Who's already doing it?

I have one child more than half done and one started and all the teacher/misc./extended family gifts taken care of. I'm a single parent so I have to do a little at a time.

Also, how many of us are downsizing this year on Christmas due to the state of the economy?

i buy for 3 kids, 2 parents, and 1 boyfriend

1 child is completely finished (with the exception of stocking stuffers)

1 child is asking only for money, haha, so i'll withdraw closer to christmas and stuff various sized-boxes with anything from a nickel to a $100 bill and watch her light-up, or sneer, with each box she opens.

i'll try to finish up the last child this weekend.

i've bought my dad something

my mom is all i have left (and along with an inexpensive little gift, i usually add a gift card to one of their favourite restaurants)

robin's got a couple of things already, but i'm saving for something REALLY special come march.

Several years ago, my family decided to stop buying for any adults. Christmas was for the kids. Now that the kids are all grown we buy only for our own children. As far as friends, we don't exchange but instead we do something for each other---an invitation to lunch, a homemade dessert, etc. Last year I made baskets with homemade soup and bread.
The only thing I miss about the shopping part is the thrill I would get when I found that toy every kid in town wanted and I knew my son would have it under the tree!
Have fun and enjoy this time with your kids. It's the BEST!!!

Paper..sounds like you are well ahead of schedule!

Delilady...I love the idea of the soup and bread baskets! Something homemade is always so nice. I usually do fruit baskets or a little box of candy for our special neighbors. It's bad because I do so enjoy giving to others, and I end up spending too much money! I'm trying to keep it on the low end this year.

My Christmas shopping is well under way. My brother has 4 kids and my sister has 1 child. Out of the 5 kids, I only have to finish buying for one of them. He is the oldest and is getting tricky, the little ones still love toys so they are easy. We usually do pollyanna for the adults, but decided to get gift bags and set a $20 limit. The guys fill a bag for the guys, the girls do the same for the girls. Then we all just pick a bag and open whats in it. My brother and sister in law are extremely cheap and always short whoever they are buying for. We are hoping this will alleviate that problem.

Then its onto teachers (2), therapists (5), bus driver and aide, ugh, its crazy.

My family stopped buying for adults also, just for the kids. But last year we played the game with gifts nobody knew what they were (forgot the name of it).. the one where one person could take the gift from another, not knowing what they'd end up with? lol

We kept the limit at $5. A few thought that they'd get "junk" and at first didn't want to participate.. but in the end, they found out you really COULD get some useful things. $5 gas cards, reusuable shopping bags, dryer sheets, box of crackers/cheese .. it wasn't much, but we made it fun and that's the most important part of family get togethers!

I started shopping for my boys already.. not a big start yet, but getting there. I'm one that likes to go shopping on Black Friday, I think it's fun AND exciting! hehe

Oh I love Black Friday shopping. The bargains are amazing, especially for the kids. I got all of my brothers kids done on black friday last year, I bought a ton of stuff and spent very little. My boss already knows I shop my way to work that day!

Exactly!! This year I have it off, sooooooo I'm getting myself prepared for it!! YAY!

Nicole....I usually do ornaments for the teachers and therapists and bus drivers. I used to get these really cute glittery ones at the dollar store (found those on a random trip one time), but since they've already had those a couple times (hehe) I thought I better do something different. I ordered out of Oriental Trader this year. It should be arriving soon. I'm hoping they are of good quality. I spent like 60 bucks and got a TON of ornaments and bags for the people mentioned above and all the other misc. gifts we end up needing every year for last minute things. Oriental Trader had some really cute ornaments to buy in bulk, like 8.99$ a dozen.

Is that called White Elephant Gift Exchange? My mom and her sisters used to do that, was always a hoot!

Lordy, Black Friday.....I need to see what deals there are, but really do not like the crowds.

Thats a great idea. What I usually do for the teachers and therapists is get candles that come in 3 and 6 packs and take them out and add an ornament and a small box of chocolates and pack everything up together in a gift bag. The bus driver and aide (only because of all the extra work with his wheelchair and the lift gate) I usually get a box of Whitmans or Stovers chocolates for each one. Not the big box but not the small one, sort of that in between size.

Candy is never a bad idea.....
I forgot one time I did do candies and fruit in a little gift bags. The therapists especially commented on how much they enjoyed having their orange to eat that day. It does get expensive at christmas time trying to make sure all the people that help care for our special little ones get something to show our appreciation. There was one year when all I could do was print out these postcards that had my kiddo's picture on them and this really nice poem showing our appreciation.

Got my daughter done.... except for the little things, my boys are half done each, then its my brother,sister in law and god son....and I'm totally clueless every year with them. I'm not doing teachers,friends or co workers this year. I can't.... except maybe
something for my boss and his wife.

My grandmother (r.i.p.) started the family on the "mystery gift game" the year after I joined the military. Everybody loved it tremendously, including the kids. We kept it going for a few years after she passed away, but with my grandfather's alzheimers, my dad and his two sisters not getting along (I don't get along with them either, but am at least able to put it aside for holidays), nobody has really done anything in years. We put a party together two years ago at my grandfathers, and those who went had a good time, but my dad refused to go because his one sister was there. Shortly after that his other sister moved to another state (I grant ya it was for work), and they all started fighting over my grandfather even more, to the point that I got sick of it and haven't talked to the one aunt since the last party, and the other one in about a year.
If it wasn't for state laws that preclude me as a primary decision maker for my grandfather (and not having the money to take it into court), I would have stepped in years ago and taken over his care and needs. But his kids refuse to cooperate and help each other, and the one sister refuses to let any of the grandkids except her own help out, to the point of making sure she was there at 4:30 in the morning every day, in order to have the housework and such done BEFORE I could get there after putting my kids ont eh bus.. And then she wuold complain cause no one was helping her, go figure.

Sorry for the rant, didnt realize I needed tog et that out.

I will actually have money for it this year, but I have not started yet.

Daniel:

Family dynamics can be interesting to say the least. Especially at holiday times. Have you tried just sort of reaching out to the one aunt who is giving the power trip? Sometimes, you grit your teeth and pretend you like someone for the sake of helping out someone else....and in the end you DO end up making amends and getting along. It might be worth a try.

That's kind of what I expect most men to say. My dad always waited until Christmas Eve to get his done...

Same here, cuts down on decision making

I started most of mine after christmas time last year. I have done a little here and a little there as I find things that all the kids I need to buy for would like. As for family I only buy for my mom, brother, his GF and my uncle. This year I will add my neighbor into the Mix.

All in all I believe I have 1 person to buy something for then i am completely done. Although I am sure I will find something else for my niece or someone else.

I am definately cutting down on how much I am spending this year.
I made 3 wreaths for friends. I am making jewerly sets for a couple of my girlfriends. I started my shopping last month and still have a few left to do.