And now in stark contrast with my last post, shopping! I do a vast majority of my holiday shopping online these days. My older kids usually have specific things that they would like and it is easier to seek them out online than go to stores searching.
I have already started my shopping, have you? I have a couple of little things I have picked up over the year. You know those sales you come by and think you just can not pass up, even though the item will have to live on the top shelf of your closet for 9 months. And in the last week I have purchased some presents for my children.
My youngest two, ages 4 and *almost* 3, are really into their pretend kitchen and play food. I tossed most of the plastic food and dishes with all the lead paint scares, so their kitchen is pretty lean. Sort of like mine at the end of the week. I went and bought them a bunch of new wooden cooking sets and pretend food, none of which is made in China. Much of it I got at amazon. But I hate it when I buy things online and then the price goes down, don’t you? Unlike a brick and mortar store you can’t just pop back in with your receipt.
My friend Mir, who has the shopping blog Want Not, told me about Refund Please. A place that tracks your purchases for you and emails you if the price drops below what you paid for it. At first when I went there I thought it was a pain in the neck and wasn’t going to input all of the item numbers.
On the one hand was my laziness and lack of precise typing skills, on the other hand my frugal nature. Finally, I decided to take the time and see what happened. Immediately I discovered that one toy had gone down in price $6 in the 20 minutes or so since I had placed my order.
I am interested to see if any of the other items go down in price. And also it is making me think that I might now order a couple things my kids wanted instead of holding out for a sale that may or may not happen.
Has anyone else started shopping? Have you found any great presents that you are excited about?
I have started shopping! I am almost done, actually. I am not normally done this early, but expecting a baby sometime right before Christmas has made me actually do the shopping early this year. It is nice actually.
Comment by Midsummer Night — November 5, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
My biggest problem with shopping online is trying new “stores”. Not only to I fear change, but I fear getting ripped off. However, I do like the endless possiblites that seem to be offered on the Internet.
My daughter wants a dollhouse for Christmas and there seem to be tons of nice ones on the Internet, but I hate not being able to see it and feel it. How much would it suck to order something, find out it sucks, ship it back and then try again. Man, I am tired already. However, it can’t be worse than what is being offered in stores, at the moment.
Comment by Wendy — November 5, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
I only give gifts to service people, my nieces & nephews and my parents. All of the shopping is done at the bank. I do not worry about color or size – it’s all green and if it’s too small, tough. No one has ever complained. People want to give me gifts and I have requested that they send what they would spend to their favorite charity. I do not have room for any more stuff.
Many years ago my husband & I stopped exchanging gifts for any occasion, we took vacations instead.
Comment by Kathy from NJ — November 5, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
I bought Legos this summer when they were on sale on Lego.com with a few other miscellaneous things I picked up I am done. I am not buying anything for the baby this year as we have enough baby toys. And I got my husbands gift months ago! I love online shopping!
No spending in November for me! Yea!
And Mir’s link to refund please is so helpfull. I have yet to enter any of the information.. but I am sure I have some savings coming.
Comment by DW — November 5, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
My husband and I rarely exchange gifts either. I did buy him a book he has been going on and on about wanting. My nieces and nephews we give money or gift cards.
MidSummers Night, that was me three years ago. I got it all done so early and had it wrapped and everything before December even rolled around.
I’ll be done before December. I always am.
Comment by Chris — November 5, 2007 @ 2:51 pm