Apparently I am a "sad specimen"!!

Shushannah

I got in trouble one year for buying myself a book mid-year as it had been bought earlier for a Christmas present.
I tend to like to wait a little nearer the time to see what my nearest and dearest have accumulated over the year, or the latest hobby to be taken up.

bluebag

Well, I think I am the saddest of all.

I don't do presents except for a few small wrap ups for my daughters. ( which they drop really unsubtle clues for )I have no idea what on earth to get anyone.

I save all year and give vouchers, they do the headless chicken thing themselves!

pleasedelete

bluebag wrote: »

Well, I think I am the saddest of all.

I don't do presents except for a few small wrap ups for my daughters. ( which they drop really unsubtle clues for )I have no idea what on earth to get anyone.

I save all year and give vouchers, they do the headless chicken thing themselves!

You are my kind of giver! My oh and I don't do gifts as we would rather chose something that we really want.

[Deleted User]

with five grandsons, four of whom use the Lynx stuff even though the youngest one is 11, I bought a huge stash of the stuff last year in January from a local chemist who was knocking them out for 29p a throw.Great value as both granddaughter have boyfriends as well.very acceptable small gift for their often changing boyfriends and my DGS love to have their own 'smellies' Saved me a fortune this Christmas

wendall

I don't think people are sad for buying in the sales it can save money and time if done right. I buy lynx sets son and oh both use these and normally buy enough for use throughout the year. I buy colouring books and small gifts, pj's size up for christmas as i do my nieces a christmas eve hamper, may buy the odd gift set in boots but only if it is a real bargains. This year i did homemade for the adults on my list and they loved the idea did skittles vodka, toffee vodka, scarves. cross stitch, so have been buying frames, fancy bottles and jars, boxes which i can use for putting homemade gifts in for this christmas

Suzexxx

I think the DM article would be offensive to many people judging by the amount of people i've seen today buying Christmas items, which will obviously be used for next year.

I don't care if people think i'm 'sad' but i actually look forward to the sales after Christmas (especially 75% off) as i know i'll be able to buy gifts for people much cheaper than i would if i waited until November/December. I am a student nurse on maternity leave so my income is low anyway and by shopping for birthday/xmas presents in the sale i am able to buy nice presents. Also i think alot of the gift sets full price are a waste of money away and only really worth the 75% sale price.

E.g Today i went to the Clintons 75% sale and picked up lots of luxury wrapping paper for 62p a roll, luxury boxed cards between 25p and 75p, gift sets for less than £2 each. I have enough wrapping paper/cards to last me for a few years tbh now. I also got my Mum some N0.7 gift sets in the Boots 50% sale. My Mum likes NO.7 regardless of whether the packaging is 'past season' or not as its still the same product.

My DP thinks i'm crazy buying gifts in the sales, but on the other hand he is always grateful nearer Christmas when he is panicking and stuck for budget friendly present ideas and i pull out my present box.

luxor4t

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

I was mortified to read a comment in the Daily Mirror yesterday on Brian Reade's page which read as follows - "Some of life's saddest specimens flock to New Year's sales to buy next year's Christmas presents". .......

I have wrapping paper, cards and gift bags ready for 2013.
I have started buying gifts for birthdays & Christmas.
I follow a plan which saves time and money - and I save more time and money by not reading the Mirror or taking its hacks seriously.

Spendless

Amba_Gambla wrote: »

But what does it 'cost' you to store things for 11 months of the year? What value is the space in your house?
How do you know that the same item won't be half the price you paid by August?

Not worth saving a couple of quid now to have things (that might not be appropriate, useful or wanted) kicking under your feet for 11 months.

I have a cupboard in my bedroom that is reserved as the present cupboard. It's high up (I need a stool to reach), was once part of the boiler- till we had a combi put in so have never had to give any space up to do this, and I would need somewhere to hide xmas presents even if I only bought them last minute since I have kids. It's more cost effective for me to store the items I buy all year round cheaply. The stock bought in for Christmas and unsold is unlikely to still be available mid-August and 75% offcombinined with free if you have enough to use your loyalty points is pretty hard to beat.

lindseykim13

Well i am a mega sado then as i have finished (except for my own kids) my xmas shopping 2013. I started xmas eve, bought all except 1 in the online sales and i have all birthday pressies for the year, fathers & mothers day.
I like to think i'm mega orgainised and my family get much better presents that way. My budget is £5 or £6 for most apart from parents ect which get more as i have quite a lot to buy for. They all get things worth at least double that as i only buy genuine bargains/sale items. I keep a list of who i need to buy for and when i see something that would suit that person i get it-not thoughtless at all.
For example i got a nice whisky set half price in boots for my step dad for fathers day, he has a great spitfire model kit which is actually worth £50 but i got in debs for £18 for next xmas, and a humorous mug with some of his fav sweets for his birthday.
Saved myelf a small fortune just on one persons gifts.

Jinx

I too am a saddo - I often buy gifts in the sales, some generic for my gift box and some specifically for individuals.

This year I got a DKNY gift set for 21 quid - it should have been 48! Its all ready for daughters birthday in Feb. Also got in the sales 2 underwear sets from the brastop for 42 quid instead of 84. Surely its madness not to?