Christmas - Check

Updated on December 10, 2014
F.B. asks from Kew Gardens, NY
27 answers

Mamas & Papas-

I am proud to report, that thanks to online shopping I made my list, checked it twice, and bought for all the kids (cousins, friends, neighbors); took care of DS, hubs and myself, and even my brother, his girlfriend and my parents in about 20 minutes. Do any of you do wholly online shopping? For those of you who hit the mall or shops, what is your motivator?

Best,
F. B.

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Featured Answers

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

now that i've got amazon prime, i'm SO happy to shop online! i resisted for years, but geez, it really has reduced my holiday stress by leaps and bounds. i abhor crowds so it's perfectly aligned with my grand scheme to become a complete cave troll and never mingle with other humans at all<G>.
but i still do some store shopping. pretty much all the stocking stuffer things, plus a few other items, say at the outlets or where i've got great coupons. and then i take myself out to lunch, and prep myself mentally beforehand to be calm and cheerful, and extra pleasant to sales clerks and fellow shoppers. in a weird way it helps me get into the spirit.
but only if i do it in small doses.
i'm SO glad to be able to have the bulk of it delivered to my door.
:) khairete
S.

4 moms found this helpful

F.W.

answers from Danville on

This is the first year I have done mostly on line shopping.

Now all I have left are some stocking stuffers, some baking, and the wrapping! LOTS of wrapping.

But I feel more relaxed, and hopefully will be more able to enjoy the season since I do not feel rushed to take care of shopping in the brick stores.

Merry Merry!

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K.H.

answers from Boston on

I'm slowly starting to do more shopping on line. There are a few reasons I shop in person. 1) I like to see some of the items in person. 2) I like shopping with my mom/sister/aunts and it is more of a social event. 3) I'm often not organized to do everything ahead of time and end up buying last minute gifts. Lol!

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More Answers

W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

YOU GO GIRL!!!

I've been doing my shopping since July. Most of it on-line.

I went out with my girlfriend today and we went to Target, Tuesday Morning's and Kohl's. I'm basically done. With the exception of a TI calculator for my oldest son and stocking stuffers (which I don't do until 2 days before Christmas anyway).

I have Christmas dinner ordered for delivery as well.

My motivator? Getting it done early. However, shopping during the day AND during the week, instead of the weekend? Makes a HUGE difference in crowds!!

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G.D.

answers from Detroit on

I've probably done 60% online this year. I don't do malls. But I also don't do shipping and handling, so if I can't get shipping and handeling free or if the price is better in store then off I go.
The only downfall with online IMO is the packages arriving at inconvienient times/being poorly packed. I did a lot of my back to school shopping with a big box stores website and I kid you not-it was a package a day for weeks. One box had a single backpack, one large envelope for a single pair do scissors, etc. etc. I didn't pay for the shipping-but it was so idiotic I will not shop with them again. And it kind of ruins tfe suprise if somehow the kids were to get a glimpse of something being shipped (my neighbors ordered a toy that was shipped in its own box-we know what the grandson is getting! )
Online shopping works great for out of towers. Soooooooo much cheaper than shipping items yourself!!!!

3 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

We did a lot online, my husband did most of the in-store items (the TV's and the RC truck were in-store purchases). I do the smaller in-store items (xBox games, gift cards, CD's, craft supplies, etc). It's fun for me to actually have items in my hands and go hide them.

However, we did the bulk of our shopping online this year. I am thankful we did it super early too because we had to exchange a couple of things.

Added: Forgot to mention - most of our items are shipped through Amazon Prime or when the store is having a free shipping event. Otherwise I think shipping would make it too expensive to shop online.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I have bought a lot on line this year. I usually do half and half. I HATE malls. I cannot stand going on a normal Saturday, this time of year is worse. i hate the picking and grabbing and shoving, and people that have no clue where their kids are. Granted my little ones like to look at everything but at least I try to keep them in line. Of course, it does not help that the mall near me is really aimed at the 14 to 25 yr old. And I go through ebates so get some money back, bonus.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

90% on line. Love it!

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Eh--I do a combination.
The earlier I start? The more I buy.
I guess I should get started, huh? 😁

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R.B.

answers from Dallas on

I do most of it on line. This year I did more in store then normal but no I don't go to the mall. I ended up younger kid stuff at target but I looked around online first for the things I was looking for made sure the items where instock and checked reviews / prices before going. I did this because I had a 20% off entire purchase coupon at target.

Other then a gift card I need to order on line..I'm done too. Isn't it great ;)

Happy Holidays!

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S.D.

answers from Davenport on

I just want to say YAY! Congratulations :-) I'm mostly finished but there are some things I just have go to a store for (firearms & bows are best checked out in person). I also like to shop at small local shops so I usually hit up a couple of those. I did do a bit via Amazon & some other online retailers though so yay!
Merry Christmas!

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oh wow, good for you! ;)
No, I only buy a few things online, never hit the mall & always find all that
I need at small brick & mortar stores.
I'm pretty much done. Just a few more things.
My motivation for little shops are lower prices, easy access in & out & of parking lot (nothing worse than getting stuck in a parking lot w/only 2 entrances.), less people, cool items, most of what I need under 1 roof.

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V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I am doing more and more of it online. Sometimes, for clothes, I like to actually FEEL the material...

And I have to try on shoes. :)

But video games, toys, etc? If they are cheaper online? That is easy. UNLESS...

UNless it is something that will be delivered to the door and I won't be able to control the intended recipient seeing the package (and the package might give it away). Some things don't come shipped in generic boxes. Especially bulky children's toys, unfortunately.

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C.W.

answers from Nashville on

I would NEVER give up the hustle and bustle of being out in the stores with the crowds...LOL and on top of that, I'm a last minute shopper so, yes, I'll be closing the stores on Christmas Eve. My motivator is....I live to be stressed out, evidently...ijs. Merry Christmas!!!!

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V.T.

answers from Washington DC on

I usually mostly online for extended family, but this year I waited to long for the free shipping and stuff wouldn't arrive in time. For my family and my husband's family we do Christmas celebrations the second weekend in December, leaving Christmas free to do what we choose and to travel to other family members outside the state. So my motivation for going to the stores was strictly my procrastination.

As for my kids, the last 6 years 2014 my husband and I have a "date" night and go for dinner and shopping for our kids. There is something fun about going out together and looking at what we would like for the kids. We talk about our childhoods and all the toys we loved when we were kids. It really is one of my favorite nights of the year.

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Houston on

For now we are mostly store shoppers because we don't give very many gifts. Typically we are only buying for our kids so we enjoy the ability to play with the gifts we plan on giving. We go during lunch breaks and spread out the buying over a few trips. It helps with the fact that also we have all of our childrens' birthdays which are close to Christmas. My husband and I enjoy our time together, playing with possible gifts. :)

P.S. We shop before the holiday crowds hit the stores and boycott non-essential shopping from November to January.
P.P.S. Wrapping is done during a date night when we drag all of the gifts out of the various hiding places and pop open a bottle of bubbly. Somehow wrapping and drinking are a good combination for us.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I am mostly online. I try to balance big stores like Amazon with little guys like Etsy. When I go to the mall, it's for something I want to see in person or that I don't want to pay or wait to ship, generally. For many stores, I make a cart and wait for a coupon or free shipping before I actually purchase. With limited time to actually shop on my own without little eyes and ears, online shopping is really handy.

I have been shopping since Jan, off and on, but I still have a few more key gifts to get.

2 moms found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

I'm going to hit Tj Maxx for some stocking stuffers (they always have some unique treats) and call it good. :-) I'm all done with the main gifts already! Isn't it great?!

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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

100% online. Can't imagine any other way!

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Mostly on-line, with in-store pick up for things where that makes sense. My oldest son's two Lego sets were cheaper at Walmart than anywhere else but I'd rather pay extra than have to shop there, so I did order from there and will do in-store pick up, which should be faster than actually shopping.

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I do almost all of the Christmas shopping online, it is a lot easier that way. I will pick up stocking stuffers and small gifts while I am out, but I refuse to go anywhere near a mall, shopping centers, etc..

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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

That's quite the feat. No, I rarely do online shopping, but it's a good idea.

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I'm an Amazon Prime girl, too, and I'm totally finished! Shopping, wrapping, everything. I love it! Now I'm free to enjoy the holidays with my family. Last weekend we watched Christmas movies and made/decorated Christmas cookies by the fire. It's the way I love to spend the holidays - stress free!

1 mom found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I do more Online than in-stores b/c I live too far out. I did several orders Online and pick-up in-store (could do Black Friday at Target Online and pick up 2 days later in the store). I just have a few things to finish up and I'll probably have to go out b/c I can't find the last few things Online.

I have everything shipped to my office so no worries of the kids seeing anything or the dog getting into the packages. Now I just have to bring everything home and start wrapping

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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

I did it one year. But then when I looked at how much I paid in shipping charges I decided it wasn't worth it. Even though most of the shipping charges were free, I still ended up paying more than if I had just done it all in town. I also missed being out in stores where I could maybe stumble on something even better than what I thought I wanted to get. And a couple of the things I bought ended up being really poor quality. I would have seen that in the store. I will buy some things on line, sometimes. I did buy my husband's gift on line this year just because I didn't want to go out on Black Friday and the price was too good to pass up. Everything else I've bought in town. I try to do small, local businesses when possible to support our community.

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

With the exception of a few stocking trinkets like candy and gum, I did all my shopping online this year.

I was almost done shopping before Thanksgiving; I just had one nephew left and getting an answer out of his parents was like pulling teeth. His gift was delivered yesterday.

I wrap and stash things as I get them, so all that is done too. I'm actually a little sad about it, because I really enjoy wrapping things. When I used to work in a locally owned pharmacy/gift shop it was fun to run the gift wrap station to pretty-up purchases.

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

I'm not a big fan of crowded malls ... and I've also worked retail during the holidays(yeah, kind of an oxymoron but it was a job)....Sooooooo in recent years i have done most of holiday shopping online....and I miss those those times that I could go to the mall first thing in the morning on a say a WEdnesday and have it all to myself

1 mom found this helpful
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