Christmas Present Thread

[Canadiandggal 49]

I spent a quite a bit about 600 hundred dollars

3 flower arrangements $110 (mom,Nana,grandmother), Colonge $76 (Hubby), Bike,Helmet,safety pads/knee pads,Tool station,leapster puter,5 leapster games $300(son), Wallet $30 (brother),Stocking stuffers $20, Family portraits $60(whole Family).

Not to include My giant xmas tree and decorations as I went over board

[Marilyn. 340]

ok, so I need to stay out of the stores until after Christmas..lol just today I bought my self two cute snowman snowglobe things from the Dollar Tree store and a another Christmas village type house thing from the 99 cent only store .. oh plus some cute Christmas aprons.. oh and a cute snowman decoration thing to hang on the door and a Santa cookie platter ..lol

ugh, I am Christmas obsessed...

Edited December 18, 2010 by Marilyn.

[Krikit 1,164]

I'm mildly irritated that I can't wrap the presents I'll be taking to Canada until I get to Canada. I'd like to get it over with.

Great shopping guys! But, yeah. I've had my years where I really went overboard at Christmas. It gives you that OMG-I'm-at-the-top-of-the-hill-on-the-roller-coaster feeling. lol

[CanadaLove 16]

I kept it cheaper this year - $20 per family member, generally speaking. Can't spend too much on them when I'm spending $700 to visit with the husband

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I'm mildly irritated that I can't wrap the presents I'll be taking to Canada until I get to Canada. I'd like to get it over with.

Yeah, I found that annoying when we Christmased in Canada as well. It is even more frustrating when you are sending presents, though, because you can't wrap them and you won't be there to wrap them when they arrive. I compromised. I bought colourful re-usable fabric bags (the carry your own for groceries kind) that were actually cheaper than the traditional Christmas paper bags. I wrapped everything in tissue without securing the tissue, then divided them into the proper bags - one bag per family member - covered with more tissues, then tied the handles closed and attached the tag. That way Customs can get into them easily to view the items if necessary, but there will still be some sort of 'wrapping' so that everyone then can enjoy 'unwrapping' their Christmas gifts. It is also my niece's birthday 2 weeks after Christmas so her birthday present is done similarly and included in the box. The really , really annoying part of it all? I actually LOVE wrapping gifts so I feel kind of deprived by having to make this type of compromise .

Their box should be there tomorrow - I sent it by UPS - much cheaper and much faster than USPS. My brother intercepts the box and removes the paperwork that includes all of the prices so no one but him gets to see what things cost. That is the other thing I dislike - gifts aren't supposed to come with prices attached, but Customs needs that listed on the paperwork so they have to be itemized and listed.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Krikit 1,164]

The really , really annoying part of it all? I actually LOVE wrapping gifts so I feel kind of deprived by having to make this type of compromise .

Wow. Can you come and do mine? I hate hate HATE wrapping gifts.

[Canadiandggal 49]

Yeah, I found that annoying when we Christmased in Canada as well. It is even more frustrating when you are sending presents, though, because you can't wrap them and you won't be there to wrap them when they arrive. I compromised. I bought colourful re-usable fabric bags (the carry your own for groceries kind) that were actually cheaper than the traditional Christmas paper bags. I wrapped everything in tissue without securing the tissue, then divided them into the proper bags - one bag per family member - covered with more tissues, then tied the handles closed and attached the tag. That way Customs can get into them easily to view the items if necessary, but there will still be some sort of 'wrapping' so that everyone then can enjoy 'unwrapping' their Christmas gifts. It is also my niece's birthday 2 weeks after Christmas so her birthday present is done similarly and included in the box. The really , really annoying part of it all? I actually LOVE wrapping gifts so I feel kind of deprived by having to make this type of compromise .

Their box should be there tomorrow - I sent it by UPS - much cheaper and much faster than USPS. My brother intercepts the box and removes the paperwork that includes all of the prices so no one but him gets to see what things cost. That is the other thing I dislike - gifts aren't supposed to come with prices attached, but Customs needs that listed on the paperwork so they have to be itemized and listed.

whoops I sent my Brothers and Nanas wrapped though USPS, I am a bad girl

[Marilyn. 340]

we ended up buying this cute margerita drink set for my BIL and his GF..........so we bought this hot sauce gift set for my other BIL... they were 5 bucks each...

Edited December 21, 2010 by Marilyn.

[garnet80 1]

We are too broke to do Christmas this year. I feel really badly that we can't send gifts to the inlaws.

I did manage to get a surprise for my husband. We had our green card interview on the 14th and were approved, so now that I know he's staying for real, I added him to my cell plan, and got him a new phone. He's been without one for over six months, just started a new job, so I hope he'll be excited about it.

Next year maybe we'll be in a better position, and be able to spoil the baby and each other.