Some of the little kids got bargain priced (like 75% off!) books from booksamillion (see linky). The other toys I bought I used coupon codes. I got one of those floor puzzles too Susan - a Fire Truck one for my great-nephew.

A waffle maker, books and cds from Amazon. Free shipping on orders over $25.

A couple pieces of jewelry and 2 Wii games from Kohls (I had a coupon code for free shipping an an additional 30% off sale prices).

2 photobooks (where you use your own photos) which I got for free from 2 different places... just paid shipping. I also ordered some photo playing cards and a couple photo ornaments that were on sale.

Missouri magazine subscription.

DD picked out a Kathy purse at TJMax and some perfume (the cute Gwen Stefani line, not at TJMax yet) she wanted.. so those were bought and put away. I asked for the G perfume too - I just love these little bottles!

2 Star Wars DVD sets from FYE that were buy 1 get the 2nd free.

A bra and panties that were free after coupon codes from Victoria's Secret.

You can see most everything I've bought so far has been a 'deal'! These are things people asked for or things that they will like/use. I still have to buy the annual fruitcake for my Mom and Dad and other items that I won't find coupons for. And yes, I'm about done shopping already. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Juvenille Books

Because I only buy for my kids and husband and don't know if any of them lurk here...........I'm not telling! LOL

A 10" wireless digital picture frame originally priced at $249 on sale for $99 and I had $45 in rewards plus 10% off. You talk about a sweet deal!!

Wow, you all have got some pretty amazing deals. Not so lucky here. Did some shopping at Kohls a couple of weeks ago, mostly bought clothes for grandkids. They were already on clearance and I had an additional 30% off coupon, and I thought I was doing good. Haven't done a whole lot of shopping yet. Think our whole family is cutting back this year. Money is alot tighter this year for everybody.

Keep the ideas coming, sure could use some.

For my kids: rain jackets, that's it so far. I have a Webkinz in my cart on Amazon for Lauren, who said that was the only thing she really wanted. They both know most of their gift is an upcoming trip this summer. Alex wanted an early gift, the new World of Warcraft thing that just came out the other day so he has already gotten it.

I'm not shopping for deals as much as I'm shopping for things I think the boys will get the most fun/use out of.

For Nick I bought:

A Little Tikes Guitar
Hulk Hands
A megaphone/voice changer
Two big trucks with men and dogs (these were a damaged box special from Little Tikes)
A cash register
An Operation game but it's Spongebob
An MP3 player (very similar to mine which I think I paid over $100 for years ago but now it was only $25)

For Dan:

A walker thing that has a crane. I got it for $6.98.
An Incrediblock from Fisher Price.
A Sesame Street DVD - 25th anniversary. I LOVE that one. I had the tape for Nick but it was getting fuzzy we watched it so much.

I've been shopping online when I can get free shipping so it saves me time and gas money.

new set of cordless phones

sewing machine

battery charger

then mostly handmade/handcrafted gifts

Well, even in good times, my extended family keeps gifts to about $25 per person (or less, if you get a good deal).

This year, since we're pinching pennies, I'm keeping costs way down. Each of my siblings family will be getting a 'basket' type gift with: a homemade, quilted backgammon or checkerboard (I went through my scrap fabric box, all I've spent so far on making 6 boards was $1.99 for the shells I used for game pieces), and I'll be adding some homemade candy, bread and jellies. I already have some large glass Christmas platters that I picked up years ago and never used--will arrange everything on them, and wrap with cellophane, ribbons (have those) and pine cones from my back yard.

I'll also be going through my yarn basket and filling in with a few scarves for others.

One of my gifts to one kid will be a 'Cat a Day' calendar. Last year I picked one up from Costco, $10, because he really likes cats, and thought maybe he'd learn to follow the calendar. He has!

It has a different photo of a cat each day of the week, with Saturday and Sunday sharing the same photo. At the halfway point of the year (end of June), the stack of cards, 5"x5" approximate size, are flipped and the photos on the back are used. They all have a little blurb, some informational, some insightful and funny and geared towards cat mentality (such as: A cat knows whether a person likes them or not, but as a rule don't usually care enough to do something about it! - of course worded far better than what I am doing off of memory).

As it goes, the 11 year old, without fail, changes the photo every day, and from what I can tell, does not peek forward to see the upcoming photos and captions until that day has arrived.

They also carry one titled DOGS, 1000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, SHOES (?) and I can't remember what else.

I haven't bought any gifts yet, but have bought supplies for items I'm making. I bought tiles to make coasters for DS and DIL's new game room. I'm putting pics of his cattle brand on a couple, his Hereford bull that he just had to put to sleep on a couple and the twins on a couple. I also plan to embroidery their cattle brand on towels for the bathroom in the game room. I bought pattern and fabric for a jumper for Madisyne and a matching one for her baby doll, Carter. I plan to buy a shirt and pants for Preston and embroidery Thomas the Train on it. I'm also having ABC photo books for each of the twins. Other than that I will be giving gift cards and cash. Not sure where all that money will come from!

This is a good idea.

I'm not really doing anything for Christmas this year; seems like everyone around me has everything. But, my son wants a treadmill and I'm giving my sister one of those griddle things that you plug in. Don't know the name of it but it's flat and ideal for breakfast. I bought one last year and I use it non-stop.

I would love a GPS for my car, but the one I want is still too darn expensive.

I asked for books and CD's from Half.com where you get used ones for cheap prices. I sent my DH a list with the URLs. I still need to get a list from him.
Clare

Some great ideas here, thanks!

I didn't buy this as a gift (I bought it for myself), but I think it would make a great gift: The Grundig Self-Powered Emergency Radio.

Or this version from the American Red Cross.

I've mentioned The Parent Shop before, those nice people who do great logo/name embroidery on clothing products.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Parent Shop

So far, I've bought consumables...Blue and Gold sausage and some other fundraiser eatables I needed to buy from my kids.

I've also dehydrated some apples and made applesauce into fruit roll-ups. My kid may eat it all before I get a chance to gift it. At least they are healthy snacks.

I would to have seen the Star Wars dvd deal. I'm buying that for my 6 yo.

Other than this, I'll have the kids make Santa a list. We'll buy from that.

:o)read my post about nerves of steel...you could buy it for someone you don't like. Or...someone you do like and offer to help them put them up

I bought 2 Grundig radios last year and I think they're great. It's amzing how long they will play with just a few turns of the crank.

I bought my son a few pairs of cuff links for his French cuff dress shirts from Etsy and Cuff Daddy.

I still don't have any ideas for my husband or my daughter. So I'll keep checking this post in case someone has good ideas that I can copy.

I still have 10 birthdays yet to come. I hate this time of year. For the young kids (under 8) I found some cute bath towels in the shape of animals - cows, dogs etc. So I bought them each one for the birthdays. For their Christmas, I bought the 4 brothers a homemade barn house. My sister us buying the animals and tractors and such. For the girls, I bought Barbie clothes at a craft sale and a stuffed blanket animal for the baby.

For DH, I'm still stumped. He just had a birthday last week and I bought him a new golf bag.

For DD, I'm not sure. She is in college and I know can use money mostly but I hate giving money because it is so impersonal. I may give her mainly gift cards, we'll see though.

I still have most of my Christmas shopping to do.

There's this great website I use that has the Best prices on candles and bath & body, perfect for the kitchen & bathroom.
The best part? FREE SHIPPING!!!
And since I'm on the email list, I get in on all the private sales. Like this week, i bought 8 red currant candles and saved 20%.
Use these coupons. They work!
10% off $65 or more: 14nov10
15% off $110 or more: 14nov15
20% off $200 or more: 14nov20
www.candlebarandmore.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Candlebar

These are great ideas. There's another thread around, about "consumable" gifts. My SIL announced she wants only "experience" gifts from now on, tickets and the like. It makes her so much fun to shop for. You don't have to guess her size or tastes, just think of an activity she enjoys. . .