Six months till Christmas - how prepared are you?

auditbabe

Today I ordered my Christmas pressie from my hubby. I always do even my birthday pressie has been put away. Including me we have 5 birthdays in November so need to sort them out first and that has been done for the granddchildren so just one more adult to buy for then I can really start on Christmas big time.

I have already started making the cards and have most of the cake and pudding ingrediants in. No need for decorations as we reuse every year. Hopefully by the end of September I will have Christmas totally sorted so I can relax and enjoy it.

fatblackandwhite

Sugarspun - I love the idea of 24 books for advent. I think I will be stealing that one for DS1. Thank you.

katie1812

Well in six months time from today it'll all be over lol!!!
In all serious I haven't even thought about it and don't until about October time! If I did that with everything I'd never have anything to look forward to and always be thinking about the next thing - NO THANKS!
We bought all new decorations last year for our first christmas married and in our first mortgaged home together so in that case we do have some stuff lol! Pressie-wise.. pfffttt

horsechestnut

I bought the cards and wrapping paper in the January Sales.
The Cake mix from Tesco after last Christmas.
The Robinson's Mincemeat for the mince pies yesterday in Tesco for 20 per jar; I have been watching this since January as they usually reduce it then, so this was a much better deal as I usually get it for around 60p.
Have started looking in the shops for presents, but haven't seen any thing yet.

teabag29

Got all my cards and wrap in January sales. Have saved £500 love to shop vouchers with park catalogue (£300 left to save) £130 tesco christmas saver vouchers and £68 in points (will use whatever I have saved up by November to double up in the toy or clothes section). I have booked 3 tickets for me and 2 of my children to see Chicago at the theatre on Sat 21st Dec and a further 6 tickets for the whole family to see Aladdin at the theatre on Christmas eve. I am very organised this year

elainemn

I save £50 month for big presents & Xmas nights out. My credit card cash back is due Jan statement so this also helps. Starting in September I buy my food & drink that keeps or bottles for presents. If you add about £5 per week you do not miss it. I also buy any grabits & cheap stocking fillers in sales / throughout year, as well as clothes in Jan sales. My only problem is that I forget to write everything down and always buy far too much. I am going to empty my stash boxes in the loft in next few weeks and log it all down.

Bedtimebear

I bought the cards and wrapping paper and presents in the January Sales.

I keep a draw of gifts of which are used for birthdays/xmas thoughout the year and also add to during the year, recently added 5 boofle teddies.

But now will make a list for xmas presents, I don't go to crazy as my husband works over xmas.

Also collect freebies for stocking filter. :j

MERFE

We bought some new decs in the January sales and wont need any more. I've saved £15 a month with parks for vouchers to spend on presents for family or the kids new outfits for Christmas day. We have bought loads of stocking bits and the grandparents pressies in the January sales. We bought DD a new bike for her main present so only 2 children to go. When my OH get his bonus in april I use half for our holiday and half for Christmas and it'll cover all the extra food and drink and Christmas nights out etc. I will start to buy extra bits in from Sept onwards as well.

SailorSam

Got some frozen chips and chicken portions in the freezer and plenty of booze,
Yes i'm all sorted.

CountingPennies

I'm saving with Park, so have £400 of vouchers coming in October/November. These will be used for Iceland freezer shop, all gifts for parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Also stocking fillers for my 3 kids. 2 of the kids want laptops this year, so i'll be buying one the end of July and one the end of August. My son is younger so will be happy with toys and a child type x-box game.

I do christmas eve hampers, and actually picked up a christmas blue ray dvd today in town for just £2! Brand new in packet, would have been a shame not to pick it up. I always put a dvd in the kids hamper and they haven't seen this one. Will be picking up pj's and slippers for hamper in the sales and keeping my eye out for crafty bargains to add.

Our christmas eve is usually spent baking or making things christmasy, early hot baths followed by hot chocolate, sweets and dvd with an early night in their new pj's and slippers. Ohh, and we will also make reindeer food with oats and glitter to sprinkle out before bed.

I've had a couple of free gifts which will be used as gifts for people and i'm on the lookout for a cheap tree (mine is worn out) and some decorations for the bathroom. This year will be one of the first years it will all be paid for upfront.

I've got £60 saved so far with tesco christmas club, hoping to have at least £100 by November. This will be kept for January for when i'm skint and will be used for whatever i might need. When i last checked i had around £55 in points saved up. I'll be doubling these up and probably getting my sons toys from there if the offer is on. Naturally, i'll be keeping my eye out for the 3 for 2 christmas event too!

Feeling good about christmas this year due to being nearly debt free. April 2014 is hopefully my debt free date