Excelle

HI, Marie!  i am not the do-it-early type when it comes to my own shopping, but to give you the heads' up when your business starts kicking in, there are LOTS of people who really take advantage of it!  I do fully half of my business from on-line sales, and I offer free shipping and free gift wrap, so people are always looking for that "something extra", and take advantage sooner when they see it.  One day, I hope to be the woman who completes all of her shopping by mid-October; until then, I'll be delighted to make everyone else's shopping much easier!

I don't like to shop, but I love to buy great gifts for my family.  I normally start shopping the week after Thanksgivning, unless I see something ahead of time that I know they'll love and not buy for themselves before then.

I was laid off 3 weeks ago, and had bought my first Christmas gift.  Now, I have no idea what I am going to do about Christmas for my kids.  The child support that I get has to go to bills.

I like to shop as early as I can.  I like to look for unique things online, if I know exactly what I am getting I love shopping the malls and stores during the Holiday season.

Thank you all for inviting me to take part in your group.  Christmas has become such a stressful time of year with all the commercialism.  All the kids today seem to take it for granted that everything they get for christmas has to cost money.  It is really too bad because some of the most enjoyable christmases as our children were growing up were ones where there was not much or not any money to go out and buy.  The whole idea of Christmas is to let your loved ones know that they are truly loved.  Memories made by doing things like stringing popcorn and cranberries for the tree, making spice oranges and apples to hang on the tree, Singing christmas carols loud enough that the whole neighborhood can hear you and sharing cups of hot cider or hot coco with anyone who wants to visit.  These are memories that children remember for their whole lives.  When the money isn't there it's time to show our children what the true spirit of christmas means:  Giving and sharing what we have with those who are less fortunate than ourselves whether it is time spent with grandparents, or volunteering to deliver food baskets to those who can't afford to make a christmas dinner.  We all need to get involved and share what we can, by getting children involved in the true spirit of christmas giving.

This is true whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannakah, Kwanza, or a holiday of your own private celebration.  We all need to show our children the importance of cultural celebrations.  This is something that is sadly lacking in our society today.

I have to agree with College Grandma because our society has forgot what christmas is all about.  For one it is about celberating our heavenly fathers birthday and it is also about giving to others who don't have.  I try to teach my boys how important it is to give more then recieve. and I also tell them the more you give the more you will be blessed.  I also like the old fashion ways, decorating your tree with popcorn and cranberrys and making crafts and baking and giving it out to the one's you love I think that means more then something bought in the stores.  I am not a big shopper anyways.....

Is anyone out there besides me still not in the holiday spirit? We always do our shopping around the second week of December but this year I'm not even looking forward to it. Maybe it is because my kids are getting older, I don't know. My daughter wants to put the tree up this weekend (we never put it up this early) and maybe that will help!

Boy do I sound like scrooge! Sorry guys, don't mean to.

If you are thinking about buying gift cards, think twice. Alot of stores are closing doors after Christmas! here is a few:

Circuit City Filed Bankruptcy, they promised to keep all stores open for

> the holiday season, but afterwards, they plan to close 155 stores

> nationwide.

>

> Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide. A company spokeswoman said the

> company hasn't revealed which stores will be shuttered. It will let  the

> stores that will close this fiscal year  know over the next month

>

> Eddie Bauer to close more stores. Eddie Bauer has already closed 27

> shops in the  first quarter and plans to close up to two more outlet

> stores by the end of the year.

>

> Cache closing stores. Women's retailer Cache announced that it is

> closing 20 to 23 stores this year.

>

> Lane  Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherine's closing 150 stores

> nationwide. The owner of retailers Lane Bryant , Fashion Bug, Catherines

> Plus Sizes will close about 150  underperforming stores this year.  The

> company hasn't provided a list of  specific store closures and can't say

> ! when it will offer that info, spokeswoman Brooke Perry said today.

>

> Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. About  a month ago, Talbots announced

> that it will be shuttering all 78 of its kids and men 's stores. Now t

> he company says it  will close another 22 underperforming stores.  The

> 22 stores will be a mix of  Talbots women's and J Jill, another chain it

> owns.  The closures will occur this fiscal year, according to a  company

> press release.

>

> Gap Inc. closing 85 stores In addition to its namesake chain, Gap also

> owns Old Navy and Banana Republic .. The company said the closures - all

> planned for fiscal 2008 - will be weighted  toward the Gap brand.

>

> Foot Locker to close 140 stores. In the company press release and during

> its conference call with analysts today, it did  not specify where the

> future store closures - all planned in fiscal 2008 - will be. The

> company could not be immediately reached for comment

>

> Wickes is going out of  business. Wickes Furniture is going out of

> business and closing all of its stores. Wickes, a 37-year-old retailer

> that targets middle-income customers, filed

>

> for bankruptcy protection last month.

>

> Goodbye Levitz / BOMBAY - closed already The furniture retailer,  which

> is going out of business.  Levitz first announced it was going out of

> business and closing all 76 of its stores in December.  The retailer

> dates back to 1910 when Richard Levitz opened his first furniture store

> in Lebanon , PA. In the 1960s, the warehouse/showroom concept brought

> Levitz to the forefront of the  furniture industry.  The local Levitz

> closures will follow the shutdown of Bombay .

>

> Zales, Piercing Pagoda closing stores The owner of Zales and Piercing

> Pagoda previously said it  plans to close 82 stores by Jul y 31. Today,

> it announced that it is closing another 23 underperforming stores.  The

> company said it's not providing a list of specific store closures.  Of

> the 105 locations planned for closure, 50 are kiosks and 55 are stores.

>

> Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores The Walt Disney

> Company announced it acquired about 220 Disney Stores from subsidiaries

> of The Children's Place Retail Stores.  The exact number of stores

> acquired  will depend on negotiations with landlords.  Those

> subsidiaries of Children's Place filed for bankruptcy protection in late

> March.  In the news release, Disney said it has also obtained the right

> to close about 98 Disney Stores in the U.S.   The press release didn't

> list those stores.

>

> Home Depot store closings Nearly 7+  months after its chief executive

> said there were no plans to cut the number of its core retail stores,

> The Home Depot  Inc. announced Thursday that it is shuttering 15 of them

> amid a slumping US. economy and housing market.  The move will affect

> 1,300 employees.  It is the first time the world's largest home

> improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store for performance

> reasons.  Its shares rose almost 5 percent. The Atlanta-based company

> said the underperforming U.S. stores being closed represent less than 1

> percent of its existing stores  They will be shuttered within the next

> two months .

>

> CompUSA (CLOSED) clarifies details on  store closings Any extended

> warranties purchased for products through CompUSA will be honored by a

> third-party provider, Assurant Solutions.  Gift cards, rain checks, and

> rebates purchased prior to December 12 can be redeemed at any time

> during the final sale.  For those who have a gadget currently in for

> service with CompUSA, the repair will be completed and the gadget will

> be returned to owners.

>

> Macy's - 9 stores

>

> Movie Gallery - 160 stores will close as part of a reorganization plan

> to exit bankruptcy. The video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500

> Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520

> locations the video rental chain closed last fall.

>

> Pep Boys - 33  stores

>

> Sprint Nextel - 125  retail locations New Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse

> appears to have inherited a company bleeding subscribers by the

> thousands, and will now officially be dropping the ax on 4,000 employees

> and 125 retail locations.  Amid the loss of 639,000 postpaid customers

> in the fourth quarter, Sprint will be cutting a total of 6.7% of

>

> its work force (following the 5,000  layoffs last year)! and 8% of

> company-owned  brick-and-mortar stores, while remaining mute on other

> rumors that it will consolidate its headquarters in Kansas .  Sprint

> Nextel shares are down $2.89, or nearly 25%, at the time of this

> writing.

>

> J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot will be scaling back and cutting

> jobs.

>

> Ethan Allen  Interiors - The co! many a announced plans to close 12 of

> 300+ stores in an effort to cut costs.

>

> Wilsons the Leather Experts - all 260 mall stores.

>

> Pacific Sunwear will close its 154 Demo stores after a review of

> strategic alternatives for the urban-apparel brand  Seventy-four

> underperforming Demo stores closed last May.

>

> Sharper Image:  The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and

> announced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing.  The retailer will

> still operate 94 stores to pay off debts, but 90 of these stores have

> performed poorly and also may close.

>

> Bombay Company The company unveiled plans ! to close e all 384

> U.S.-based Bombay Company stores. The company's online storefront has

> discontinued operations.

>

> KB Toys posted a list of 356 stores that it is closing around the United

> States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

>

> Dillard's to Close More Stores Dillard's Inc. said it will continue to

> focus on closing underperforming stores, reducing expenses and

> improving its merchandise in 2008.  At the

>

> company's annual shareholder meeting, CEO William Dillard II said the

> company will close another six underperforming stores this year.

>

> Starbucks: Starbucks will close approximately 600 company- operated

> stores in the U.S.

>

> Pier 1: Announced that they would be closing an undisclosed number of

> stores.

>

> Kirkland's: A chain of home decor stores will be closing nearly 130

> stores nationwide.

>

> Sprint: to cut 4500 jobs. and 125 stores.

>

> Linens 'n Things: Is closing 120 stores nationwide

>

> Dell Inc. closed its 140 kiosks in the United States

>

> Liz Claiborne Inc. said it's closing the entire 54-store Sigrid Olsen

> chain.

>

> Lone Star Steak House: 27 stores closing.

>

> 84 Lumber: 12 stores closing

>

> Rite Aid: 28 stores

>

> Big Dollar: dollar stores closing 10 stores

>

> 

>

You can't get your money back on any of the gift cards you purchased if a store closes.

I think with the economy the way it is right now, they would make great gifts (I love getting gift cards as presents!) - they may not be in the sense that a lot of stores are closing but it also allows you to just give them the amount you would have spent so they can buy something they will definitely use and love.  I hate when family wastes their money on things that I will never use.  Instead of buying me that pedicure set in that really cute bag, why not just give me a giftcard!  hehe

We have family in other states so a gift card is a good idea for my kids.  That way relatives who want to give but don't know what the kids will like, can still feel like they gave something.  It also helps keep the cost of postage down.  I prefer not to give gift cards unless I don't know the person very well.

I see your point on the gift cards and they are an excellent idea.... now if I can talk my husband into doing so..... I hate shopping!

We have not even started shopping yet. I am trying to talk my husband into going a little earlier this year but I would rather not do any of it! I hate shopping! Ugggg. I think I just need to get into the Christmas spirit and quit being such a scrooge but it is so dang hard. And I can't think of a single reason I am like this. Bah Humbug!

Lizie says ...

This year is going to be a little tough since I was laid off my perfect dream job that I had for 7+ years in August.  I have a new job, but had to take $16K cut...how can you cut your house or car payment?? 

So, here's my Christmas gift giving:   Something cute, but inexpensive for nieces & nephews, socks for Mom, gas card & gift card to the Mall for my son (usable at all stores, so even if some of the stores close, he can still use it elsewhere) & for friends & other family; I have cookies, salsa, peach jam, pear/apple butter & zuchinni bread that I made & will put into little gift bags! 

I love the idea of homemade gifts. To me its so much more personal and making them really helps me get into the holiday spirit. I also love to get these kinds of gifts. Christmas is so commercialised (did I misspell that?) I feel homemade gifts are more in the spirit of giving and because it takes time to do, I appreciate them more.

brandylynn1975 says ...

I was laid off 3 weeks ago, and had bought my first Christmas gift.  Now, I have no idea what I am going to do about Christmas for my kids.  The child support that I get has to go to bills.

 

I like to shop as early as I can.  I like to look for unique things online, if I know exactly what I am getting I love shopping the malls and stores during the Holiday season.

Time to get creative!  I am not able to do much this year either so I picked up some moldable clay and will be making something for each.

If you are Christian, this year will be the year to remind your kids what the meaning of it is and perhaps instead of giving to each other you could volunteer to help the homeless.  Remind your children that they have been blessed in prior years and this year is when they pay it forward by helping someone else.

Just some ideas.

Diana what nice idea. My daughter works with clay and she makes beautiful sculptures with it . And the kids would probably have more fun creating thier gifts. Great way to spend special time with them.  I wish all people would pay it forward, what a more beautiful world it would be.

GIFT CARDS IS MY KINDA A SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS.

Then they can buy what they want or need and not have to spend time in long lines trying to take something back they didn't want or did not like to began with. The best way to mail a present is a gift card.

But Nana always has to get the grand kids something to open.

I give all my neighbors homemade goodies in pretty mason jars. And make special treats for those that can not have sugar.

It also works good for Church members or forgotten nursing home friends.