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I use to but now that they kids are older it doesn't work!

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

Yes! I don't do it on purpose, but I browse for clearance deals and will just order stuff to stow away for later.

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.

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.

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!!

I love this idea, but I'm not very good at it. I'll start around September probably.

@erinbaderin: This exactly. If I shopped all year I would buy way too much stuff.

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.

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).

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.

We try to do the Want/Need/Wear/Read. So the best I can do is a maybe a small want or a book.

Throughout the year though we definitely stock up on bday presents for our kids and for other kids bday parties!

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.

ETA we also do want/need/wear/read for birthdays and Christmas

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

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.

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.

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!!!

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!