Christmas is a Sneaky Little Thing.
I have a very firm rule that I live my life by: No Christmas before Thanksgiving. No decorations, no music, no movies. I think each holiday deserves to be celebrated, and if you start celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving, then you cheat yourself out of a holiday and Thanksgiving just gets skipped.
The only exception I have when it comes to this is Christmas presents–because, depending on how many people are in your life and what kind of gifts you want to get them, the days after Thanksgiving are not going to be enough time to plan and shop. Especially if you’re trying to be frugal.
What usually happens is the day after Thanksgiving I think, “Okay, time to start Christmas shopping!” And then all of the sudden it’s three days before Christmas and I’m panicking over my lack of gifts.
I love to give creative gifts–something unexpected, or something that someone never would have bought themselves. And, of course, I love supporting small businesses, especially when it means I’m getting a unique gift–it’s a win-win for everybody.
I saw so many gift guides last year, and they were all wonderful, but they didn’t start until December… and that wasn’t really enough time for me to browse/decide/buy/wait for it to ship before I needed a gift.
So this year, I’ll be putting together a gift guide that will start November 1st and will run every Saturday and Sunday through November and part of December, which will give you plenty of time to shop and pick out creative gifts in these categories:
So, if you have a shop and sell gifts that fit any of the above categories, let me know! I’d love to include you!
Just shoot me an email or leave a comment and I’ll reply with what you need to know.
Now–back to celebrating October and all of it’s goodness!
What about you–do you start celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving?
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Dude. I started with my kids layaway already. I ain't playing around this year.
It always does sneak up! I start brainstorming what to make my family members for next year, the day after Christmas. It's so difficult sometimes. When is the American Thanksgiving? Our Canadian one is on October 13 this year, but my mom raised me and I've always known "don't do anything Christmas-y until after Remembrance Day! Honour the veterans!" Though, I love Christmas and really do wish it could be year round…
Very true! I shop all year round so it spreads out the budget! I have half of my shopping done š This will be fun to read!
I'm 100% with you. I am a Christmasaholic, but won't start any celebrating or decorating before Thanksgiving either. I love thanksgiving and LOVE to embrace the Christmas season once it's time. But, I'm also with you on shopping early. Makes life more fun!
I would love to help out with your best friend gift guide. This is a great idea, your eight Christmas shopping starts way before December (or at least it should if you hope to avoid chaos!)
i start planning christmas presents in like july, buying starts in like october or so. but i'm australian, so thanksgiving is never on my brain lol. christmas all the way! š
Ohh great idea! Hopefully I'll get some good ideas. I always have a hard time shopping for my dad.
I love this idea! I'm with you on trying to keep Christmas until after Thanksgiving, while starting to shop as early as possible– you're so right about it sneaking up on you!
I am SO excited for this! I also believe that Christmas shouldn't be celebrated until after Thanksgiving though!
so true!
I totally agree that shopping has to happen early – heck I have Christmas gifts in mind all year long for some people! Very excited about your gift guide!
I love this! I try to get an early start on the shopping but sometimes I slip up and find myself in a bind come December! Plus who has money to buy all the presents in one month?! I dont!
This is so awesome, Chelsea! I am always such a terrible procrastinator with gifts. It's mostly because I get too excited and want to give everyone their gift way too early but I NEED to plan better this year!
Yay! Can't wait. I suck at gift giving and I love guides. I also like to get them out of the way ASAP.
I am on a MISSION this year! Working on having all my shopping done by December 1st, so I can truly enjoy the season instead of running around like a crazy lady;)
I have never really done any shopping before Thanksgiving because laziness. But this year I already have a few presents bought, which is a good thing since I'm going to have some additional gifts to buy this year!
Yay! This is great, I'm excited to see what is in store for the gift guides š
I feel the exact same way about Thanksgiving/Christmas! I feel like Thanksgiving is the forgotten holiday because so many people go from Halloween straight to Christmas. I do think shopping before Thanksgiving is ok though because other wise it's just too much once you get close to Christmas! I can't wait to see your gift guides!
Kristin
Crumbs & Curls
I sell my Dad's salts. I like to carry them on since he passed in 2009. I sell it individually or in packs of 6 (one is free). You can see them at http://unclebobssalts.etsy.com
Bless you. I always wait too long to start looking for presents, and you're right, gift guides run way too late in the season!
YES! I have the same exact rules. No Christmas until Thanksgiving, but I try to buy all my presents before Thanksgiving so I can actually enjoy it.
umm YESS to all above!! i know! completely agree, but the shopping sneaks up on me and stresses me out. my sisters have their presents already bought and stored away – cannot get over that!! so jealous, in a way!
i have an etsy shop and sell notecards…would that meet your criteria?!
Usually I wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start celebrating Christmas, but last year I wanted to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving and held off. After Thanksgiving I was so stressed out with various things leading up to Christmas that I didn't really enjoy my favorite time of the year. So I decided that I'll start listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas music whenever I feel like it this year. I've actually never been a fan of Thanksgiving anyway.
Well, yes!!! This is a genius idea, and I cannot wait to see your lists! I am the absolute worst about last minute shopping. It stresses me out and steals all my Christmas joy. I am determined to get ahead of it this year.
This is such a great concept! I am usually deep into my shopping but this year I am slacking. Thanks for the inspiration to get started!
Such a good idea, I always try to wait until after Thanksgiving, and then find myself is a sea of shoppers the weekend before Christmas, hating life! lol. Getting a head start is definitely worth it!
Last year I put my Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and it was the best decision I've made! I think I'll do it again this year!
I do too and love it!
Fun! This looks so great! I'm so excited to see what you include! I'm a Christmas rebel, because we decorate for Christmas the first weekend of November. It started when we first moved to SoCal. My birthday is in the beginning of November and Tyler asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday. I was so overwhelmed by living in SoCal and all I wanted to do was eat Chinese food and go no where. Then I asked Tyler if we could decorate for Christmas because I knew it would remind me of home. It's been a tradition ever since.
Great idea! I already have 3 gifts purchased because I hate crowds. I need help for the hard to get people.
Oh my goodness, what a great idea! I am on board! Yes, yes, yes!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Yay! I'm excited for this!
I gotta get moving on my gift buying – Izzy's birthday is also in December so it's double the presents!
oh my gosh. i get so stressed now over christmas shopping! i started last month haha! i am determined to start earlier every year because once december hits, i straight up panic, and all the crowds are out panicking, too, haha! i used to start listening to christmas music SO early. like… now early. but buuuut i do it a little around thanksgiving because i kind of lump thanksgiving and christmas together into one fun holiday season thing i think to try and amplify the whole seasony feeling, you know?!
1. I am so with you on Christmas after Thanksgiving. 2. You are SUCH a genius. 3. I'll definitely let you know if I think of any things that are must-haves on these lists!!!
My guy is a fish-a-holic and there's never anything to get him other than clothes. I need all the help I can get!
Love this!! So smart to start early! I'm a firm believer in no Christmas before Thanksgiving as well, although I slightly break me rule every year because we participate in an art show the weekend before Thanksgiving, so we try to sell with the "Christmas gifts!" pitch. What's really starting to get me though is that I saw a small Christmas light display in Target in September. Say whaaaaaa?