Does it take the magic away?????

ELLA

Ive been out this morning and got the mil some earing from wallis as they were 75% off and I know they are exactly what she love's to wear. I will wrap them up and stash them away.

My family a quite easy to buy for as I know what they like, its just my mum who is the hard one!!! She will have to bought for in sept/nov for the latest M&S fashion lol!

play2day

I buy and wrap gifts in advance too. It means that when Decemeber arrives I am relaxed and able to enjoy time with my kids going to pantomimes etc rather than being short of time, money and temper as I try to do everything quickly.
I buy for approx 40 people and have most gifts ready by summer including all my own kids stocking fillers. I but the 'main' presents in December though so that they have chance to tell me what they want.

BigMummaF

Wish I'd stayed away from this thread now....you've made me feel so inadequate;)
Before I can do anything like you're suggesting, I'd have to have an almighty blitz so I could hide the prezzie stuff away in the places I'm currently hiding the 'rainy day' carp:rotfl:

I'll have a go tho...don't need any cards or paper, & totally forgot about the crackers so it will be the actual gifts & that's it.

Do you mind if I call back from time to time just to get some inspriation to keep me going:D

Sallys_Savings

Definitely doesnt take the magic away

I feel by being organised it increases the magic and time over christmas as I'm not so frazzled as I used to be.

I buy my pressies throughout the year, using car boots, sales, money off vouchers, glitches that are on the grabbit it board, tesco deals and send off for freebies (managed to make up a whole hamper entirely using these this christmas )

The only thing I do not buy is my four childrens main present and that is normally bought in December (so they dont have time to change their mind). Everyone else is all bought and wrapped pretty early.

It means you have time to actually "enjoy" christmas rather than be too worn out.


oohhh by the way Happy New Year everyone.

Santa_Claus_2008

actually I don't know...I bought everything online this year so wasn't in a christmasy mood I put my tree up late on christmas eve then took it back down on the friday morning and got it back in the loft...so for me I didn't get that christmas spirit I usually do when going around the shop's although I saved a bundle getting everything online...I suppose it depends if you have alittle trouble like me getting into the christmas spirit of thing's...
anyway
HAPPY NEW YEAR

SharkyGeorge

I don't think it takes the magic away, although I do love wrapping (weird, I know, I got it from my momma) so I'd save that closer to the time.

In terms of bday pressies though, its not just about what a person is into. I love buying things that relate to injokes for example. So one of my friends and I have a long standing joke about being CK models - I found a great CK perfume & gel set in the sales which Im saving for his bday

earthmother

I don't think it takes the magic away - as others have said, it can actually increase it

I spent most of last year buying bits and pieces as I came across them, making lists etc, and had finished all bar the kids big presents and a few perishable gifts by mid November.

The plan was to wrap then, but it didn't happen this year (another story), but the simple fact that I didn't need to go near any shops for presents in December meant that I was more relaxed and less rushed, and in those following weeks the kids made cards, we all made decorations, the decs went up on time for once, I was able to help out at the school christmas fair, get to see the nativity and church service, fit in two tabletop sales (earning some of my christmas spend back whilst clearing space for all the new toys), and totally blitz the house (something unheard of, lol).

Needless to say, I've already got a head start on next year

Santa_Claus_2008

I think my spirit went on holiday because this year I bought large pressie's tv for myself and ds and digital photo frame (with bluetooth) for my db so not many to buy for...although I did buy afew stocking filler's from avon....but next year will be different again as I fully intent getting round the shop's....
happy new year everyone....:D

saversarn

Wrapping is something I always think will be so much more fun that it actually is. I have a little fantasy of sitting under the tree with the fire burning wrapping gifts. However the reality is after a couple of items it gets tedious. I plan to get it bought and wrapped early this year, but will have a december shopping trip to wander round town and absorb the atmosphere and listen to the carols playing with no pressure as nothing really to buy by then :-)

Sugarhunny1

I have bought/wrapped and stored some of the presents for this coming xmas. I have a spreadsheet up and running from a fellow MSE'r and find this invaluable or i would forget what i had bought who!

I find its easier to do this (for other family members) and this leaves me time to concentrate on my immediate family.

My children are very young and i have managed to buy throughout the year for them but this year i think i will save the money and buy nearer the time as i don't want them to be disappointed on the day. Saying that, i think my kids get far too much at xmas and its all come so commercialized but thats another thread!

Sugar xxx