...do you find yourself getting swept away in the hustle and bustle and buying "just a few more" gifts?

I used to get caught up and end up spending way more than I had planned when I factored in the stuff I had bought beforehand, but now I don't.

How do you handle the last minute temptations?

How I usually try to handle the last minute temptations is buy convincing myself that we don't have the money for anything else (there is usually the unexpected bill that takes a huge chunk of available cash!). My goal for this upcoming month is to get as much done for Christmas- since in December there is that extra expense (in the years past it was washers, dryers, car issues and so on!).

This year we are in a bit of a bind- we don't have as much coming in as we did this time last year (last year I was basically done besides getting grab bag items and a few stocking stuffers!). Anyways- I usually have trouble with wanting to get the girls one more thing- then I have to buy the other one a present (I give even number of presents to the girls!). Then with my mom I usually will find just one more thing for her stocking and it really adds up over time!

i do save money by buying thru out the year and early my goal is to get gifts that would normally cost between 20 to 25 bucks for under 5 bucks this year i did it on 14 gifts so i saved huge...

as far as last minute temptations i make a list of what i'm getting then once they are crossed off i simply don't buy anything else. simple as that. it has taken a few years to get to this point but i'm here and i'm not going back.

I think it depends on what you shop for...

My sisters both collect kitchen roosters/chickens. So if I see one in April for a good price, I'll definately buy it! Kwim?

I really shop all year round for our entire family...just more because I'm on the lookout for things. I usually get my Mom and MIL clothing for part of their gift, so again, if I see something in Sept I think they'll like, I will definately get it. I just got my Mom a cute jacket at Talbot's at their winter sale. It was normally $140, marked down 60% and then I had a 10% coupon to use as well. So it was definately a good deal! :Thumb Up

Now Dh's brothers and my sister's husband are a different story. I never know what to get them and really have to wait until they give me some ideas and sometimes, I have to buy gift cards (which I hate doing!).

No way! LOL! I'm so list oriented it's not possible. I decide how much I'm going to spend and I stick to it down to the penny practically. I update the list as soon as I buy something and keep a running tally of how much I've spent on a particular person. I print it out and keep it in my purse.

As my kids get older I buy less for them ahead of time, since I do not really know what they will want by Christmas. I buy all the things for my parents, sister, niece, nephew, etc. ahead of time. I like to shop for stocking stuffers at the last minute (well, early December) That way I get my last minute shopping rush without spending alot.

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~Happiness is a large family~

I HAVE to buy ahead of time! I like to do my christmas shopping the first few days AFTER Christmas (for the next year) I buy a lot of bath & body sets 50-75% off. I put them in my "gift cabinet" and I assign a name/holiday to it immediately. I use these for mothers day, birthdays, AND especially Christmas! I couldn't afford full price & especially waiting until December to shop for everyone.

The key for me is to go ahead and wrap the present as soon as I buy it. This way I don't second guess myself. I forget what it is, and when they open it-- it's a suprise for me too! lol I also buy Christmas wrapping & decorations AFTER Christmas for the next year. Thats my favorite time of the year to shop

One benefit of living a ways away from all major shopping is that you need to be organized and pretty much have everything picked out in advance -- two things that go completely against my personality!

I, too, buy all year. Like Target had cute ladies pajama sets that were for sale around Christmas time last year. Well, after Christmas, I picked up 3 sets for 75% off = $5!

Or a store was going out of business and got a cool framed picture for my Mom that I am saving for Christmas. I buy thru out the year for everyone for everything.

A couple of months ago I went to my gift storage"place" and made my list of what I had for everyone. I now know I have very little to buy for Christmas - mainly my dh.

I haven't been doing any shopping throughout the past year, but did start in the last month. I had some ideas for a few people and found some sales and went ahead and bought what I'd been thinking of. DH & I sat down yesterday and made a list of what we're getting everyone and did a little more shopping yesterday afternoon. I plan to stick strictly to the list, and the budget as well. I'm crossing off as we go and once we're done w/ the list, we're done!

Last year I just wasn't sure on some gifts, as far as what to give, so I was shopping last minute and overspending--and I just don't want to do that again! I hope to be done by Thanksgiving this year--as busy as stores were yesterday just w/ Halloween around the corner I have no desire to be shopping too closely to Christmas!