Does it take the magic away?????

ELLA

Well Im eaither really sad or mega mega organised as this afternoon Ive sat and written my xmas cards and family birthday cards.

I still have a few more to get for the family but my local bitz store has such alot left and still half price. They have some lovely cards at 15p each. I think Im getting obsessed with the whole being organised thing but my hubby lost his job just before xmas, so this year I want to get everything as cheap as possible and be as organised as possible as we never know what's round the corner.

mary43

Last year when I hurt my back I sat and made all my Christmas cards and this was the beginning of August.............folk thought I was mad but at least I didn't have such a last minute panic. Mum has been very poorly as well, still is, so don't know from one week (or day even) whats going on and I find it I venture out once a week and do my bit of 'charity shopping' for pressies it takes my mind off things and actually I get quite excited about it...........lol
Came home with three carrier bags full today (including two books for me) and loved going through it all. Haven't started Christmas cards yet.........been doing some birthday cards but mainly for the girls in the card group I belong to..................I've got up to March with them then theres OH's birthday in March along with one of the girls we used to foster, her OH, my son .............bit of a gap then till June when there's MIL and my baby grandson.not to mention Mothers Day ! These birthdays soon roll round and I like family cards in particular to be personal to them.
At least this way there's a certain 'magic' at a time of year when things can feel very drab -January blues can hit home hard and spring can seem a long time coming.
Week on Saturday there's an 'indoor boot fair' at our local church................can't wait !!! How sad is that.......................lol:rotfl:

foxy-lady

I can't bring myself to wrap things up in advance because i like 'playing' with my 'stock' too much. Presents are like a hobby to me, i buy bargains all the time and then decide who its for later. Everyone has a present- family & friends (grown ups and their children) childrens friends, teachers, neighbours, 2 parcel ladies, paperboy, milkman, taxi base, lads at the carwash etc. Someone once told me its because i'm a Leo- we are VERY generous apparently.
I have the loft as my presents room- everything is sorted into male/female, child/adult etc, when an occasion arrises i decide on the gift at the time.

A couple of weeks before xmas my mum was rushed into hospital, i went to see her every morning and afternoon as well as trying to keep the house going and looking after the kids- I was soooo stressed out and would have been lost without DH doing so much.

I had 76 people on my presents list- and many of these have several presents from us. For example, my neice had one of those huge xmas gift bags full of stuff that i had brought throughout the year.

When I got the chance I had to decide who was having what and my hubby wrapped (interestingly??) and delivered most of it for me. He said 'why don't you just wrap stuff as you buy it then you wouldn't have this mad rush?

It was the worst run up to christmas ever, usually the most exciting part for me. My mum came out of hospital on xmas eve- last minute decision by the doctors. I was busy fetching groceries, gas, electric etc for her in nightmare traffic. I finally got home at about 7 after settling her in and just wanted to relax and see the DH & kids. I was completely zonked out, I couldn't be bothered to set the table and prepare all the veg for xmas dinner. Something I regretted the morning after- it had a knock on effect with the rest of the day.
Just realised I have gone slightly off topic
So I have decided to continue to wrap birthdays as they come but will have to be brave and start xmas wrapping in october/november- you never know whats going to happen.
I sometimes think if something happened to me and my hubby went up the loft he would be mortified to see all the stuff up there!!! He only THINKS he wants to retire anyway
xx

mary43

I'm trying to sort mine out as I go along so at least I know who's having what, then I put them in their respective baskets and can see whether anything else is needed.
Having done my cards early last year and then hearing my Mum was very ill I got stuck in and tried to sort out pressies early then if anything happened to Mum it would be one less thing to worry about.
Christmas is a way to go yet but I'm trying to sort out the first birthdays that come along -first one is March so got bit of time - Mums still quite poorly and might be a case of drop everything and go and as I live a distance away it's not just like hopping on a bus up the road. I have to sort out somewhere to stay etc.
Another reason to try and get organised round the house but I'm falling down on that one at the minute I'm afraid. Just as I plan to do something - something else crops up.
Had some little decorative bits come this morning from the Kleeneze sale for my cards...........never used them before. Silvery coloured elastic with beads on in lilac and silver..............ten of them and a pack of ten cream blank cards with envelopes was £5. Didn't think that was too bad considering I don't normally spend anything much.............use previous years cards and whatever else is kicking around the house.

BigMummaF

I've made a start on the birthday prezzies..one for a bil next month and another for a really good friend in July.

My biggest problem is having a masculine list apart from my mum, sis & the above- mentioned friend. I've been nosing in the 'how do I make this' thread for inspiration, but somehow I don't think they would appreciate a bouquet made from socks & boxers:D

full-time-mum

ELLA wrote: »

Do you think that by doing this that it kind of takes away the magic of xmas and actually buying presents and wrapping them nearer the time.

Just think how stressed you are not going to be and all those free evenings sipping mulled wine. I really hate the lead up to Xmas and whilst I would get pleasure from wrapping, I never have time to do it properly and find it all gets done in a big last minute stress.

*Louise*

I make up a Word document and list everything, who it's for and how much it costs.

I have a lot of family to buy for, so it saves confusion and I know what I still have to get.

However, I can't bring myself to start buying for Xmas until around July - so I put money away every month until then. Once things are bought, they are put on the list and put into storage boxes in my big 'Xmas cupboard'):D

Wrapping doesn't get done until beginning of Dec - but that's because I like doing it and like to make a night of it - next to the tree with a glass of wine, Xmas music playing etc... lol.:o

BigMummaF

We're going to an 'upmarket' town today, where they have things like Jeager[sp?] & House of Fraiser in their charity shops:T

I'll be scouting around for bits to put away for associated gift-giving, but what's the betting that because I'm actively seeking out stuff, they won't have anything:p

Wish me luck guys, cuz I don't know when or if we'll be going there again....

seven-day-weekend

Just do as I do and don't buy anyone anything apart from my husband and adult son and go out for Christmas dinner.

That way you don't waste tons of money on presents and don't buy any extra food. You can eat the same as you normally do on the other days and the saving can go on the lunch out.

Sorted, without having to do any extra!

(As you may be able to tell, I agree with Margaretclare - 'what magic????')

shazziere

is anyone able to send me the spreadsheet so that i can organise my pressie stash too?

thanks in advance