account for next year. Next year it won't be as big as I won't be working but we'll put whatever we can in - it really helps!

Oh man, I didn't realize you meant he found the money and spent it. I thought you meant he found his presents. Thank stinks. Yeah, I guess I would be buying his present with whatever money I had left after all the other presents.
My hubby doesn't care what he gets though. Well, at least he always tells me not to buy him anything.
I am glad you have a better start than you thought.

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"It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."

-- St. Francis of Assisi

When are you due? I am hoping the same thinbg for me. I am due on the 27th.