Getting ready for Christmas. Has anyone started yet?

[shinyshoes]

Thanks to Parachutes Has anyone started getting things ready or thinking about it yet??

I have got my christmas chocolates in already. Roses and Quality Streets. I got them in Somerfield when they were half price. I'm not a lover of chocolate so I know they'll be safe until christmas. I have eaten the Wine gums though

The DSi console is being bought at the end of the month for DS1 but i've been picking things up like little toiletries ready to make my hampers.

[Ledodgy]

Shut up.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Yes, both DC's stockings are done and a fair few other presents for family as I got them in the January sale. I save each month so buy things as I go along.

[2sugarsandapuppy]

Are you mad, woman? Or just a superwoman? x

[notwavingjustironing]

I've put my tree up.

[sobloodystupid]

we are planning to start buying some drinks in for Xmas next month. The plan is to put them in the garage so we will have a nice stock to choose from. Anyone spot the flaw

[Mercy]

lol at notwaving!

[UnquietDad]

You. Have. Got. To. Be. KIDDING.

[shinyshoes]

I like to think i'm organised 2sugars .

Yay for Wynken. Do you find you buy more though by starting than if you started later? or is it a set budget.

[Fimbo]

I usually start buying a couple of gifts a month from August.

[midnightexpress]

What?????????????????????

I say again.

What??????????????????????

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

It's a set monthly budget. Worse still I have a spreadsheet and I know that I have spent £94.88 which is both their stockings, present from DD to DS and vice versa, my neighbour's present, 2 out of three presents for my friend's children and DS is having a skateboard which I got last year in the sale as long as he doesn't change his mind. I've then got some money stashed in a savings account to use as and when I find something appropriate. I think I spend less doing it this way.

[shinyshoes]

Ohh spreadsheet you are organised. I find I spend more picking up bits and peices than if i'd waited to do it later on in the year. But I love christmas and I need to be done by end of October for my own peice of mind.

Sadly DP dosen't share my enthusiasm for talking about christmas in July.

I am thinking of the christmas menu already and created a shortlist of starters and mains. I won't be having a turkey this year.

Every year I say i'll take the children to Austria or Canada or somewhere in a secluded log cabin where they'll wake up christmas morning 4 foot snow an reindeer under the window. A perfect christmas.

I have only a handful of people to buy for thankfully.

[Tortoise]

I have no idea what my DC will want for Christmas yet!
Well, DD1 wants a nintendo DS so i do need to think about finding a cheap one on Ebay.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Hmmmmmm I'm glad I'm not on your christmas list...a box of slightly fusty chocolates, my favourite

[MamaG]

I echo Ledodgy

Shut up.

[Fimbo]

I can think of nothing worse than battling round the shops in December. I also have a ds with a December birthday which is another nightmare.

[Wheelybug]

Heh ! Its my birthday today so we can't start thinking about christmas until...... tomorrow !

I did almost buy some presents in the white company sale but decided I couldn't bring myself to be that organised. But I should start soon given the amount of small children I have to buy for. My Grandmother died this year so that's one less present to buy but unforetunately 2 of my friends have had twins this year so I've still 3 more presents to buy this year than last and last year it was pretty ridiculous. I aim to offend some of my friends between now and christmas so we don't have to swap presents ().

[Buda]

OMG! How have we got a Christmas topic so early???? We had to beg and plead and threaten be nice for AGES last year!

And I love Christmas and being organised but even I thought I was bad this morning when I got an email from GLTC about their sale and I started thinking about Xmas!!!!

I have booked flights to Dublin as my sis has just announced she is expecting twins on 12 Jan! We were going to stay in Budapest this year but can't miss going home now. Will be needed for help/moral support and cuddles maybe. Very exciting!

[Buda]

Happy Birthday Wheelybug!

[Wheelybug]

Thanks Buda .

[Hassled]

My brussel sprouts are already on a gentle simmer.

[Colonelcupcake]

I have started thinking about getting the ingreidents for xmas pudd (I make it in August) and will start shopping soon we are saving to get the ds's a toy electric car as their main joint present

[ihavenosecrets]

We have a very large extended family so have to start our christmas gettogethers early otherwise we won't have time to see each other.

We had our first family gathering on 27th June, I cooked a full christmas dinner but we had it in the garden as the weather was so nice. Next weekend we are staying at my mothers along with lots of nieces and nephews. My mum will have stockings for the children, adults don't normally swop presents but my mum makes homemade crackers and usually puts adult gifts in those.

We have the decorations up but have had to make do with a fake tree because the christmas tree farm doesn't start selling real trees until October .

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Well we've already decided we are going to upset everyone and stay at home alone this year as I'll be working.

The tricky bit is telling the family

I don't intend to do anything else until September.