https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:09:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576490 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 05:53:14 +0000 Miss Sarah 2576490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that I have a child, I find myself Xmas shopping early, just to justify the fact that I'm buying her more stuff, lol. In reality, I usually start the bulk of my shopping in about September or October. DD has a November birthday and I'm a little overwhelmed by having to plan a first birthday party and have Christmas be a month later! I might start earlier for everyone this year! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576487 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 05:25:59 +0000 fancyfunction 2576487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely like the idea in theory and do it sometimes. M's birthday is 12/11 so I always try to come up with a big gift for that and Christmas. I think one of her gifts this year will be an Easy Bske Oven - she'll be 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576466 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 00:28:10 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2576466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually reading organizational type posts on here fills me with inadequacy and envy (lol) but this one is just so not me. I think it might be good if you have a big family or something, but I would probably forget if I bought stuff 6 months ahead!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576458 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 22:58:28 +0000 ALV91711 2576458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've picked up a couple things on clearance already for Christmas. But I'll probably do a bulk of my shopping in Sept/Oct.</p> <p>I pick up seasonal things for daycare gifts on clearance after the holiday to save some money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576456 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 22:56:56 +0000 Jess1483 2576456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, I get too excited. Sometimes I can keep them for a month or two, but generally I start making a plan in early November and fill it in/get the gifts in early December. We do want/need/learn/read, so I pretty much need to coordinate all of that to make sure we have what we need. For birthdays, we generally do one "larger" gift since the boys get so much from family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576454 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 22:37:35 +0000 808love 2576454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always give the presents too early so I can't do it either. I start around Sept though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576239 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:00:21 +0000 gingerbebe 2576239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do this. I troll Slickdeals.net regularly and have a Kohl's card just for this purpose. A few times a year I get ridiculous deals stacking a 30% off code plus free shipping, $10 rewards from a previous purchase and some $10 off $25 purchase code, etc. You can stack 4 codes per transaction and I shop the clearance deals and store all of it in my coat closet. It's mostly for DHs family who are huge gift givers and I have to send something every. single. holiday. under the sun. I also stock up on cards at the Dollar Tree where they have them 2 for $1 and keep them at the ready for every occasion. There's seriously a holiday, bday, or anniversary every two weeks in his family. It drives me nuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576222 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:52:05 +0000 Rocker2014 2576222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely do this, but more for adults and cousins than for LO. If I see something someone might like, I'll get it and hold on to it until the next holiday. I also try to keep spare gifts on hand for unexpected occasions, but I sometimes end up keeping them for myself or LO :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576191 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:32:31 +0000 travelgirl1 2576191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't because we don't have the storage, but my MIL does it big time, then forgets what she had because she buys soooo much stuff 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576189 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:30:46 +0000 youboots 2576189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: yes. I also but 10 of the same gift (usually an unusual book) and take them to every birthday party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576186 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:28:38 +0000 youboots 2576186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. I'm done Christmas shopping and birthday shopping (March) for T. I have a gift cabinet where I keep other gifts too for my nephews, MIL, Mom etc.</p> <p>ETA we also do want/need/wear/read for birthdays and Christmas </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576160 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 13:59:07 +0000 lamariniere 2576160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't do this, we have practically no storage, so I wouldn't be able to hide anything for a long time. Also, as the kids get older, they have specific wants that change from week to week, so I want to wait to be sure it's something they actually want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576086 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:53:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2576086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We try to do the Want/Need/Wear/Read. So the best I can do is a maybe a small want or a book. </p> <p>Throughout the year though we definitely stock up on bday presents for our kids and for other kids bday parties! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576054 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:17:08 +0000 Truth Bombs 2576054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yep, I never buy ahead for LO because I want to get her what she wants. Six months in advance she doesn't know what she wants for her birthday or for Santa to bring her. Last year she was dead set that she wanted a guitar, a pointer (like her teachers use on the board) and face paint. But she didn't come up with these things until close to the end of the year. They were easy enough to make happen, and if I had bought a bunch of stuff ahead either I would have things that didn't get used, or she would have 12 million presents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576047 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:07:11 +0000 looch 2576047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kind of do this for other kid's birthdays, I buy gender neutral games and everyone gets that for the school year...I have at least 2 sets on hand in case I forget or whatever.</p> <p>But for my son, last year, the kid wanted one thing for Christmas and I was able to convince him that was his birthday gift as well. Good thing I didn't buy stuff in advance because I just would have accumulated stuff that he might not have truly wanted. It sounds totally ridiculous and spoiled, but I think the point of Christmas is to make my son's dream come true (within reason of course).</p> <p>eta: I have no idea what we will do this year. it's going to be tough to top last year, he's still really into his ride on car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576046 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:05:15 +0000 JerricaBenton 2576046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the idea but I would also buy way way too much for everyone. I do add things to my amazon wish list all the time so I generally have some things ready to order. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576027 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:45:58 +0000 Truth Bombs 2576027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: This exactly. If I shopped all year I would buy way too much stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576012 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:31:13 +0000 erinbaderin 2576012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't do this because I'm terrible at waiting and would end up giving the gifts well before the occasion, plus I'd way way overbuy for everybody. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2576002 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:17:32 +0000 Adira 2576002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this idea, but I'm not very good at it. I'll start around September probably. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575993 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:13:14 +0000 Smurfette 2575993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will start in August looking for stuff. I really want to get on top of it this year. I am due 1/11 so as much as I can get done ahead of time the better. But I have NO clue what we will get LO this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575984 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:07:41 +0000 yoursilverlining 2575984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do this - not so much for LO but for basically everyone else. My rules are pretty much to only buy things that are beyond perfect for someone, or things on clearance. I also keep running lists on my phone of "great gift ideas" for people. I keep everything stored away in the closet in one of our spare rooms and it's so nice to be able to grab something last minute for a gift. </p> <p>I buy lots of pretty generic kids stuff when it's on clearance - Melissa and Doug reusable sticker packs, coloring stuff, craft supplies, etc. It's been very handy when we get invited to a birthday party last minute!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575979 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:02:31 +0000 catlady 2575979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to but we don't really have the storage. And now that LO is starting to get really opinionated about her stuff, it's probably for the best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575977 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:01:06 +0000 snowjewelz 2575977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I don't do it on purpose, but I browse for clearance deals and will just order stuff to stow away for later.</p> <p>Fore example last week I bought a bunch of toys on clearance at Target, but since I don't want DD to get everything at the same time, I'll either space them out or just save them for birthday/holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575976 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:00:40 +0000 Mrs D 2575976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like this idea but usually dont start until mid year...</p> <p>I just bought DDs (both girls) big gift for this year...little tykes inflatable bounce house for the basement...$149 on Amazon...cant wait to see their faces when it is blown up Christmas morning... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575975 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:00:35 +0000 Chillybear 2575975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should really start doing this.... I'm due right after christmas and I know i wont feel like going to all the stores for last minute things </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575967 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:58:22 +0000 PawPrints 2575967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in general in favor of this idea but realistically I don't start Christmas shopping until October/early November. And birthday presents are fairly last-minute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575966 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:57:35 +0000 Mamaof2 2575966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use to but now that they kids are older it doesn't work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575964 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:57:02 +0000 FaithFertility 2575964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am doing this already!<br /> I'll be on maternity leave this winter<br /> and we have DD's birthday, all the holidays and so many other birthdays this year and ohhh yeah DS due in Oct!</p> <p>I'm looking for deals and will stash away<br /> DD is only 2 so no idea on big items! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/earlyyear-round-christmasbirthday-shopping#post-2575957 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:54:07 +0000 ValentineMommy 2575957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pretty much shop for Christmas and birthdays year round, whenever we see something on sale or I see something I know they're going to want/like. That way when the holidays roll around, I'm not scrambling and have a small gift pile.</p> <p>Anyone else do this? </p> <p>Any ideas of what the big go-to Christmas gifts are going to be this year? </p>