To start buying Christmas presents now?

I buy when I see things! Whether it's January or June or September, if I see something that will be a perfect gift for someone, I buy it there and then. Spreads the cost, spreads the workload, I can arrive at December with everything bought, paid for and wrapped.

But this does work best if you aren't buying for children whose wants change on an almost daily basis. I am only buying for adults and very tiny babies, so it's easier for me.

I bought a box of Xmas cards, 8 rolls of wrapping paper and a box of Xmas crackers about a week after Xmas all for half price. I just put it back in Xmas cupboard for next Xmas. I bought a bottle of Boss Man Hugo Boss aftershave for 19 year old foster child I got with 40 percent off and popped into Xmas cupboard but I might give it to him on his birthday if he doesn't ask for anything specific. I put money into separate bank account to save for Xmas.

I know loads of people who start prepping for next Christmas in January, I usually start a bit later - May time. There are 2 main methods my friends and I use. I personally use a combination.

The first is to save money either in a separate account or in a box/jar/ envelope. Some people do £x a month. Some put leftover money at the end of the month into the account.

The other method is buy through the year - usually when something is on sale or a good deal. Or if you see something someone would really like. This works well for more generic gifts/ stocking presents and adult gifts. Not so much main children's presents, that's where having that saved money through the year comes in.

I also have friends who do the whole next year's Christmas shop in the January sales.

I personally do the save through the year and buy as you see. I put £10 a month away and then top up with the leftovers from the school holidays spend budget. This is where I have a budget for the school holidays so this Easter holiday I budgeted £100 for the holiday. This has to cover all days out, car parking charges, ice creams/ drinks/ food bought at venues. As it is we were unwell the first week of the Easter holidays so we spent 0 that week on outings. This week we have had a few days out (3 to places we have either an annual pass, a visit once come all year ticket to or free - museum) and then one paid for day out. In all I've spent £36 of my £100 budget. I will roll over £30 into next half terms budget and then put the rest towards Christmas saving. If I go somewhere and see something that I know someone on my gift list would like and it's on a good deal/ sale then I use that money to buy it and put it aside.

I do certain things….i always get a few bits in the boots sale for kids filler gifts, I saw a Man U onesie down to £10 for my youngest so I’ve grabbed that, got a lovely handbag in the white stuff sale for my step mum (she’s v hard to buy for), also I’ve just ordered some homeware on Oliver Bonas for people like dog walker/groomer who I can’t afford to spend lots on but they have some cute trinket boxes down to £7 so I’ll add some chocs to that

kids/teens main gifts I’ll hold off until much closer. Probs November time

The issue with vouchers are that a lot of companies will not honour them if they go bankrupt. You would probably be better to have a savings account.

I’ve already bought some and if I’m not sure then I put the money to one side to make it easier later in the year

Ha! I get a £200 M&S voucher too for fancy food! Great Minds!

Yes they’re great
I have some Mastercards and then some M&S vouchers for fancy food, but I was looking at the purple card this year you can change it round a bit on the app
historically I used the vouchers but you can’t use them online can you? And interestingly at the entertainer the take the love to shop cards but not the vouchers which was a pain!

If money is an issue then of course you are wise to budget. But if it were me I would save not buy. I can’t bear to think about Christmas with spring just here.

I start Christmas shopping in January. Always done and wrapped by October

They really are! I like the Mastercards because I can get bits of food with them too!

Would vouchers work as you go along.... provided they stay in date up to Christmas you could exchange them for gifts then.

I use park too they’re really good, been doing it for years!

Tastes change so much over the course of a year when they are tiny. I'd maybe look for a high yield small savings account and just put money aside.

I wouldn't do vouchers as if the shop goes bust you might be stuck and some have 6 months expiry. There is also the chance for them to go missing too.

Working out why you can't quite manage to save will help you more in the long run. There's a high chance of waste if you buy presents for children now as they may change in the coming months. If you must buy something, buy supermarket gift cards and keep them somewhere safe.

Just save some money each month. Why doesn't that work?

Buying now means people don't get to drop hints on what they would like and as you said the kids will grow and change so much. Who knows what they would like by then.
For me it's important that I give what people would like to receive rather than a box ticking exercise. Doing it this way doesn't take that into account. So I voted YABU.

@Needspaceforlego @Starlight40

This ⬆️ I do similar...👍🏼

Pick things up as you go, saving money has the risk of being needed for emergencies. Best advice for that is send yourself a message/diary reminder to start of December with lists of presents, full price not actual price you paid and most importantly where you hid them! Have a limit in mind and stick to it.

Why wouldn’t you just start saving for Christmas now? I save throughout the year so I have the funds available when I’m ready to think about it, I don’t want to be buying presents now!

My neighbours buys vouchers all year round, from Tesco, Xbox, smyths, and Primark. She also stocks up on all their little bits, hats winter accessories in sales, underwear and p.j's. Shes also brought a trampoline in sales. If she buys a big item she puts it in our garage. My kids are alot older but if I saw a bargain I would grab it

Absolutely not - I already have a couple of bits - in fact one of them I ordered before Christmas this year, with the thought of it being for eldest's birthday or Christmas this year.

It's only sensible to prepare through the year.

Then, a couple of months before Christmas or birthdays, I pull out what I have a and see where the gaps are.

This only works if you have children who won't go looking of course

With children, it’s a very bad idea as they change so quickly (still reeling from the year DD announced she hated Barbie in December after I already bought the bloody camper van in September 😂)
Adult gifts is a good idea I think, also possibly things like onesies or books you know for sure you’ll give them.

Instead of presents, can you start buying all the non-perishables? Wrapping paper, stocking presents, etc.

I wouldn't start buying now, kids have a habit of changing their minds about stuff.

I think I'd be tempted to open a seperate savings account with the bank and set up a Standing Order so money transfers every month.
I'd be vary of buying shop vouchers as it ties you to that shop and theirs always risk they go bust or the items you want are cheaper elsewhere