How do you organise Christmas shopping project in your household?

[PeanutButterOnly]

Here, for the DCs I am the one that tends to organise and agonise over the shopping for.the DCs. This is from wondering what to get, how much to spend, how and when to get the best prices and offers and making sure all 3 have been equally treated. Often I shop early abd sometimes change my mind which involves exchanging things etc. This is I am realising quite a bit of work. How does it work in your house?

[PeanutButterOnly]

I am thinking of leaving it more to dh this year, as he seems now to be annoyed that I am asking his approval for present ideas as early as 9 November. Maybe I am taking over the whole thing too much. Hmm...

[Sheeparefluffy]

I do the whole lot, but I LOVE doing the whole lot!! Even finished wrapping DCs stocking gifts today. Yay.

[PeanutButterOnly]

Thankd, I love it too. Maybe should just carry on and get it done!!

[BiddyPop]

DH and I talk it through, and then generally he has done the physical or virtual shopping in recent years to relieve boredom when he is working away from home.

But the offset to that, is that I have to sort everyone else, about 45 odd people (family, teachers, and the Xmas Eve hamper pjs for the 3 of us)!

I'd happily swop!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

OMG - I couldn't leave it to DH, if it all went Pete Tong then it would be a whole year until I could do Christmas again properly.

I do the food shopping (he doesn't drive)
I do "My Lists" and keep them on the fridge.
Meals for the 24/25/26 tend not to vary year to year.
I do a couple of big shops (all the heavy, non perishables first. Then chilled/ frozen. At the last minute a last shop for veg, milk, cream, bread)

Presents- usually online, QVC, M&S ordered online to store.

I order flowers/ table arrangements for the mums.
Teachers gifts (but both mine are in Secondary now so they don't do them)

DH thinks I'm a bit Control Freak - I say Organised

[hallowisitmeyourelookingfor]

I do all the shopping. DP works Mon-Sat, occasionally on Sundays too. He's a self employed plumber, always in demand in the winter months, especially on the run up to Christmas. I am a SAHM so have more time than him. Plus I enjoy it!
He takes the DDs out one weekend before Christmas to choose the tree and wreath and then they go out shopping for me. He does all his shopping in about 2 hours!
I start from around the beginning of November, and gradually get the stocking fillers until about Christmas eve. I have a weekend every year in November, next weekend this year, when I go with a friend to make a start on the bulk of the presents. (We also have a rather boozy lunch )
DP and I have big families, our list of people to buy for is about 50 , so I have job storing them. There's no way I could start earlier, I would be crying with all the stuff cluttering up our house!
It works for us, I am a good chooser. He generally doesn't know what we've bought anyone apart from our own DC until he sees me wrapping stuff up.
He doesn't like shopping, I do, so there's no worry that he might think i'm taking over!
Just carry on as you are, although maybe start buying a little later so you don't waste so much time exchanging presents!

[Pogosticks]

I do nearly all of it, I am better at shopping and bargain hunting and watch more kids telly so know what DC are on about. And I stick to budget. DH is far too generous! He does have power of veto over suggestions for his family though. Which is why his dad has never received a lump of coal

[wamabama]

I do all of it because I'm a control freak . Because I'm the SAHP and DH works long hours I'm the one to discover what their interests are and take note of it. I also have the luxury of browsing the web of an evening for ideas and to buy things.

I ask for his opinion on things like for example today I asked him which wreath he preferred and whether we should upgrade to an 8 foot tree this year . He does have an element of involvement, mainly in helping me decide or whether a present is worthwhile buying, but for the most part I take it upon myself.

In previous years I used all of the left over money after bills from October and November and just bought everything in sharp stabs. This year though I vowed to be more organised and started buying things in August. That way I've spread the cost a lot more efficiently and am almost finished. Also that way I could look out for the best deals, used voucher codes that were valid at the time and so on. Prices stay up after Halloween pretty much. I do almost all the shopping online so I give my postie work around this time of year . I don't create a budget, just a list of what's wanted and it costs what it costs.

With regards to practical things my DH is the man, I'm afraid we're quite traditional in that manner. I'm pigging useless at anything even remotely practical. So he puts the main bulk of the decorations up and I prettify it all. He's also the wrapper, I 'assist' him if you count swigging eggnog and putting the gift tags on as assisting, but am a useless wrapper so don't even go there. I do all of the baking and cooking because that's my passion.

[MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams]

I do it. It occupies a small bit of my mind throughout the whole year and that way if I see bits, I can get them, even if its still Spring. DDs birthday is a week before Christmas so I shop the year round.

Also, she is little enough that I can choose the main present. Therefore I knew last year that this year id be getting her a play kitchen, so.could keep my eyes open for a bargain.

I know.next year Im going to get her Playmobil, and am keeping an eye on ebay for stuff. Already have a big stock of people, now looking out for room sets. I wanted to ger her a dolls house next year too.and the one I like goes half price in toys r us midsummer so I can get that then.

Dh would go out the day before and spend all the.money then,.and would ring me to check if I think she would like x y z.

[BikeRunSki]

Amazon for presents
Tesco for food
They both deliver

[WantAnOrange]

I do it all, and I love it!

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I do most of it. To be fair I do enjoy it and am better at planning and budgeting than DH. I do get all of the parcels delivered to his work though so that they can be easily hidden

I buy most things online as it is easier. DH and I both work FT, so we can't shop when the DC are in school. Most of it is done online after they have gone to bed. Amazon is my friend...

Same goes for food shopping, I order online and Tesco delivers. The thought of trying to get round the supermarket a couple of days before Christmas with 3 DC in tow brings me out in a cold sweat.

I wrap all the DC's presents, although DS1 enjoys wrapping and will happily do family ones so I do get to delegate some. DH's attempts at wrapping are shit interesting.

[Thingymajigs]

I decide on the budget and who we are buying for each year since I'm better with money. This year we are only buying for the children because we've had an expensive house move and have a baby due in February.
I tend to organise the children's lists and search for the best deals/reserve items. DP buys half of the gifts and goes to pick them up when needed and we wrap them together usually a weekend before Christmas on a child free night.

[chanie44]

I do all the shopping.

I buy throughout the year, mainly for the children of the family and hunt out bargains.

I normally tell OH to ask his side what they want and then i will go and get it.

[cheesypastaplease]

We roughly decide together what to get dcs and we both keep an eye out for bargains. And then dh will go shopping by himself and buy far too many things for dcs that were not on the list!

I shop for the rest of the family, and do all the wrapping. I really enjoy it and hate when dh tries to "help", doesn't understand why presents need ribbon!

[bigTillyMint]

DH has never bought presents for anyone. However, I love shopping, so it isn't too much of a problem! And for 11 years I was working part-time so had more time. We don't have many to buy for either. Sometimes I get him to help wrap.

We do talk about what I think we should get and he generally agrees (sometimes eventually) and then I get them. Mainly online now, so not too much hassle.

I order all the food, etc online and he has to pack it away.

[Orangeanddemons]

I'm not sure we organise it. We do a joint huge shop on Amazon one night

[turkeyboots]

I do most of it in Oct. But only buy for DC and DHs niece and nephew. I do my parents (abroad) a calendar of the DC and just order extra for the in laws. Amazon and home delivery from Smyths all the way.

DH helps with gift ideas for DC but drives me mad with his over excitement and inability to made a decision. He loves toys more than the DC I think. His main gift related job is to get things for me from him and the DC.

Teachers get chocolate or something random DD picks from shop on way to school.

[RobinVanPrissy]

I do it all. Used to order most stuff online in Oct, then do my last bits in the shops week before Xmas to get the 'christmassy feeling'...but have slacked a bit the kast few years and tend to do it all in a combination of online and shops early Dec.

We dont go mad. My family dont do adult Xmas presents, so its just our kids and a few younger cousins, plus food and decs. Not too unmanageable.