I know some of you can’t focus on Christmas until after Thanksgiving…but that’s not me. I can pretty much focus on it 365 days a year. Back in July, I added to my monthly goals to start shopping for Christmas gifts and now, I’m done shopping and on to wrapping. Woohoo!
I’ve had, many, many, many questions about how I shop for gifts, who I buy for, what I buy, where I store my gifts and so on. So, that’s what I’m sharing today…how I play Santa.
How many gifts are we buying?
As the years pass (and our families grow), we are buying fewer and fewer gifts for extended family. We buy gifts for both sets of our parents, for my brother and sister-in-law and for Andrew’s niece and nephew every year. Years ago, Andrew’s brother suggested that the adults on their side of the family (siblings and such) stop buying each other gifts, so that eliminated some shopping there.
Every other year, we spend with Andrew’s parents (like this year) and the other years, with mine. On the years that we see my family, we also buy my cousin’s daughter a gift and then my cousins and I do a drawing where we each pick one other person to shop for (since I won’t see them this year, we don’t draw). We started doing this two years ago when we realized everyone had different budgets and ideas when it came to gift giving, so to eliminate any stress or awkwardness, we would just draw and only shop for one person. And honestly, as adults, we really don’t need anything for Christmas…these gifts are just little somethings sweet (nothing big).
The Shull Four on Christmas morning last year :).
What do Andrew and I buy each other?
Everyone does this differently…but Andrew and I decided years ago to stop buying each other gifts…for any occasion. We realized that on holidays/anniversaries/birthdays, we were just going out and spending money just to spend money because it was an occasion…when honestly, we would each rather purchase something on our own when we needed it later in the year instead of the other buying something just because of the day. (We do always exchange cards though!)
Gary Chapman has a great book that I’ve read several times called The 5 Love Languages where he helps couples identify their spouse’s love language and then gives you ideas on how to support and nurture that love language…well, Andrew and I read the book and realized that neither of us had the love language of gift giving and/or receiving, so to us, gift giving with each other isn’t important, so we don’t.
On our annual Christmas carriage ride in 2013.
What do Andrew and I buy the kids?
My kids are fortunate enough to have both sets of grandparents, two sets of great-grandparents and a multitude of aunts/uncles/cousins and such that give them gifts each year for Christmas, so Andrew and I really try to streamline Christmas morning.
Each year, they typically get one bigger “Santa” item. In years past, that’s been things like bicycles, play kitchens, scooters, small basketball goal and such. I really like to get them things that encourage them to go outside and do some sort of physical activity. Santa also leaves them a stuffed animal or doll, a book and one of those jumbo coloring pads.
Andrew and I wrap and give them practical gifts to open from us (since that other stuff is from “Santa”, they need a gift from mom and dad too). We usually give them winter pajamas, a new pair of shoes, a winter hat and scarf and maybe we’ll wrap one toy like a Barbie or something. In their stockings, I keep it really simple…some gum, a little candy, maybe some bubbles and some crayons to go with their coloring books.
Christmas Eve 2010…Smith is 11 months old and Kensington is two.
What do we buy other people in our life?
There are other people in our lives that we give gifts to as well (teachers, friends, neighbors and such). My favorite gift to give is usually something like this…
…a fun jar (this is the ingredients to Cranberry-Chip Cookies) along with the recipe and a note from our family.
For teachers, we usually buy our teachers a gift card to one of their favorite places (we’re given a list of their favorite places) and attach it to a homemade card.
What do we do for others?
Every year, we donate to 3 of our favorite charities. We make sure that the kids share in this with us and honestly, shopping and giving to these three causes are some of the best moments of our Christmas season…
If you’ve ever been asked to fill a shoe box with goodies to be given to kids around the world for Christmas, that’s Operation Christmas Child. Each year, we take our kids to Walmart and they select items to fill a shoe box and that’s donated to a child. It’s amazing how much and yet, how little goes into these precious shoe boxes.
Our church always has an Angel Tree and as a family, we select another family in our area and buy and wrap gifts for them. These gifts are both very practical and a little special. I love doing this with my family too!
And our family always makes an annual contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital each year. I am extremely blessed for the health of my children and really try never to take that for granted.
Where do we hide/keep gifts we buy?
Each year, since I shop early, I really try and hide our gifts in good places until they can be wrapped, so I keep a master list of what I’ve bought, how much I’ve spent and where exactly in my house I’ve hidden said gift.
I always, always, always set an annual budget, write down each person we’re giving to (including charitable donations) and then divide that money out before I start my shopping. Then, after I spend any money, I write it down on my sheet of paper along with a specific description of what I’ve purchased and where I’ve placed it in my house. Erika was with me the other day and she laughed as I pulled my paper out of my purse…a girl has to keep a list!
Other random things…
Several of you have asked about me purchasing gifts so early. I know my family well enough to know what I can buy in advance and what should wait until closer to the holiday. If I see something my mom or mother-in-law would like for their homes, I can buy that in July…I know they won’t be returning it (and they do the same for me). As for clothes, I try and wait until the end of October or November for that stuff. It’s a judgment call.
And then there’s this…
…we do set aside some of our Christmas shopping for Black Friday. Some years, I go out and find stuff and some years, Andrew does (like last year, he was looking for a TV and waited on Black Friday for one). Most years, I shop online on Black Friday because the deals are there too, and I get to stay in my pjs!!
Christmas is without a doubt my very favorite time of the year! Coming up on my blogs over the next month will be lots of ideas for celebrating the season, party and entertaining ideas, recipes, shopping, staying in with your favorite Christmas movie and cocoa and so much more!
Tis the season for carols, twinkle lights, and lots of Christmas cheer!
Don’t forget to head to my foodie blog today because I mixed and matched one of Blue-Eyed Bride’s favorite Thanksgiving recipes into this…
…yeah, you should click here and check this out.
Lori says
I love that you involve your children in buying for your chosen charities each year. It is so important to begin at young ages to teach children the value of charitable giving. I also agree with your decision to streamline the gifts your children get at Christmas. We give four gifts based on this formula: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. Our daughter knows this and gives us a list based on these criteria. We started this early and so she never expects or demands more than this. We follow same for my husband and me as my daughter goes with each parent to shop for the other. It makes Christmas shopping lot less stressful.
Betsy Maddox says
That sounds so much like what our family does. We all just have so much. I love the idea of keeping Christmas simple and streamlined and as focused on others and the REAL reason for the season as possible. 🙂
Erika Slaughter says
This post got me in the Christmas spirit!! Remind me to reread this on December 1st! So good!
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Fun post! I knew most of the info already, but it was still fun reading it! I'm ordering our Christmas tree today and I'm so excited! #tistheseason
Natalie Zambreski says
LOVED this post! Lots of awesome ideas, and I also love doing Christmas shoeboxes every year. I loved it as a kid and love it even more as an adult and can't wait to incorporate it in regular holiday traditions when I've got my own kiddos!
Brittany Medland says
Thanks for the Christmas inspiration! I'm super excited for Christmas this year, I just can't wait to spend some extra time in my Jammie's with my favourite people! 🙂
The 5 love languages is one of my fav books! What is your love language?
Blue-Eyed Bride says
Love this post… And surprise! It sounds a whole lot like what we do, too. 🙂 ha! Xoxo
Michele @ The Joyful Home says
I just love this time of year. Thank you for sharing!
Andrea Munding says
I love to celebrate Christmas early too. My kids are four and two and the time with them is so much fun I like to extend it as long as possible! 🙂
Jen says
I love this post!! I am also already listening to Christmas music and I'm nearly done with my shopping! I can't wait for more holiday inspired posts! Keep them coming!! Also, do you do any gift exchanges with your girlfriends?
kimm atwood says
After many years of lasts ute shopping and being Santa for our 5 kiddos I have learned being organized and starting early allows me to truly enjoy my family during the weeks leading up to Christmas
Tara G. says
We collect all year for our Shoeboxes – such a wonderful organization. We were in an orphanage in Ukraine when those were handed out one year; that'll leave an impression! When the gift catalogs come out, we've had the kids circle gifts they want to give, add up the total, and then they work extra or put on musical recitals they charge admission to, etc. to earn that money to donate chicks or blankets, etc.
Dani {Adventures of a Pharm Girl} says
I love the holiday season so much! My mom also kept a little list and she was an awesome Santa… up until I was 21 and she finally told me she was actually Santa hahah. So sweet that you guys make charitable donations. Giving back is the best! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Anonymous says
This is a great post! Another post that I think we would all benefit from would be ideas for gifts for people other than kids. i.e. moms, siblings, in-laws, girlfriends etc.
I just want to give you some kudos for inspiring me to set up for the holidays earlier than I used to. This year for the 1st time ever, I put up fall decor on sept. 1. Brilliant idea thanks to you! I got to enjoy it for 2 months with no stress. I have just started putting up Christmas decor and I know it's early and my older kids dont like the idea. They are afraid they will be "burnt out" on Christmas before it even arrives. However, I won't turn any christmas lights on til Dec 1st. Doing it early will help alleviate all that pre-Christmas stress! Thanks shay!:LOVE how organized you are!!!
Kelly @ Familiar Joy says
I love these ideas. We do much of the same. Hubby and I have stopped gift going as well. Sometimes we'll decide together to buy tix to a sporting event, play or musical theatre so we have an "experience" rather than a gift. Totally for me in the holiday spirit!!
Christine says
I'm glad to know that me and my hubby aren't the only couple that just don't exchange gifts for anything! 🙂 And, it's for the exact reasons that you listed! We've also been trying to slowly eliminate adult gift exchanges.
Lisa N says
Love this! Several years ago me and my husband were going to stop buying for each other but our daughters wouldn't hear of it. So instead of me giving him a list of what I wanted from what store, aisle and shelf, I buy for myself (keeping it a secret) and he does the same then we open each others gifts on Christmas morning and we are surprised at what we each picked out for ourselves. It really is fun to see what he would pick for himself that he wouldn't ask from anyone else:)
The girls are grown now and love it too!
Valerie says
Thanks for the great post! I also shop starting in July for Christmas presents. I would be done already except that I'm helping my parents shop for gifts for our kids, too. Something we've done to keep it simple for the kids gifts is to do the "Something to Wear, Something to Read, Something You Want and Something you Need" on top of the one gift that Santa brings them. I also set a budget at the start of the year and safe a bit each month for it. As for charities, our church also has the Samaritans Purse box, but we also support Back 2 Basics http://b2bministry.com/ that gives kids/teens hope and help who are in foster care. Check it out!
Allison F says
I love it! Love this post! I am like you… I start thinking about Christmas early as well. We decorate for Christmas in mid-November. We LOVE Christmas decorations so we definitely want to enjoy them for SIX weeks! Plus it's all the more cheery and bright celebrating Thanksgiving with all the Christmas decorations!
I am SOOOO with you on the 'not-giving-gifts-to-spouses' thing. You summed up the way I feel perfectly. However, I am almost certain my husband's love language is gift giving/receiving. What do I do? I think he likes the giving and receiving equally. I would LOVE to just do cards and nix all the presents. I'm pretty sure he would die and I'd immediately see the twinkle in his eye burst if I suggested this, LOL! Any suggestions? 😉
Tracy says
What a fun post! I love Christmas too! This is very similar to how we do things around here – except I don't write down where I hide things (and may or may not have a gift or two still hidden from last year – oops!).
dresselfamily.blogspot.com says
I loved this, so fun!
melissabunny100 says
I love that you and Andrew do not give gifts! I have so many girlfriends that are so heartbroken when they do not get what they want from there husbands. (I remind them they just dropped $1000 for a new bag..but that is another story)…Uggggg! You are doing it right Shay!!
Angela Ellingson says
Love, love, love! Christmas is my favorite too! Love you and your blogs.
Random, but the other day on Sean's blog he called the winner of his giveaway and I thought I wonder what I'd say to him if he called me. Right away I knew I'd tell him how much I love you! Ive read every post of this blog. I found you almost 2 years ago, but when I was sick a few days last year I started at the beginning and caught up on all of your old posts. 🙂
Claire says
I really enjoyed this post – our Christmasses have a lot of similarities!
Rebecca says
Great, organized minds think alike! I shop year round for Christmas gifts too & keep a list as well! I've done this for years! I'm a type A personality & need this organization! I also keep track of what I've spent this way too! For many years my daughter & I participated in operation shoe box (with our MOPS) through Samaritan's Purse & I loved involving her in that at such a young age! On my husband's side of the family we only buy for the nieces & nephew, bc that's what his siblings decided when they started having children, & I agree it's much easier, esp since we adults really don't need anything!
Merry Christmas Season to you & your family!
:)Rebecca
Michelle says
I never wanted my kids to remember the gift that they had really wanted coming from Santa. I wanted the credit for the huge smile. So Santa brings something to acknowledge them. The only time he has brought the big ticket or WOW gift was when he has brought something for the entire family like a TV or computer. My husband and I give them 3 gifts each because Jesus received 3. We traditionally participate in Operation Christmas Child and also donate to our local animal shelter.
Alice says
I also have a list! I created one in Excel and have been using it for the last 7 years. It is neat to go back and look at what I bought my kids at different ages.
Christy says
I love how you let your children be involved in giving to others. I think it's important to remind them how blessed they are how great it feels to give to others instead of just receiving. Parker's preschool class has adopted a little boy to buy for so he and I will do this together. We also give at our church to purchase a bike for a child. Thanks for sharing and reminding me that it's far better to give than receive.
Elise @ Cheers Yall says
Love this so much. I totally relate with the hubby/wife gift giving thing. My husband and I both have gifts as our #5 love language. So we nixed the gifts in our lives too…cards it is. Thanks for sharing, Shay! xx
Anonymous says
Shay, does Nordstrom do anything special for black friday?
Shannon says
I love how simple you keep it with your kids, I think in the past hubby and I over did it and now we are trying to bring it down a little. I hope my girls aren't too disappointed come Christmas morning when they see a lot less than the years before. It gets out of hand how much Christmas costs and that is definitely not the reason for the season! I'm looking forward to your upcoming Christmas posts, it's my favorite time of the year as well 🙂
Astleigh H. says
I'm the same way, bring on Christmas whenever! What's the point in holding off?! And I love name drawing for gifts, it's been a tradition in my family since I was little. With you love of Christmas, you should check out the Christmas Cheer Exchange two other bloggers and I are hosting!! It sounds like something you'd enjoy! You can read all about it on Monday's blog post:
http://hillcollection.blogspot.com/2014/11/christmas-cheer-exchange.html
dresselfamily.blogspot.com says
I.too would love to know more About your girlfriend giving gifts etc… Also I would love to read a post about your budgeting year plan.. Tell us more!
Leigh says
I loved this! It's so similar to what we do. Drawing names helps so much as adults. My 3 year old is terrified of Santa. We can't give him something from Santa or he screams in fear. If you mention Santa, he screams. I don't understand why, but we don't force it on him. It does take some of the fun out of all the traditions I pictured (like Elf on the Shelf). I also love the book 5 Love Languages.
Anonymous says
Love, love, love this post!! Maybe because I love Christmas so much too! And the idea of finding personal and well-thought out gifts. 🙂
Anonymous says
I can't wait to see your Christmas decorations. We are so ready for Christmas over here.
Jaren says
Our church does the Operation Christmas Child boxes too. Also, I couldn't agree more on setting a budget and allocating all the money before shopping.
Anonymous says
What are some parent gifts you've done? That's the area I always struggle with! Because mine have what they need/want, it's tough! Help;)
Anonymous says
Except for the organized, shopping early part, lol, our holiday sounds a lot like yours. I love involving our kids in our charitable giving this time of year. One of my favorites is buying for a "special friend" at a local preschool that serves low-income kids. My older kids are usually free to go to the party where all the little ones get their gifts, and they enjoy helping the cuties open their presents. The little boys especially love having my teenage son there to ooh and aah over the cool legos or cars they get, help them open those impossible plastic packages, and get down on the floor and play with their new toys with them. As is usually the case, we get so much more out of it than we give. It sets the right tone for the season! We'll decorate when all the kids come home from college for Thanksgiving! Wishing your family a wonderful holiday season.
Marty says
Love, love, love this post. My husband and decided years ago to stop giving each other gifts for Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc. Takes a lot of pressure off, and we really don't care about it. We also do not buy gifts for our parents. They don't want anything and prefer that we don't spend any money on them. When our kids were little, they made little things for their grandparents, and they all loved that. We have a large extended family and we don't buy for anyone…we just all try to get together at some point over the Christmas/New Year's holiday and that is all we want! As far as our kids go,and we have 4…we get them 3 gifts each. My husband says "if it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for our kids." Ha! We also put little small things in their stockings. We always do OCC as a family. 4 kids so we get 4 boxes. Now that our kids are older, and two are married, we still get 4 boxes. We love shopping for them. We like to do other "charitable" things during the year. Love offerings or sponsoring someone on a mission trip or any number of other things.
Aubrey says
Amen to the love languages! Nick and I "buy" each other trips. 🙂 We're super excited about this year's Christmas present to ourselves!
As a compulsive list maker like yourself, I think you should look at Trello. It completely changed the way I cope with the chaos of Christmas lists and too many amazon packages to count. I'm in LOVE.
kristinwithani says
I picked up my first Vanilla Bean Noel of the season today and thought of you. Best of all, it was free! I need to stock up for the rest of winter though. Waiting for a deal + coupon.