Christmas shopping [Archive] - MyMedia-Forum.com

MJBinNC

11-26-05, 12:42 PM

I do a lot of online shopping. I hate crowds and I really get upset by rude people. And...during the Christmas shopping season, that is all you find in the various stores. Good reason to shop online.
I just have everything shipped to my work address...and then the kids never know. (When we lived on Camp Lejeune, our UPS driver would come to the door with some little paper or something, and then whisper that he had put the packages in the closet of our carport. He was such a sweetie!)

rosalind711

11-26-05, 01:18 PM

I do mostly in store, because I love shopping.

Shai

11-26-05, 01:42 PM

I've bought the bigger stuff online as I got better prices and din't have tot cart it home! I do buy stocking fillers in town, as I love the Xmas shopping atmosphere, with Xmas songs playing and stuff :) I spent £15 just on bows for parcels tho :o

Oh I don't care it was fun! I think if I had to buy everything in town it would bother me a lot more, I enjoy it because I know I've got a bunch of stuff out of the way :)

mystjade

11-26-05, 01:59 PM

I am to technically defficiant to order online, besides, in less it has to shipped anyway's the shipping charges bother me . . .

wickedsweet

11-26-05, 02:01 PM

I do a lot of online shopping. I hate crowds and I really get upset by rude people.

I'm with you there. It drives me nuts that the Christmas season seems to make some people suffer from temporary insanity. LOL DId you see the people fighting over computers at a Wal Mart yesterday on the news? Now if that doesn't say "Hey, let's celebrate the birth of Jesus" I don't know what does.;)

Your UPS guy sounds like an angel!

I do mostly in store, because I love shopping.

My kids love shopping to but I can't get into it (except for Barnes & Nobel, I could move in there and be alright with that). They're forever wanting to go to the mall but for me it's almost the equivilant of going to the dentist.:(

I've bought the bigger stuff online as I got better prices and din't have tot cart it home! I do buy stocking fillers in town

That's pretty close to what i do but I only do the stocking stuffers local because it's cheaper.

wickedsweet

11-26-05, 02:03 PM

I am to technically defficiant to order online, besides, in less it has to shipped anyway's the shipping charges bother me . . .

Usually this time of year most places online offer free shipping which makes it nice.

16L43

11-26-05, 05:25 PM

Mine's done so I don't feel bad about Christmas at all...

(And yes I did see the news footage from the Wal-Mart store of the stampede. As much money as some of these retailers make and they can't hire extra security or even ask for help from the local police to cut out the fighting?! One fot these days someone's going to get trampled to death; what's a hundred million dollar lawsuit going to do for the bottom line. I don't know who the bigger idiots are, the ones pushing and knocking each other down for a cheap lap-top computer or flat screen Tv or the retailers for always doing things on the cheap when it comes to their customer's safety...is it any wonder I do all my shopping the first week of November so I won't have to deal with my fellow man after Thanksgiving?)

wickedsweet

11-26-05, 05:36 PM

Mine's done so I don't feel bad about Christmas at all...

OK, I hate you:p Just kidding, I'm just very jealous:D

(And yes I did see the news footage from the Wal-Mart store of the stampede. As much money as some of these retailers make and they can't hire extra security or even ask for help from the local police to cut out the fighting?! One fot these days someone's going to get trampled to death; what's a hundred million dollar lawsuit going to do for the bottom line. I don't know who the bigger idiots are, the ones pushing and knocking each other down for a cheap lap-top computer or flat screen Tv or the retailers for always doing things on the cheap when it comes to their customer's safety...is it any wonder I do all my shopping the first week of November so I won't have to deal with my fellow man after Thanksgiving?)

:worshippy

Last year in a Wal Mart near my home town someone was actually shot over a TV during their Black Friday sale.

16L43

11-26-05, 06:03 PM

wickedsweet

11-26-05, 06:19 PM

Christmas shopping around my house doesn't take too long. I've got my dad, a brother who's local and a handful of close friends. That's it...

(I also buy a toy or five for the Sheriff's Department toy drive for poor families but that's hardly a chore since I love Toys R Us and Kaybee Toys. I alos have an ex but I can usually find a large lump of coal beside the railroad tracks to give her...not really, but the thought's crossed my mind a time or two...at least she remarried this year so maybe she'll leave me ALONE!)

Ahh, see I have my 3 kids, my 3 nieces, my best friends 3 kids and 2 grandkids, not mention my husband, our living parents and grand parents ans sibilings. It takes me awhile to manage the right giftes for the right prices.

Maybe if you've been a super good boy this year Santa will leave some coal for you EX :)

sunnyskies

11-27-05, 02:41 AM

I do a mix of online shopping and going out to the stores. i like to shop Ebay to get original gifts. My husbands family is full of people who if the want something they just go buy it so I have to be a little creative with them. Fun stuff though
-Sunnyskies :)

supermanfan469

11-27-05, 02:51 AM

I've done half my list. I should have the other half done by the end of this week. Except for two people, who I can't decide WHAT to get for them.... LOST season 1, maybe I can get them hooked!

everlost

11-29-05, 10:42 PM

If you dont like shopping in general try to save it until the 24th, then it's no longer shopping it's a sport.

MJBinNC

11-30-05, 11:51 AM

I am at a loss this year. I don't know what to get for my husband or for my kids. What do you get for a 12yo boy - who is very much a science geek, but not at all into video games (we don't have them and never will) and watches almost exclusively The History Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Channel, Discovery Times Channel, and the National Geographic Channel - but who is also heavily into boy scouts, camping, fishing and other outdoor stuff...excluding sports, he hates them? I am honestly frightened to get him a chemistry set - which he really wants. I'm afraid that my house would blow up. He wants a new telescope and microscope - but he has "outgrown" the kids ones...and the ones he wants cost over $350 for the microscope and over $3000 for the telescope - fat chance on either of those! He still plays with Legos...but I don't want to buy more, because I'm sure that will come to an end soon. What do you buy for a 9yo girl? She still plays with dolls a bit - but not much, anymore. She has taken dance lessons for 5 years now and is on a competetive swim team...but I really can't buy her a pool, and she has shoes, tights and leotards. Forget my husband....I can't even begin to think about that one. He loves fishing - so I'll probably buy him something for that. (why put a lot of thought into it - he buys mine last thing on xmas eve, usually)
This is going to be a rough year.

feigenbaum

11-30-05, 12:07 PM

These past two years I've been doing the big online shop.I don't have too many presents to get though.

The actual shops are just scary this time of year.

And the 24th? everlost you are kidding me right?

Ellaroo

11-30-05, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by Everlost:

If you dont like shopping in general try to save it until the 24th, then it's no longer shopping it's a sport.

LOL - You can say that again! Every year I swear that I'm going to have everything wrapped and delivered the week before Christmas. Yet I always end up running around the shops like a scalded hen on Christmas Eve.

Quote MJ:

I am honestly frightened to get him a chemistry set - which he really wants. I'm afraid that my house would blow up.

Sorry MJ - don't mean to laugh but that gave me a giggle. Your son sounds a like a dream - He watches the History, Science and National Geographic and Discovery Channels...he sounds perfect...but why am I suprised! I think he deserves a new telescope and microscope......you should get the Chemistry set too ............but keep us posted!

And yes, get your daughter a pool.

MJBinNC

11-30-05, 12:31 PM

Sorry MJ - don't mean to laugh but that gave me a giggle. Your son sounds a like a dream - He watches the History, Science and National Geographic and Discovery Channels...he sounds perfect...but why am I suprised! I think he deserves a new telescope and microscope......you should get the Chemistry set too ............but keep us posted!

And yes, get your daughter a pool.

A dream? I'll send him to your house. We have a "family joke" that this kid is either going to be a fantastic scientist OR the next unibomber. Oh - he also watches The Daily Show w/Jon Stewart and Monty Python. He doesn't "get" cartoons - and has never watched Nick or Cartoon Network...just doesn't like them. He also has a very smart mouth - that gets him in trouble at school a lot...like telling his spanish teacher that she needed glasses and a tree reference book when he was drawing maple leaves on the cover of his notebook and she said they were pot leaves...I looked at them - very clearly maple. I just don't know what to get this kid. Problem with Chem set is that he is too advanced for the normal "12yo and up" sets. (knew his table of elements by the time he was 4 1/2yo) I'm not setting up a chem lab in my house.
Marianna will probably end up getting a new bathing suit, goggles (which she breaks monthly - considering she swims 5 days a week) and assorted "swimming" stuff.
Who knows. All I want for Christmas is a vacation. Fat chance for that too.

FWIW - this is the first year that I'm not FINISHED by this point. I don't know what is wrong with me.

Ellaroo

11-30-05, 12:41 PM

Quote MJ:

He also has a very smart mouth - that gets him in trouble at school a lot...like telling his spanish teacher that she needed glasses and a tree reference book when he was drawing maple leaves on the cover of his notebook and she said they were pot leaves...I looked at them - very clearly maple.

LMAO MJ! That's brightened a deary Wednesday at this end! Thank you!

Sorry to say you lose a 'star' for letting things slide this year....I would have thought you'd have Christmas all wrapped up by now. You are Human after all!

Pieces of Arzt

11-30-05, 12:46 PM

My husband and I do a lot of online shopping, but we braved the crowds on Black Friday. It wasn't too bad, actually.

So far this season though, I have only bought things for myself. :ashamed:

uhavemel

11-30-05, 12:53 PM

So far this season though, I have only bought things for myself. :ashamed:

LOL--Don't feel too bad. I bought and wrapped all my gifts. I am actually trying to resist opening one of them (Viggo's Coincidence of Memory book) and looking at it AGAIN. I am very bad.

Atleast I get things that I want. :D

Ellaroo

11-30-05, 12:58 PM

^ There's always one! ;) Got it all sorted and can sit back, relax and watch the rest of us have a melt down in the run up to Christmas.

I'm very jealous Mel but good for you.:D

uhavemel

11-30-05, 01:04 PM

I start shopping in the summer, no joke. My sister and I had a tradition of going shopping on Black Friday but she thought she would have to work that day because of her new job. Ended up she was off that morning and she tried to get me psyched to go the night before. I said, "forget it!" because it was going to be 15 degrees F that morning and there was no way I was going to be waiting outside the mall at 5:30 for that. Plus I was finished shopping and would just be buying things for myself anyway. I've become addicted to Christmas sweaters. :) I feel like I need a new one every year.

everlost

11-30-05, 05:39 PM

Feigenbaum And the 24th? everlost you are kidding me right?

You should try it, it's invigorating, like jumping into lake ontario in January.

juanbong

12-02-05, 03:14 PM

ah criminey!!! Is it really time to go xmas shopping again?

MJBinNC

12-02-05, 06:08 PM

I think that I'm going to boycott Christmas this year. Too much work and too much money to spend on it.
yeah right. I'll probably go this weekend.

azteclady

12-02-05, 06:42 PM

MJBinNC, I have a suggestion for your son's presents - based on my experience with a son who sounds much like yours, take a look at Asimov's Chronology of the World (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/Asimov%27s%20Chronology%20of%20the%20World),Asimov on Chemistry (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/Asimov%20on%20Chemistry), Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/Asimov%27s%20Chronology%20of%20Science%20and%20Dis covery), etc. These are HUGE books, guaranteed to entertain even the fastest of readers for at least a few days, and with the added benefit of being great reference books for school. (My 17 rereads his at least twice a year, and my almost-13 is starting on the Chronology of the World.)

As far as general Xmas shopping, well... *evil cackle*

Living over 5,000 miles away from family excuses a lot, but for those unavoidable obligations I try to buy stuff throughout the year, and then I bake cookies for the rest. So you could say I'm done with it too ;)

[I'm unapologetically frugal and everyone who knows me knows that, so there]

MJBinNC

12-02-05, 06:51 PM

Thank you! I think that I will look into those books. Books are big hits in this house. The kids and I read at least a book a week and both read well above grade level. (12yo is at college level and the 9yo is at about a 7th grade level)
Off to the Books a Million website........

Celtic Ceilidh

12-02-05, 06:55 PM

MJ: It sounds like your son and mine (Greg's 11) would get along well. He loves science, reading, outdoor stuff. Except he's a total basketball fanatic too.
I don't have my shopping even started yet and for some reason I'm totally calm about it. I have no idea what to get anyone. I wonder if my kids would notice if they didn't get any present this year?

azteclady

12-02-05, 06:58 PM

MJBinNC, like I said, your son reminds me a lot of mine. Last Xmas when he and his sister went to visit my family down in México, my brother asked him what he wanted (since he's the difficult-to-find-a-generic-gift-for kid of the family). He asked (and got) a college text on... Philosophy and Logic. In Spanish.

Having kids that much more intelligent than one is can be a scary, if extremely satisfying, experience. Good luck to you, m'dear!

Prof_Frink

12-16-05, 07:05 PM

i have been buying a lot of stuff online. I just used Drugstore.com for some stuff. I had to buy some Degree deodorant cuz my grocery store doesn't sell the kind i like but for some reason only sell the men's sport instead of the reg. stuff, so i think i'm accidentally been using a woman's brand, but i don't like any of the men's 'sport' scents.