MSE News: 50% already started Christmas 2013 shopping

Midger

I started shopping for everything in the Boots sale: birthdays, anniversaries, Mothers Day, Fathers day and Christmas for 2013.

I don't see it as a priority to have the shopping done as someone suggested but money is tight so I don't want to feel pressure throughout the year when it comes to all these events for family. I saw the Boots sale as a massive bonus, especially when I realised that they had so much that would be useful for all of the people I buy for. Hubby and I have a fairly large family (siblings, both sets of parents still alive, nieces, nephews) and only buy for a the kids of a few friends.

The Boots sale was a huge help as I managed to get a lot...no, most...of my shopping done :j. I picked up a few things for my husband, children and I but will wait to do the rest of the shopping for the 4 of us later.

Always_after_a_bargin

I start early and I only normally buy for mother in law, brother in law, and sister in law. Nephew and My friends little girl. Then the priority is my husband and 2 daughters. So even though my present list is only small. I still start planning and buying early. It means that at christmas my in laws have presents worth a good 50/60 quid if not more on my budget of 20 quid. Due to certain reasons christmas just gone I did only buy for my mother in law and she was the only one outside my immediate family and she had a present that was worth 50 quid and I paid 13 quid for it, I used codes and a free voucher I had so actual money spent was 13 quid. I came under budget on all presents.

This year I have already got my sister in laws, brother in laws and my friends little girl. my friends little girl as a beautiful present and thanks to a tesco's c*** up it cost me nothing. The others was from the boots 75% sale. The bargins are there to be found so it don't have to cost you a fortune.

My children main presents are done closer to the time but their stocking fillers are bought once their lists are done but they still have a budget. We normally go away for a few days beforehand so that's comes out of the christmas budget too.

I save my loyalty points, I am in the tesco saver at the moment, I get marks and spencer vouchers through surveys and daily mail rewards. I pick up amazon voucher monthly and I also this year have a asda savings card on the go. I am putting money away every month to cover christmas and I save my quidco. I actually quite enjoy it, planning it through the year. I also love knowing that it was all done the MSE way x

steerforth

I've started at the end of Dec putting £50 away and have joined the Tesco clubcard christmas saver so all my vouchers will come at once at the end of the year. I have stocked up on cards, christmas paper etc in the sales and bought a couple of birthday presents too. I am always on the look out for bargains. I always try and have all present shopping completed by end of Oct or latest November.