Whos started buying for christmas.??

Wootball

No, I'll do my shopping in the week leading up to Christmas, with the majority on Christmas Eve - that's what it's there for.

Lirin

I've bought everything, bar the wrapping paper. I normally start shopping early anyway, but I'll be heavily pregnant/new mother over the Christmas season, and I'm not shopping then!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

I brought a HELL of a lot in the January sales lol I always do (every year!) Only need to buy a "main" present for DD and a "main" present for OH - and possibly something for LO if she decides to make an appearence before xmas lol

(Lirin - shhhh - cant remember your due date but know your not far after me - they WILL come healthy and a few days early - im sick of being at the bottom of that flamming list!!!) lol

onlyroz

I bought a few things when on holiday which are ear-marked for Christmas. I've also put a pot aside which I'm going to put pound coins in as I get them - this'll go towards my Christmas fund. Got £27 in there so far...

candygirl

I've not started and wont till the end of Oct.Did it early last year and ended up going back and buying more:D:DWe're gonna start getting a few Morrisons vouchers per week now, so have more for food n booze at xmas:D:D

angieamme

I budget for Christmas by having my child benefit paid into a totally seperate account. Not all for Christmas but it is the money I use to make sure the Children have things they need coats. shoes, school uniforms, school trips, birthdays, Christmas without having to worry. I did this right from the start so never got used to it being in my main budget (although I did used to have to use a lot of it for childcare when they were younger). I hope to keep it this way despite drastic drop in my income (as in none right now!).
I am making everyones presents this year other than the childrens. I made some last year for my friends and had adult conversations with family about stopping the whole you buy we buy thing. Yes I missed having many more presents to open but I didn't miss the overdraft.
Some of the family still wanted to buy for the children which was great and the boys joined in with the eldest (13) making shortbread and the youngest gingerbread (10). They make a lovely gift all wrapped in cellophane with curly ribbon.
Am going to buy a load of onions at the market tomorrow for making chutney and I make wool felted items so everyones getting them this year.
Whilst the youngest is still caught up in the magic of Christmas...I think secretly he still wants to believe in Santa.. He is a commited vegetarian (2 years now but he does eat fish occasionally) and wanted to adopt an amur leopard (£5 a month instead of a lump sum).
The eldest doesn't really buy into all the latest things like iphones and blackberrys he likes to be a little different and had his eye on a phone that does so much similar to those but considerably cheaper. It is also his birthday just before Christmas.
This year they will both be needing a new bike, probably another animal for the youngest and clothes for the eldests birthday and he thankfully loves getting a bargain in JD sales! I find giving him cash the best thing as he is much more loathe to spend his than mine!
Thanks for starting this post it has me thinking about getting their stocking fillers each week as I see them from now on.

DUKE

I was about to start screaming N-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O! :eek: But then I realized that every year I buy my cards in the sale in January. Also I had a voucher to get a free pack from M&S, so I got them before the voucher expired at the end of August. I'm a comper & often win things that I put away for people for Crimbo. If you see a bargain you might as well buy it I think.

p-pincher

Yes i've started buying, in fact i going to pick up an order from tesco this afternoon. The problem is my 2 dd's always pick something that might run out ( dont even wanna think about the go go hamsters the other year). This year they want teacup piggies and they picked a certain one each and there both pink so if they become popular with little girls i've got a feeling they'll be the ones to go first. So I ordered them at the weekend. Mentioned it at work and most people thought I was crazy.

Me, Dh, mum and sis all have a £10 standing order going into my savings account every week which pays for everything, including food. Ive always bought early and always try to have all mine done by the end of November so then I can concentrate on other things. Theres nothing nicer than going in town in December and not having to actually buy anything, when everyone else is running round i can relax. The amount of friends who leave it til december than nearly have a mini breakdown is unbelievable.

elmer

me , a large box of flumps for my teenage daughter who is addicted to them

elmer

catkins

I bought cards in the January sales. I have tons of paper left over from last year and it will probably be enough for this year.

I bought quite a few items when Body Shop had that online ordering blip earlier this year. I also have a few things like jewellery that I bought when I saw it.

I am saving all my points for surveys towards Amazon vouchers as my neices always want cd's, dvd's or books. So far I have £30 towards it but hope to have £100 before Christmas.

I do boxes to go abroad and buy throughout the year for those. I think I probably have enough to do at least 8 boxes - will check this weekend