How far are you on for Christmas?

NineDeuce

Happy_Kitties wrote: »

I'm also about the same age as you NineDeuce and I remember my mum basically knackered in December running around trying to make Christmas special.

I don't want to buy presents at a click of a mouse when I'm on a limited budget and want to put some real thought into my presents. Again like Martin Lewis says we all know Christmas is the same date every year, so If I see something that my DD or a family member would really like, with money off say in April I would be a fool not to buy and store it. I've saved quite a few hundred doing it this way and I've got gifts that I know family members would really like.

I physically cannot do a lot at one time, as pain clinic say I have to 'pace' myself or put myself in hospital so If this means buying throughout the year then that's what has to be done.
I would rather have a happy, healthy and stress free Christmas with my family than be stuck in hospital.

But this doesnt explain the need to do things earlier. Buying online is just another option, not an alternative. You can still buy in the shops as you could in the period where Christmas didnt start in September....

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I love pretty much everything about Christmas, but not actually shopping in December as places are rammed and I hate crowds and being overheated and flustered. I prefer to buy gifts calmly throughout the year with an eye on Christmas. I have a lot of December birthdays, and if you leave that til the last minute you have a notably reduced range of cards as 2/3 of the racks will be filled with festive ones (same for people with birthdays near Valentines). I also have people in New Zealand to buy for (inc a Dec birthday) so have to get that wrapped and posted in good time. It's very MSE to buy Christmas cards in the January sales (it's not like festive scenes go in and out of fashion!).

Last Christmas by Wham is my second favourite song ever, so I listen to that all year round. I also love Mary's Boy Child by Boney M, not going to make myself wait until one month of the year to hear it!

nannywindow

I have just bought my DGS presents. I have bought them now, as he has asked for specific items and I don't want to be frantically searching nearer Christmas time only to find that they are OOS. I do not want to see a disappointed child on Christmas morning because I did not buy in good time.
Out,Vile Jelly I don't have a favourite Xmas song, because I love them all .

C_J

This weekend is the one where I get everything out of the spare room and see what I've bought, and what still needs to be done. It will be accompanied by a CD of Christmas songs playing merrily and I'm quite excited! I know I have everything for the advent calendars (two grown up daughters plus their partners, and one for Mister CJ. This year includes an advent calendar for baby grandson too!) and I'm fairly sure I have almost everything for the stockings.

I bought Mister CJ's present today - I had sort-of planned to hold out for a Black Friday deal as it's a tech thing, but I managed to find a good deal today (and I can't be doing with all the stress of trying to buy things online in the middle of the night with the website crashing every few minutes).

I keep asking daughters for their wish lists, but they've not written them yet. Neither of them have much spare money this year so I have asked them to spend no more than £5 on me and my present MUST come from a charity shop. I bet they find something nice too, they have a real eye for a bargain

Perryface

I have made the adult gifts this year, they are all wrapped and tagged ready to go.
I have 8 children to buy for each of which have 'something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read'. These are also wrapped and tagged and ready to go.

I started in the January sales and keep a look out throughout the year.

Hubby has one gift (something to read) I just need 3 more then everyone is done!

I love Christmas!

Primrose

Received a promotional advertising email today reminding me there are only 40 sleeps left before Christmas ! I find that much more comforting than a reminder that there are only 40 shopping days left as it completely reflects my whole attitude to what has now become a commercial retail bonanza, i.e. I’m completely low key about the whole affair!

beautiful_ravens

Perryface wrote: »

'something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read'.

Such a good 'template' for present buying, love it!

katiepants

I have a list, a budget, and a day off work in early December. Hopefully then it'll all be sorted. No food to get as were staying with others.

nannywindow

Went out today and bought family Xmas cards, only 4 needed as we are a very small family and two cheap boxes of cards for friends and neighbours. Also got a jar of cranberry and port sauce for the food stash.

pertgave

C_J wrote: »

I'm quite excited! I know I have everything for the advent calendars (two grown up daughters plus their partners, and one for Mister CJ. This year includes an advent calendar for baby grandson too!) and I'm fairly sure I have almost everything for the stockings.

I love making photo Advent calendars - I feel they are popular with my family.