It's all about preparation, not everyone wants to or can afford to start their shop in December.
Spot on.
I'm very fortunate that I only really have to buy for a handful of people and don't have to buy for any children either. For the last few years I've been saying I want to start earlier, so this year I did. I've been getting the clothes gifts out of the way to begin with: I don't care much for buying jumpers and woollen stuff as gifts, and that's a large percentage of stock in the shops at Christmas. The choice of clothes is so much better during the spring/summer months I find, even down to jeans.
I managed to get some nice gifts for two of the more awkward people I buy for from one of the workplace bookseller companies.
I've decided to do more online shopping this year too. For someone who shops online throughout the year I tend to do very little at Christmas. Not sure why, so that's changing this year!
Or you could concede that you've come to your senses and realised that xmas shopping in December is a ****ing nightmare!!! Plus spreading the cost over 2-3 months makes good financial sense.
That's my opinion down to a tee as well. I'm normally nursing or trying to stave off a chest or throat infection in December too, which is far from ideal when you've got to go shopping.
I've always been organised for Christmas shopping (for a bloke at any rate) and the last few years I've devoted 2 evenings to late night shopping as soon as the shops in the nearest city and out of town mall begin their proper late night shopping hours. This normally falls on the second week of December; my friends think I'm mad, but I'd rather just spend 5 hours in one night getting everything I need in town than what they do, which is making several mini trips during the month up to Christmas Eve in some cases!
I can understand why some people start their Christmas shopping really early on in the year.
I don't usually buy anything this early but this year I've bought my granddaughter's presents. Her mum gave us a list of the things she liked and what has already been bought for her, so I knew I'd be able to get her something she wanted.
She wanted a FurReal kitten and I got one off the internet much cheaper than the shops. I was lucky I got the exact one (Daisy) she wants as they do a few different types. I thought it best to get it early just in case there was a problem with getting one nearer Christmas and while I had the money. So no disappointment of not being able to get one. Also bought her a children's make-up set and a set to make sparkly tattoos. Again bought off the internet as they were a lot cheaper.
I think I'll be getting most things off the internet, this year, as you do save a lot of money. Plus there's not really a lot of choice in local shops and as I don't drive it's a right pain trying to get home on buses loaded up with bags.
I've left in two specifically requested perfumes,one pair of trainers, two small purses for teens that I'll pop a few quid into ,swim shorts and new flip-flops for my OH,and a couple of tee shirts .
Plus a bone shaped tin to fill with doggy treats and a couple of Kong doggy toys for our little mutt.
Ive bought one thing so far - a bottle of Beyonce Heat perfume for my mum, she loves it and I got it in a Boots sale.
I don't properly start my Xmas shopping until the first weekend in December - It's usually online shopping that I start, and this year ill only be going into the high street to get clothing gifts and confectionery.
I am another who likes to be organised. I like to enjoy the month of December, eating mince pies, drinking mulled wine and watching Christimas movies on Sky back to back. I hate the thought of battling with the crowds and the queues in December. I also couldn't afford to do the shop in one hit. To me December is organising and paying for the food. I like the pressies to be bought and wrapped by end of November.
So - I am on holiday next week and I am planning a trip to Norwich to make a dent in the shopping. I have a small amount of money saved and no ideas whatsoever as to what im buying for anyone. I am going with an open mind and I hope to see lots gifts that catch my eye.
I can't wait.
Edited to say - my boss leaves his shopping until about the 18th December and then orders online. He is hopping up and down when his gifts don't arrive to be placed under the tree and his blood pressures rises significantly. Take the mickey out of organised folk .... but at least my heart rate stays healthy.
I am another who likes to be organised. I like to enjoy the month of December, eating mince pies, drinking mulled wine and watching Christimas movies on Sky back to back. I hate the thought of battling with the crowds and the queues in December. I also couldn't afford to do the shop in one hit. To me December is organising and paying for the food. I like the pressies to be bought and wrapped by end of November.
So - I am on holiday next week and I am planning a trip to Norwich to make a dent in the shopping. I have a small amount of money saved and no ideas whatsoever as to what im buying for anyone. I am going with an open mind and I hope to see lots gifts that catch my eye.
I can't wait.
Edited to say - my boss leaves his shopping until about the 18th December and then orders online. He is hopping up and down when his gifts don't arrive to be placed under the tree and his blood pressures rises significantly. Take the mickey out of organised folk .... but at least my heart rate stays healthy.
People who take the micky out of organised ople come across as jealous because there so not so well organized imo
I'm not as organised as usual. I've bought a DVD and a Miss Piggy doll. I'm off this week so hopefully I'll make a good dint in my xmas savings! I like to have all presents bought before December.
I heard that chocolate was going to double in price, so I've bought some boxes of chocolates while they were on offer. I have also got a couple of bottles of champagne while they were reduced in price.
The trick now is not to succumb to the temptation of eating or drinking any as I have bought them so far in advance of Christmas!!!
Got most of Christmas shopping like toys and clothes for small children in family aftershaves and perfumes for teenagers
Boxes and tubs of chocolate just need to get a few more presents for my parents and partner and food shopping
Mine is going terribly so far! So far I've got one set of my aunts/uncles a 'Mexican train' dominoes game, and I've got my brother a t-shirt and pre-ordered Jimmy Carr's new DVD.
I'm completely lacking inspiration. No idea what to get my dad, my other aunts/uncles, or my cousins; and got a couple of ideas for my best friend but can't find anything quite right.
I hope my family aren't reading this (who am I kidding, course they won't). Instead of getting them the typical materialistic jewelery and books and games / DVDs / clothes and accessories, I've gone for days out and one-off events so that we can all enjoy the experience. Like I've got my Dad and younger brother tickets to see Top Gear Live in Glasgow in January; I've booked my Mum in for a day spa break; and my Dad and I will go and watch a football match together. If I've got enough cash left over, I'll let my brother pick a concert he wants to go and see, and take my Dad on a sailing holiday. All nice happy memories that will last longer than a plastic piece of tack.
I hope my family aren't reading this (who am I kidding, course they won't). Instead of getting them the typical materialistic jewelery and books and games / DVDs / clothes and accessories, I've gone for days out and one-off events so that we can all enjoy the experience. Like I've got my Dad and younger brother tickets to see Top Gear Live in Glasgow in January; I've booked my Mum in for a day spa break; and my Dad and I will go and watch a football match together. If I've got enough cash left over, I'll let my brother pick a concert he wants to go and see, and take my Dad on a sailing holiday. All nice happy memories that will last longer than a plastic piece of tack.
Wow - expensive pressies :eek:
I have now finished my shopping (apart from stocking fillers). I have bought:-
Dad - Some thick bed socks from Fat Face with grippers on the bottom. He suffers with cold feet.
A letter opener with a handmade glass handle
A new fun Christmas game to play on the day called 'Pass the Bomb'. It sounded like fun after a few drinkies.
Mum - Some socks as above
A small leather purse which she specifically asked for
A jigsaw puzzle as she is addicted.
Hubby - A watch he liked
A bottle of Smirnoff Black vodka
A head torch thingy for dog walking which he keeps mentioning
Aunt - Soap set
Dogs - various toys
Sister - 6 bottles of plonk
X Brother in Law - a vintage bottle of port
Neice - A lovely silver necklace
Nephew - An aftershave gift set
I haven't bought / written cards yet or wrapped anything. I might make a start this weekend as im at home alone.
just got the most of mine ..I'm going to get some small manicure sets to add to couple of female gifts..and then it's just the tins of chocs that I always add to the gifts for family and friends..just bought one tin this morning so only a few more of those
I have now finished my shopping (apart from stocking fillers). I have bought:-
Dad - Some thick bed socks from Fat Face with grippers on the bottom. He suffers with cold feet.
A letter opener with a handmade glass handle
A new fun Christmas game to play on the day called 'Pass the Bomb'. It sounded like fun after a few drinkies.
Mum - Some socks as above
A small leather purse which she specifically asked for
A jigsaw puzzle as she is addicted.
Hubby - A watch he liked
A bottle of Smirnoff Black vodka
A head torch thingy for dog walking which he keeps mentioning
Aunt - Soap set
Dogs - various toys
Sister - 6 bottles of plonk
X Brother in Law - a vintage bottle of port
Neice - A lovely silver necklace
Nephew - An aftershave gift set
I haven't bought / written cards yet or wrapped anything. I might make a start this weekend as im at home alone.
Aha, no, I owe them for years of crappy birthday / Father's day / Mother's Day gifts. It's about snapping up deals on Red Letter Days, sites like Groupon... and of course, careful saving and cutbacks on my own cost-of-living expenses.
Not as costly as you might think, especially if you spread the cost out over several months. That includes possibly selling my car (which I don't need now that I'm at uni)
Comments
Spot on.
I'm very fortunate that I only really have to buy for a handful of people and don't have to buy for any children either. For the last few years I've been saying I want to start earlier, so this year I did. I've been getting the clothes gifts out of the way to begin with: I don't care much for buying jumpers and woollen stuff as gifts, and that's a large percentage of stock in the shops at Christmas. The choice of clothes is so much better during the spring/summer months I find, even down to jeans.
I managed to get some nice gifts for two of the more awkward people I buy for from one of the workplace bookseller companies.
I've decided to do more online shopping this year too. For someone who shops online throughout the year I tend to do very little at Christmas. Not sure why, so that's changing this year!
That's my opinion down to a tee as well. I'm normally nursing or trying to stave off a chest or throat infection in December too, which is far from ideal when you've got to go shopping.
I've always been organised for Christmas shopping (for a bloke at any rate) and the last few years I've devoted 2 evenings to late night shopping as soon as the shops in the nearest city and out of town mall begin their proper late night shopping hours. This normally falls on the second week of December; my friends think I'm mad, but I'd rather just spend 5 hours in one night getting everything I need in town than what they do, which is making several mini trips during the month up to Christmas Eve in some cases!
I can understand why some people start their Christmas shopping really early on in the year.
She wanted a FurReal kitten and I got one off the internet much cheaper than the shops. I was lucky I got the exact one (Daisy) she wants as they do a few different types. I thought it best to get it early just in case there was a problem with getting one nearer Christmas and while I had the money. So no disappointment of not being able to get one. Also bought her a children's make-up set and a set to make sparkly tattoos. Again bought off the internet as they were a lot cheaper.
I think I'll be getting most things off the internet, this year, as you do save a lot of money. Plus there's not really a lot of choice in local shops and as I don't drive it's a right pain trying to get home on buses loaded up with bags.
Plus a bone shaped tin to fill with doggy treats and a couple of Kong doggy toys for our little mutt.
I don't properly start my Xmas shopping until the first weekend in December - It's usually online shopping that I start, and this year ill only be going into the high street to get clothing gifts and confectionery.
So - I am on holiday next week and I am planning a trip to Norwich to make a dent in the shopping. I have a small amount of money saved and no ideas whatsoever as to what im buying for anyone. I am going with an open mind and I hope to see lots gifts that catch my eye.
I can't wait.
Edited to say - my boss leaves his shopping until about the 18th December and then orders online. He is hopping up and down when his gifts don't arrive to be placed under the tree and his blood pressures rises significantly. Take the mickey out of organised folk .... but at least my heart rate stays healthy.
People who take the micky out of organised ople come across as jealous because there so not so well organized imo
I know a few people who talk about leaving it all till xmas eve, like that makes them dead cool. :yawn: They only have about 3 presents to buy...
and will be shortly be buying some Chanel Bleu for the fella; smells so awesome!
So far I've managed to get all 10 childrens' presents in my family... now for the adults.
The trick now is not to succumb to the temptation of eating or drinking any as I have bought them so far in advance of Christmas!!!
go to pound land
Boxes and tubs of chocolate just need to get a few more presents for my parents and partner and food shopping
I'm completely lacking inspiration. No idea what to get my dad, my other aunts/uncles, or my cousins; and got a couple of ideas for my best friend but can't find anything quite right.
Wow - expensive pressies :eek:
I have now finished my shopping (apart from stocking fillers). I have bought:-
Dad - Some thick bed socks from Fat Face with grippers on the bottom. He suffers with cold feet.
A letter opener with a handmade glass handle
A new fun Christmas game to play on the day called 'Pass the Bomb'. It sounded like fun after a few drinkies.
Mum - Some socks as above
A small leather purse which she specifically asked for
A jigsaw puzzle as she is addicted.
Hubby - A watch he liked
A bottle of Smirnoff Black vodka
A head torch thingy for dog walking which he keeps mentioning
Aunt - Soap set
Dogs - various toys
Sister - 6 bottles of plonk
X Brother in Law - a vintage bottle of port
Neice - A lovely silver necklace
Nephew - An aftershave gift set
I haven't bought / written cards yet or wrapped anything. I might make a start this weekend as im at home alone.
Aha, no, I owe them for years of crappy birthday / Father's day / Mother's Day gifts. It's about snapping up deals on Red Letter Days, sites like Groupon... and of course, careful saving and cutbacks on my own cost-of-living expenses.
Not as costly as you might think, especially if you spread the cost out over several months. That includes possibly selling my car (which I don't need now that I'm at uni)