Um. No. I don't do holiday gifts anymore. Not because I'm a scrooge, but because we simply can't fund it. We send out about 100 cards with a personalized, handwritten greeting. We have holiday party, our gift to our local friends. And we bring a hostess gift to the parties we attend. But no. And frankly I find the holiday season less stressful and far more enjoyable for it. And I prefer not receiving a bunch of oddball items for the sake of gift giving because "it's the thought that counts." I'd rather enjoy time together, share a phone call, exchange a letter. Call me hum-bug, but I really do love the holiday season. I just prefer to celebrate it without a gift exchange.

Amen, Urban! I feel the exact same way that you do. I am all for giving gifts to my husband and my children, but I think that's where it should end. The stress of buying gifts for all of my nieces and nephews, plus my sisters and their husbands gets to be a little overwhelming. Add in gifts for my parents and their spouses and my aunts and uncles and cousins (yes, all of these people seriously give me a gift and expect one in return even if they don't say it) and I wind up hating the holiday season! I love and adore my family, but would much prefer that we not buy each other gifts at all....or we could all just bring one gift and do a Chinese Christmas.

I don't want to sound like a scrooge, but we stopped doing gifts as well--like so many people we found that the buying got in the way of enjoying the season for what it is supposed to be: a time to spend with family and friends. Mu husband and I decide on a gift for the house or a trip every year--this year it will be renovating our second bathroom. We also throw an open house for our friends, send cards to people who are out of the area, and try to experience the season--enjoy the time decorating, and listening to carols and such. I think this is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday--the focus is on food and time together.

For the most part, I love buying gifts for people especially when I know it's that perfect something for someone. I love the craziness and the crowded stores! The only part that stresses me is buying for people I don't know well like my daughter's teachers. This year, I am going to try to have it all finished before Advent starts so that I can enjoy the season more. I think it will help me to have an actual stopping point so that I don't keep adding little things to gifts that should already be finished.

I'm actually tempted to start early, myself. I, too, love stretching out the holiday season. A lot of people have been turned off to the holidays, especially Christmas, because of the over-commercialization, but for me, the things it means to me about celebration with my close friends and my family has always outweighed anything the commercial world does.

Also the cozy thing. The cons of winter (shoveling, precarious driving, etc.) pale for me in comparison to getting to sit by a fireplace, drinking a cup of cocoa, and all the wonderful decorations.

For me, the primary downside is spending the money before you have to. Granted, it can save you money on shipping (you don't have to have it shipped IMMEDIATELY so you can use the cheapest method) if you're doing online, and it can give you more time to scout for deals.

But it also starts taking money out of your budget earlier, when perhaps you could be setting aside a little bit of money at a time long in advance and then being able to use the accumulated money to get the gifts you really want to give.

All in all, though, I think that for the people who tend to get stressed by going on the gift rush late in the year, this is probably the best way.

I tried to stop doing gifts but unfortunately the rest of my family didn't agree. So, for the holidays I get my parents a $50 gift card for Outback Steakhouse and they get me a $50 gift card for groceries. I cannot get anyone to understand that I like my apartment minimalist and uncluttered and I do not need another item in my place that is going to collect dust. Unless it's shoes but then I want to be the one to pick them out.

I love thinking about this stuff all though the year - it keeps me constantly thinking of the people I love, and the best way to make their face light up when they open their box. I didn't grow up in a family that gifted to the extended members (seven siblings on my mother's side, all with three or four kids, so everyone knew that would quickly get out of hand), but I have close friends that I (LOVE to) exchange presents with, plus my immediate family and my handful of bosses and coworkers. I shop for family and friends throughout the year - just ordered one of my brother's gifts last week, hooray - and spent the past two weekends putting up jam for the work presents. I'll make a quick bread to go with that in December, and maybe spend the odd non-internet-involved hours at work making pretty labels and such.

I actually started in June, but 90% of the gifts we give are homemade, and I work for a museum that is absolutely batsh*t crazy from October to January. I know from experience I need to have everything that is non-perishable completed, wrapped, and tagged by November 1 or my life is hell. We both work and go to school full-time, so money is tight. My husband and I were both the oldest grandchildren in each of our families, so we give practical gifts like warm blankets for dorms, hats, and mittens to our siblings and cousins. The adults all get homemade confections with festive mugs or plates, which I buy on 90% off clearance in January.

I don't shop this early, but I do keep year-round notes of things people want or things I see that they might like. It's a win-win -- it's easier on me when it's time to shop, and they get something they actually want.

I get that people don't want to get gifts for lots of extended family, neighbors, coworkers, etc... but I'll always enjoy getting something nice for my immediate family and a couple of best friends. When you're prepared ahead of time and it isn't a rushed, last minute affair, you can really enjoy the gift-giving.

I've started mine as well! I make most of my gifts, so I think the first official Christmas gift was finished in June. I plan on making a lot of quilts this year and with a full-time job, there just isn't enough time in October or November to do this! Plus I have to travel to see family, so there's no such thing as last-minute: everything has to be in the car on the way to my parents' house. Good for you for starting early!

.....I shop the after christmas clearance for the next year. I have a 6pack kit of wrapping paper and bow from hallmark sitting in the linen closet. I got it at 75% off and its all I will need. I also have stocking stuffers cards ect. As long as you avoid the fad/ super trendy stuff no one knows. I try to always aim for classic red, green and white or any combination of the three. Then I can add glitter ect on my own. The best part is, it all fits on the very top shelf of the linen closet. Which is perfect because I never use that shelf anyways. Im far to short to reach up there normally. I also buy gifts through out the year. If I see something that reminds me of someone or that I know they will like at a descent price I buy it and store it under my bed. If I cant find something that I know someone will like I buy them a gift card. I dont want anyone going through the trouble of returning something.

I pick up presents year round as I see them. I wouldn't call it Christmas shopping per se, there is no list to check, some of the gifts end up being used for birthdays or other occasions, and some of them aren't for specific people (e.g. a picture frame many of my friends would like) but it sure helps in December and I find myself giving "better" (read: more thoughtful) gifts that way.
I actually like giving and receiving gifts but I still tried canceling presents for Christmas - for entirely selfish reasons: my in-laws are horrible gift givers and I was sick of pretending I liked the stuff. I got vetoed by the in-laws and now we are back to anxiety inducing gift opening ceremonies during which I need to paste a look of gratitude on my face. At least it's only once a year!

I'm jealous of the people who have commented saying they don't do gifts anymore. I've tried it. When people asked me what I wanted I'd say they didn't have to get me anything. I even told them the financial situation and suggested getting together for dinner and such instead. Christmas came around. I got gifts, they got cards and I felt like a jerk. I hate the holidays because of the stress of gifts. I would probably like it more if I could skip it.

I don't shop early because I've tried it and people wind up buying it themselves or someone else does. I do try and take mental notes of things people say they want.

Last year was a really tough year and Christmas literally snuck up on us. My friends set up a gift exchange date, 2 weeks before the holiday. I wound up shopping the night before for all of them. It was the most at ease I've ever felt passing around the gifts. I don't know if it was due to the hard year breaking me to a point where I just didn't care or if it was due to me not having the time to over think their gifts.

It took years and many failed alternative experiments, but eventually I got my family to give up on gifts. Nobody ever liked what they got, no matter how well-intended the shoppers were.

Now my domestic partner and I exchange, usually, one or two small gifts each. (Well, his are small from me, the poor one -- he tends to do things like upgrade my iMac or something unruly -- and techie.) I send about 5 handmade cards per year to family and a couple of friends. I make small tokens in my hobby of polymer clay for my co-workers at the Reference Desk of the library. That's it. My partner and I aren't Christian, and we aren't into "loot", so just a small gesture works just fine. I advocate it!

(I do, on the other hand, love to decorate with glitz and dazzle! My pagan side thinks that is what's fun for the season -- and nobody hassles you for it as they would if you left that stuff up year round!)

I have completely changed the way I do Christmas gifts. My children are mostly grown now and I just can't afford to buy them the things they really want and my parents are elderly and really don't need "stuff" anymore, so I started filling Christmas stockings for everyone. All year long, I pick up small, fun or useful items, and then throw in some scratch off lottery tickets, mints, gum, hand sanitizers, flash drives, etc. with a few gift cards for the kids and a small gift for the each of the grandkids, and it's a surprising hit. My parents, kids and grandkids always love them and it saves me money in the long run. I've also started making gifts like homemade jams and toffee or peanut brittle for hostess gifts for parties. I'm trying to be more creative and crafty without being cheesy about it.

I also just pick things up as I see them throughout the year, and keep them at the back of my closet till its time to give them. I hate the forced present thing- the 'i'm buying you something because I'm supposed to' idea because, yeah, then you end up with a bunch of crap you don't need. But little meaningful things, either bought or made, I don't mind them at all, and I love giving them to people too.

I was really into the idea of wish lists- as I have long ones and always know what I want. My favourite gifts are those that I've been wanting for a long time. Nobody in the family was into the wish list idea so now I just pay attention and when someone likes something when we're together, I go back and find it...

Aleishacd - As a teacher I can tell you what to get any teacher in the world at any level of education.

A $5-$10 gift card to an office supply store like Staples (we spend tons of our own money on our classrooms) or general store like Target.

+

A thank you note from your kid - it could be 2 sentences long. Illustrated is even better!

You will NEVER go wrong with this, and you know that your child's note is a totally unique gift that no one else can give :-)

Teachers will eventually (or immediately) throw away all the apple-themed gifts, but I don't know any that don't keep a file of those notes forever.

Funny, just a few hours earlier today I thought I should start thinking about what to give my best friend for Christmas. We give each other several gifts, they are not terribly expensive but I always try to hunt down something meaningful for her .... sometimes it even comes from Value Village (who cares, if it's just the right thing). I am usually done long before Xmas (but I don't have a family so the amount of gifts I buy is very limited) ... this year, I think the hardest part will be to find some inspiration.

LIBC: I am a teacher too, and I 100% agree with you! Giftcards are AWESOME. We also love handwritten notes from the KID. Not food, or candles, or incense or anything. The "Teacher's gift" concept needs to be re-addressed, as a whole, haha.

I have zero tolerance for the commercialism that has all but displaced Christmas. There's a Reason for the season...and it's not the almighty dollar.

Two decades ago I tried repeatedly & unsuccessfully to end the absuridity amongst our families. It reached the point that we couldn't afford to travel if we bought the *required* gifts and we couldn't travel empty-handed. With all the neices & nephews were were purchasing a dozen gifts to their one. I would have been happy with drawing names but you'd think I suggested a holocaust. We shipped the gifts that year & spent Christmas at home. Caused quite a stir, it did, it did.

I was labeled the 'bad guy' but chose to rise above the occasion & ignore the nasty comments. Refused to acknowledge them & would not be party to the ruckus. (I don't do drama). By the time next Christmas rolled around, the family celebration had miraculously transformed into a no-gifts, no-frills potluck centered around the Reason for the season & family & fellowship. (And just for the record, when the ruckus died down, every.single. family.member - without exception - called to 'privately' thank me for putting an end to the chaos. I resisted the urge to slap them all silly.)

These days, we look forward to Christmas:)

Several of my friends have decided that gift-giving is my Superpower, but really my secret is just that I buy things that would make good presents when I see them, rather than when I need them. I know that eventually I will need a gift for my brother, so if I see a $20 vintage tool set at a yard sale I just get it and put it in my "present box" in the closet and let it wait till the next birthday/Christmas/arbor day.

Result: everyone gets weird, quirky, how-did-you-ever-find-that gifts, and I get to be smug over my superpower.