'Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?' poll

Former_MSE_Penelope

Poll started 23 January 2012, click here to vote

Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?

The January sales are perhaps the cheapest time of year to do Christmas shopping – so have you been out buying presents and decorations?

Which of these is nearest to your situation?

I've bought nothing
I don't celebrate or buy for Christmas
No presents, but got a few decorations / cards / wrapping paper
A few presents and some decorations / cards/ wrapping paper
I've bought everything needed for Christmas 2012

suki1001

I have found, if I buy things this early I forget about them, or change my mind. What I have done is buy some of the 75% boots stuff for birthday presents. My sister's is in June.

luxor4t

I don't fit any of the choices:
All cards, wrapping paper, crackers, Xmas paper plates/napkins/tablecloths bought in the sales.

Most birthday gifts and 75% of the Christmas gifts bought in the sales, the rest are more personal & are purchased nearer the time.

Gordon_the_Moron

I don't quite fit any of the choices either, no cards bought (I e-mail, text, Facebook, or Tweet to people wishing them a Merry Christmas then make a donation to a charity instead, saves trees and gives money to a charity and does the job!) all the wrapping paper bought, most of the presents bought, the only exceptions being people I buy alcohol for, I find the pre-christmas promotions on drink are usually cheaper than January sales.

tiff

No gifts but made sure I bought cards, paper, tags so that I can remember I dont need to buy any of that stuff next Christmas. Also have Christmas crackers.

skaps

I have found cards that are cheaper at xmas time and still have quite a bit of wrapping paper left so have bought nothing. If I do see some cheap decorations I will buy them though.

balletshoes

I don't need cards/wrapping paper/tags etc, I seem to have bought a warehouse-full over the past few years and don't need to buy anymore for about a decade by the looks of it!

I started buying for this Christmas before Christmas 2011 .

Just got a few things though, and will pick up bargains through the year. I don't usually buy my DDs main present until at least October, as she usually doesn't have a clue what she wants until then at the earliest.

purple.sarah

I don't think we'll need to buy any more Christmas cards for a couple of years after I saw some cute ones on sale! I also got decorations, wrapping paper and a few presents. It makes sense because the seasonal things are cheaper out of season so why spend more closer to the time? It's not like the cards say Merry Christmas 2011! Also a bit of forward planning avoids the dreaded Christmas Eve panic buying.

McG_Clan

I mostly fit into the 'ready for Christmas 2012' category as I've got cards left over from last year (ok, I found them under the sofa - right at the back from about 3 years ago !), got cheap wrapping paper in asda for 10p a roll. I usually use old Christmas cards as tags - get the kids to cut cute pics out. I get a new tree decoration (in the sales, for each of the kids each year - which they will have in a box to decorate their own tree when they leave home, sniff!).

Our only 'built in wardrobe' is a presents cupboard and it's full (so is under our bed)! All our children/godchildren/nephews/nieces etc are under 10 years old, so they're pretty easy to buy for, and I get things when I see them. I think I'll have to change tactics when they all reach the teenage years though, and the value of their pressies will have to go down, as you can't get a gift card in the sales!

Boots 75% sale was ok, tkmaxx sale was good. I got to wilkos as they opened and were reducing all the toys and xmas stuff to 75% so I got a trolleyfull. I always keep an eye out for any decent reductions, throughout the year, too.

I also had stuff 'left over' from last Christmas as I felt I'd got the kids too much and that they didn't need so many presents, so have put them by for their next birthdays. I save any points on storecards (tesco, boots, nectar etc) that I can and use those for buying presents through the year for hubbie, MIL, FIL, SIL, BIL, my parents, who are difficult to buy for. I also save £15 a month in an internet savers account, which builds up each year so I can do the sales shops to get nice presents for people without paying top whack! That also part pays for the children's birthday parties/celebrations.

I really need to NOT buy anymore toys/kids stuff/smellies sets now for the next 2 years or so, until my current stores are depleted. Trouble is, I can't resist a bargain...but I'm trying to learn! :rotfl:

RandomRainy

I try to buy as much as possible in the January Sales but it's the worst time of the year finacially. My husband loses 2 weeks of income during this period so buying in January (even in the sales) is extreamly difficult.

emuratty

Got a brilliant bargain tree in Tesco (6ft finest tree) reduced from £75 to £15 !!

Few bits of stuff like toiletry sets reduced to £1.50 in Wilkinsons.

Loads of cards and wrapping paper left from previous Christmases.

ELC near my work is closing down in a few weeks, all stock 30% reduced already, just waiting for further reductions before I sweep in and buy birthday and christmas presents for rest of the year.