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Post by grammea on Oct 12, 2021 6:40:18 GMT -6
In light of the predicted and existing shortages, what are you doing to prepare for the holidays gift AND food wise? I’m watching the adds and will pounce immediately on turkeys as soon as advertised. I plan on buying 2 turkeys and 1 turkey breast. That should take me through thanksgiving and Christmas. I plan on getting all my non-perishables within the next two weeks As for Christmas , at least I haven’t started panicking yet , lol! My great granddaughter and my youngest granddaughter are done and another granddaughter has one present so far. Hugs and God bless, Helen(grammea)
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Post by MammaMel on Oct 12, 2021 6:54:35 GMT -6
I am already stocking things for food. I have 1 grandson done and I need this week to go through the gift tote and see what is in it. I bought some things on clearance earlier and have forgotten what they are!
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Post by mountainma on Oct 12, 2021 7:53:46 GMT -6
This will be a different year for us since my mother-in-law is now in heaven and dd2 got married. I think no one is really up for a big family gathering on dh's side of the family. I'm making memory pillows for them, using clothes of his mom's. That will take care of Christmas gifts for his brother and sister and their kids. Gifts for dh and the girls will be needed "useful" items or handmade gifts. We can make it special and still be frugal.
Thanksgiving will probably be just dh, dd1, and me. We aren't really fond of turkey, so we may have something else instead. Dd1 already bought cans of pumpkin and sweet potatoes.
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Post by eyeofthestorm on Oct 12, 2021 12:39:27 GMT -6
This has been on my mind for a few reasons.
First, I am already seeing problems with shipping. I do not want to wait.
Most of the gifts we send go to my sister and her family. I know they are having a hard time with food costs. I am thinking of sending something handmade for my eldest niece (almost ten - I think she would like something unique to her). But if I am going to make it, I need to start yesterday...
For my younger niece (5), I'm going to print and laminate some paper dolls. I have some lovely files I got online.
I am stumped about my nephew (7). He has started to really enjoy reading. Perhaps I can find a good book he will like.
I may send something handmade for my sister and brother-in-law, but I'm really thinking about sending a big ham or something like that to be helpful. My BIL collects specific things. He is not fussy in any way, and I don't want to get him something that will just take up space. But I've bought him books about his collections in the past, and it's not easy to find the things he collects.
I will probably send my own Dad a gift card and perhaps a ham also. DH always decides what to send his mom.
I have a dear friend who has requested no more tangible gifts; either donations to her favorite charity or Kindle books. She is also in the older generation (I would say just barely a generation older than I). She just doesn't want to keep collecting books and then giving them away. I want to respect her wishes.
But mostly, I'm feeling time pressure. If I don't ship by mid-November, I'm concerned about when gifts may (or may not) arrive.
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Post by mountainma on Oct 12, 2021 15:56:56 GMT -6
Sandra, I ordered my mom a birthday gift back in September for her birthday this month. I found out the item is expected to ship by mid-November! I hope it comes in time for Christmas.
One good thing about the shipping delays is that I'm more determined than ever to buy items made in the USA, not overseas.
By the way, I heard that wrapping paper might be difficult to find this year and I'm making fabric gift bags to re-use instead.
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Post by eyeofthestorm on Oct 13, 2021 5:19:02 GMT -6
One good thing about the shipping delays is that I'm more determined than ever to buy items made in the USA, not overseas. In theory, this should help, but I don't know if it really will. I very intentionally sent my Dad cookies (not homemade) for his birthday last month. I chose these cookies SPECIFICALLY because they said they would be delivered the next day. That tells me they were in stock at that moment and not far from him (he's in a big metro area). I was really annoyed when the next day (when they were supposed to be delivered), sorry, oops, there's a delay, they'll be there the next day. Maybe it's the labor shortage, I don't know. Maybe there just aren't enough people to drive the trucks. I've had multiple experiences in the past four weeks with shipments being delayed. Each time the product was IN the US before it was shipped. I will say that these things were not ordered through Amazon. Our Amazon orders are often being delayed a day or two now, but they are arriving. Of the three things from last month, one arrived about ten days late, one is still "lost" somewhere, and one we gave up waiting and just plain canceled the order.
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Post by mountainma on Oct 13, 2021 6:22:30 GMT -6
Wow! That is incredible! I do know the USPS is taking longer to ship now. What used to be 2-day priority mail now takes 2-5 days, supposedly due to the pandemic. I will send Christmas cards early this year.
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Post by ginakay57 on Oct 14, 2021 21:03:07 GMT -6
I'm going to start buying turkeys and hams when our local store has their "buy a ham get a free turkey" deal. The only shortage I've been seeing is Gatorade...that's been going on a month now. Everything I've been ordering off Amazon has been delivered on time, the priority packages I mailed to MD & NE arrived in 2 days, and the packages sent regular by post office to those two states arrived in 4 days. I'll be ordering grandkids Christmas gifts off Amazon or Walmart. Emily likes to sew so I'll order her a sewing machine off Amazon. Her and Eli's birthdays are before Christmas so I better get busy. Not sure what the other grandkids will get but I better start ordering.
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Post by mountainma on Nov 29, 2022 7:58:46 GMT -6
I'm bumping up this thread since Christmas is just around the corner again.
Have you found any good deals for gifts? We have a discount store in our area with a lot of odds and ends. You never know what you'll find as it's different each time. I usually don't shop there as it's out of my way, but I happened to be there a couple weeks ago. I found a very nice set of 30 pens in all different colors for about $5. These are great for adult coloring and my girls use them all the time.
I also found a name brand candle for about half the usual price and picked it up for my secret pal at church.
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Post by ginakay57 on Nov 29, 2022 11:25:43 GMT -6
Rebekah, I saw on Amazon boxes of misprinted pens for very low prices (forgot the actual prices).
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