when you go,who do you do the xmas shopping with?

[knittedbreast]

i always go alone, which takes the joy out of it. its just me making all the decisions and paying for it all. my dp hates shopping, xmas and spending money, oh yes and town and crowds etc...

i dont have many friends with children and my mum and i dont get on very well so it all falls to me.

do you shop alone? if not who with?

[girlywhirly]

I shop alone, mainly because there is very little to get in the way of presents, and it would be difficult to get things for DH if he was lurking close by! I also buy things in dribs and drabs as I see them, not in one go. It can be easier this way, if I go out with the intention of getting presents, I can never find what I want! I sometimes think it would be nice to go with someone, but then you have to consider what they need to buy and where, and if you have a more dominant friend they can monopolise the time. I see what you mean about friends without DC not wanting to trawl around childrens/toy shops.

DH likes the internet, goes on Amazon for books and hard to get CD's. We do provide each other with a detailed list of wishes, we don't have to buy everything on the list, but DH finds it really helpful to know what to get, in which store, for how much, what size/colour etc. Perhaps your DP would prefer online shopping, then at least he has to decide what to order!

I think that he should be responsible for deciding what to get his side of the family, so he could at least give you the info even if he doesn't come shopping with you himself. And give you the money.

He might not like Christmas, but it doesn't have to be excessive. I bet he'd be the first one to moan if he got no presents and dinner on the day! My DH never bothered with decorations when he was on his own, but he lets me do whatever I like in our home. And he really enjoys a good roast with a good bottle of wine on the day. He would never not get me presents.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Erm - it's June

[ChippyMinton]

It's almost exactly 6 months until Xmas!

[Chipotle]

Oh my God... Is this a new record for the earliest Christmas post?

I refuse to answer Christmas posts until November, so feel free to ask me again then OP!

[somersetmum]

We go as a whole family, normally the last Saturday in November and we have a great day out. Obviously, we don't get the dcs' gifts (I use the internet for those). Last year the dcs went ice skating at the shopping centre in the afternoon - it was fab. Then we finish it off with a meal out on the way home, courtesy :)

[somersetmum]

... courtesy of tesco clubcard deals :)

[Shinyshoes1]

I go by myself, i love browsing the shops in peace, taking my time, not listening to others tutting because they are bored/thirsty/hungry/need the toilet etc.

[Shinyshoes1]

Thread of the day goes to Knittedbreast for talking about my favourite time of year !!

[NHScutback]

Op, I do most of the shopping on my own, is a blessed relief, DH and DCs no help whatsoever and mum is a mean old woman who hates shopping. DH coughs up half though as is right and proper.

Those complaining about threads in June, do you really expect not to find christmas discussion in the christmas topic? It's open all year round for a reason ya know.

[jester68]

Presents wise- sometimes I shop alone, do it online or my partner will come with me. Me and my mum usually have a day of shopping as well with my 2 girls which is fun, but she is working a lot more hours this year so not sure if that will happen.

Food shopping- would rather do that on my own when OH can have the girls as one year did it with my eldest (before baby was born) and it was a nightmare. She was really good but shops were packed, people were shouting and swearing and she kept getting knocked with over filled trollies. She got quite frightened.

But I may do it like last year when from october/november time I started to pick up bits and pieces that could be stored in freezer/cupboards. Did not have to do a big xmas shop then lol

[Tinkerisdead]

I do all my shopping alone on the Internet. When dd was born in nov 2008 I started the shopping late aug early sept. By the time I was due I had sorted all Christmas stuff and sat doing Christmas jigsaws it was brill.

But my mum always asks me to come with her for hers and I hate it! She wonders round picking up fifty quits worth of tat and joke presents for my brother. Never a thought to what he'd actually like. Drives me crazy and if I question her she gives me the withering death stare. In fact the above mentioned pregnancy was a welcome get out clause!

[bellavita]

Like to do family bits on my own. DH would gladly come with me if I asked. The DS's presents we usually discuss and then he will order from the internet as he will look for the best deals.

[allthefires]

I go on my own and will be making a start earlier this year than normal for the full on shopping as Im expecting in Nov. Im normally wait until DS has had his birthday presents sorted (by Aug for Sept Birthday) but his year want to get ahead so may start in next couple of weeks.

We dont go crazy and I buy all year round for my presents box to spread the cost. Will be waiting til last Nov/Very early Dec for childrens main present unless I see a great deal on Lego!

Internet shopping is great and will be looking out for sales.

Cards wont be written early this year as dont know babys name.

We never go overboard on food so thats a non issue but I may stock up on treats in the coming months.

[oxocube]

knittedbreast

You have upset my day. ITS JUNE AND WAY TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS

[girlywhirly]

Also it's good to get ahead, especially as we could get snow again. That caused havoc for everyone who liked last minute shopping. DH wished he had got his Amazon order done a bit sooner, as it looked like it wouldn't get here before last Christmas! Funnily, he had just finished wrapping my presents (including some other things he had bought as consolation for the books etc not arriving) and it arrived so he had to start all over again.

I have made wrapping a bit easier for him and bought a whole load of assorted sized gift bags 'cos he can't wrap using paper to save his life. Also a bit more eco friendly because we can use them for each others' gifts until they get too tatty.

Oxo, my mum used to start in January buying reduced price wrapping and cards, and buy stuff all year!

[oxocube]

But today is the first day of summer. I can't possibly think of Christmas yet

[oxocube]

GW, my aunt does this too

[knittedbreast]

Becauseimworthit,Chipotle and Oxocube

One could ask what you are doing in the christmas threads if you dont want to hear about christmas in June!? ;)

Thank you shiney!

Well i start my chopping on july 6th when i am back from on holiday.

Im getting my son a sonic screwdriver, and my daughter a fluffy pet thing you feed or groom and a fairy outfit (2 for £15) in argos.

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

I go alone, I am impatient and walk very fast - I don't like shopping with other people. DS sometimes gets to come along if I am not going on a shop crawl, he likes shopping and we will then pop in a cafe or something afterward.

I buy throuhout the year though so never need to go out and get loads of stuff in one go.

I do the bulk of my xmas food shop a few weeks before by ordering a delivery online - then a week before I will go and buy milk, fruit, veg, etc.

[knittedbreast]

see for financial reasons i need to shop bit by bit each month over the year. but a part of me would love to do that massive last min shop just before xmas for the buzz of it, i do imagine this might be more of a romantic idea than the truth of it though. by the looks on parents faces when they return they look like they have been through hell!

[oxocube]

KB, it came up in active convos but point taken

Maybe I'm secretly jealous that I'm not organised enough to do this!! I did try, many years ago to start shopping early but I lost the presents I'd bought months earlier and my kids had changed their minds anyway about what they wanted so I ended up spending more rather than spreading the cost.

Enjoy

[knittedbreast]

active convos? must have missed me lol


it is hard, i wrap them (not yet) and then take photos of them round the tree, then rewarp them it goes on and one....

im actually quite embarassing at xmas

[bibbitybobbityhat]

I have come on to this thread soley to express my disapproval of discussing Christmas in June. Ok?

[Becaroooo]

Alone - Online whilst watching trashy TV and eating chocolate digestives