Gift Closet 2025

[Myron's Mom]

Hopefully by this time your gift closet for 2024 is bursting with wrapped gifts! Another interesting year shopping. Some things hard to find. Strikes, some averted, some not. And the prices, yikes! Hopefully 2025 will be better.
Have you started planning your shopping for 2025? Anything already tucked away for 2025? Any plans for after Christmas shopping?
As you shop in the coming months, I hope you find the perfect gifts for everyone on your shopping list for 2025!

 

[Myron's Mom]

A few things tucked away already. Some signed 1st edition books and Halloween socks for my son. 2 more pieces for my husbands Christmas village. Fuzzy Christmas slipper socks for all the ladies. Not much but a start.
Im thinking about doing gift baskets this year for our friends. Will have to think on that more.
Plan to do some after Christmas shopping even though there’s not much to shop these days.

 

[Miss JoDee]

The only thing I have done so far is to set the gift budget for birthdays and Christmas. We do a name draw to fill stockings so we only have 2 stockings to fill, plus gifts for DGDs. I lowered the budget. Daily expenses have increased. I know the granddaughter's gifts will be an experience. The adults I need to give it some thought.

 

[MissBrittany]

We have already discussed changing how we shop. I went overboard this year. Not over budget because I shopped 6 months, but it's just a bit too much. Kids' birthdays are about 6 months away. I am not planning on buying anything at all for the next 2 months as far as gifts, wrapping, or kid things go.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I have made a bit of a start. I found some items around black Friday that were a good price, 1/2 off.
I think at this stage every present and stocking box has something in it so not too bad. I have ideas written down so that is the bonus at this stage.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

After opening gifts today I got a good idea of what I will look for in the new year. There was a particular item that was a hit, a fire light gel. All my boys commented on how handy this product was. DD mentioned that she loves Fabreeze and uses it all the time so I will look for some for her. DB got an iced coffee flavouring and he said he would welcome one of all the flavours so I will look at those, he also mentioned a hand cream that he would like. I have made notes in my Christmas planner.

 

[Myron's Mom]

After opening gifts today I got a good idea of what I will look for in the new year. There was a particular item that was a hit, a fire light gel. All my boys commented on how handy this product was. DD mentioned that she loves Fabreeze and uses it all the time so I will look for some for her. DB got an iced coffee flavouring and he said he would welcome one of all the flavours so I will look at those, he also mentioned a hand cream that he would like. I have made notes in my Christmas planner.

I love that! It’s so nice to have a starting place for shopping. I found out last night that my son could use a bunch of new socks, lol.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I love that! It’s so nice to have a starting place for shopping. I found out last night that my son could use a bunch of new socks, lol.

Socks LOL.
I will talk to my kids again over the next few days, ask them what they liked and did not. As you say a good starting point.

 

[Lana]

I have to get back to doing more shopping earlier. When I was younger I was basically done in September but.....not now.

Teigan noticed she had less presents but then she said wow the gift cards were nice!

I will really work on the Gift Closet for 2025 earlier.

Still have 3 items that didn't ship yet for 2024. I knew one would be late and the other was close and the other they kept changing the date.

Most stores here didn't have much Christmas stock left.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I just went to the big mall with DD and DSIL. I will admit that there was not much that I saw and thought was good value. I got DS a pack of 2 sox and 4 hankys, a gift or stocking filler. Got DD a pair of Christmas earrings and I got a few gift card boxes. Got DD a nighty for her birthday in January. All was 50% off. I will sit with DS tonight and look online at some of his favourite shops and maybe put aside a few things.

ETA, I had a lovely catch up with DS and did some shopping. We both got on to the same websites and we shopped together. Got quite a few things on order for Easter, his birthday and Christmas. We had fun shopping together.

 

[MissBrittany]

I have to get back to doing more shopping earlier. When I was younger I was basically done in September but.....not now.

Teigan noticed she had less presents but then she said wow the gift cards were nice!

I will really work on the Gift Closet for 2025 earlier.

Still have 3 items that didn't ship yet for 2024. I knew one would be late and the other was close and the other they kept changing the date.

Most stores here didn't have much Christmas stock left.

That is so interesting to me. Where I am, the outlet stores (think TJMaxx but regional) were EMPTIED, but the bigger stores were still stuffed. I braved a few places in town Tuesday. Crowds were low, lines were short, shelves were full.

 

[Myron's Mom]

Went out yesterday day for some after Christmas shopping. Stores were all picked over, some were pretty much in full spring mode.
Did get a couple of candles at bath and body for my son. Was getting ready to put them away and noticed one had a big crack, so I’ll return it this weekend.

 

[Lana]

Got a glass Christmas ornament at Kohl's that is a shape of pizza slice. Will be for Teigan's Advent poster/calendar. Was 9.99 for 2.42.

 

[luludou]

Have a list of ideas for dd next year... trays for deviled eggs, tablecloth, coasters, measuring spoons... took notes while I was at her house

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I spent the afternoon with my planner and made lists of ideas for next year. Mostly stocking fillers but also some ideas for gifts.

I need to concentrate on DH and DSinL a bit more, they are the hardest to buy for. DS is easy and he always sends me photos or lists of things that he might like so I think I have him covered. I just need to be aware of what I get him as I have to post it interstate.

I need to just rethink how I do things, I have become a little lax over the past year or two and have not given as much thought as to what I buy for people. 2025 will be a year where stockings and gifts need to be well thought out, useable and practical rather than just buying things.
I will try and think ahead. A lot of Summer items (sunblock, insect repellant, cool towels etc) will start being reduced soon so will look at what might be useful for next Christmas as it is Summer here for us.

I wrote a lot of items onto my shopping lists so I can purchase them as I see them. 90% of items come from our supermarkets so will start gathering some items over the next few weeks and get a good start.

I will spend some time with Mum tomorrow and we will go through our lists. We would like to minimise duplicates of items if we can so sitting and discussing what we are thinking off buying may allay doubling up. Between us we do 14 Santa sacks so definitely a challenge.

Looking forward to getting started.

 

[Rose94]

I have a container of hot chocolate mix for SIL February birthday and some flower petals for DGD April birthday. Also have a couple bath items for DD’s birthdays. Just need to add gift cards to one of my DD and DGD gift and they will be finished. Other DD’s will be getting the pjs.

Hit the Boxing Day sale at local fabric store. Have supplies for a pair of pjs for yDD. Fabric for four mug mats, mugs and yarn etc for mug sweaters. It’s all safely tucked away in the gift tote.

For yDGS I have a mixing bowl, measuring cups/spoons and fabric for some hot pads. Just need to add a danish dough whisk. Not sure if I will add more or not

For DGD I have started collecting some sewing supplies like pins, tape measure and scissor as they come on sale.

Plan to make each grandchild a Christmas ornament.. I have supples to do either a cross-stitch or an appliqué felt ornaments. Just have to decid.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Rose, I love the idea of buying DD some sewing supplies. What a handy gift to have.
My Mum crocheted all of us a snowflake ornament for this year and I think she has on each done for the next 3 or 4 years. My kids loved them and the sentiment behind them.

 

[MissBrittany]

We decided each boy is getting a hammer next Christmas. They have tool boxes in various stages of growth but neither has a hammer. I believe they will each get 3 gifts next year, and small gift cards in their stockings for eating out on a whim.

I have decided we no longer will buy for the adults on his side of family. We will make sweets and give them away as always, but no more personal gifts in addition to that. Same for the single nephew who is 20 but living at home and making more than us. We have to decide on an age cutoff because we have 18 nieces and nephews and it's unsustainable. We stopped buying for adults on my side years ago. We do still buy for our parents, of course.

I want to also take my kids to sponsor angel tree kids next year, so I'll be working that into the budget.

I put away the bags, boxes, and ribbon that can be reused. I resisted buying clearance gift wrap because it isn't super cheap and this year, what I see isn't super cute. There will be sales enough on it in 12 months when I need it. Same for food gift packaging. Hobby Lobby had the same prices 2 days before Christmas as they had 2 days after, and even 50% off their price is a good deal. Plus I don't have to store all year. I want a year of simplicity!

I will start thinking about what to buy my oldest niece who turns 18 and graduates in spring. And my older kid has a birthday in spring. I don't have to buy anything for the first quarter.

 

[Myron's Mom]

I found some Christmas silicone baking mats 1/2 off so I got them for my son and my cousin.
Had some stray grocery points to use up so I bought some of sons deodorant.
Husband order son some kind of laser target shooting thingy since it was on sale for a great price.
The grocery store had rolls of wrapping paper for 49 cents so picked up a few more rolls.
Been working on my gift lists so feeling pretty good.

 

[Miss JoDee]

We have to decide on an age cutoff because we have 18 nieces and nephews and it's unsustainable.

An idea I have been tossing about for group gift exchanges was to have everyone bring a 5-10 dollar gift card and toss it in a stocking for contributors to draw one out. Is this something that would work?