If you don't yet know what you are doing at Christmas, why not?

[Nextphonewontbesamsung]

If you haven't planned everyone's presents (never mind buying them).
The menu.
Who goes where and when.
What you are wearing.
What you are going to be doing on Christmas Eve.
And everything else ...

Why not? what is the reason for this?

I haven't given Christmas even a passing thought. It's only Mumsnet and the giant stacks of chocolate tubs blocking my way at the entrance to the supermarket that makes the word Christmas come into my head at this time of year.

I might pay attention to it in the last week of November when I buy my kids an advent calendar. Then first 3 weeks of December is fair game to get Christmassy.

Things is, to me this is normal. It isn't being disorganised or stressed or leaving it to the last minute. 3 weeks seems to be about the right amount of time to devote to doing Christmas. And I speak as the one who has mainly been the host for the past 20 years.

But am I unusual? Where are you my fellow people who are a bit more relaxed about Christmas?

Nope I haven’t. Too early for me. Half the household have still got their birthdays to come!

My work has a double discount event this week so I've done a fair bit of my Christmas shopping but normally I wouldn't start anhthing Christmas related until December.

Haven't made any solid plans for the day, haven't bought a tree, haven't planned anything Christmasay and hoping we don't end up having a night out.

I enjoy Christmas day with my family but otherwise I can't be arsed with the hype.

It’s only October!

I know where I’ll go for xmas, but that’s just what we do every year. Do people really plan what to wear?

The only thing I know is the flight times that allow us to escape the whole thing.

I have started on the presents - but this is quite usual as I pick bits and bobs as I go along.

Actual Christmas Day I'm not thinking about plans yet, it depends pretty much on MIL's health.

But if we were staying home, no. None of us would know what day we were doing Xmas, where or anything else until at least December, unless Xmas was being held in November.

We don’t buy presents and as for planning food and outfits, who has the energy for that shit now?!

Seeing as my shift pattern has just been altered so I'm working from the 23rd to the 31st , I'm still trying to work out when to have Xmas dinner .

I would like to join in, I don't know where we'll be this year, as I'm sort of hoping if we stay quiet, we'll get away with a 'just us' year again this year (it happened by accident last year as everyone in both sets of family ended up elsewhere and was lovely!).

But that said, the Ocado Christmas week slots came out last week and I nabbed one as I've discovered it's fabulous when Christmas comes in a van rather than having to do the big shop. (But I just put a turkey and 3 bottles of champagne in it, so won't think about it again until around 18th December.)

And then I was looking on a website the other day at some lovely casual dresses, there was one that was a plum colour, but I just couldn't justify the price. Then I thought, if it was a "Christmas Day dress" then I could argue that I need it, (particularly if we're seeing everyone this year), and actually I'm just being jolly organised to buy it now... then I know I'll go buy something else in December that I end up wearing on Christmas Day

I have 9 family birthdays between now and Christmas Eve, it's still 10 weeks away and quite frankly I can't be bothered to even begin thinking about it for at least another 6 weeks.
Personally I would love to go away somewhere and come back after New Year; I don't like that time of year at all, over-rated, over expensive and never lives up to expectations.
Bah humbug!

I adore the run up to Christmas. Some things need to be booked now (local panto at the weekend) other stuff will be organised at half term (because DH is a teacher so can’t be doing with it in term). I love the bargain thread here and it saves me a surprising amount. We know we’ll just be us. So we’re a bit organised but far from all done.

I can't think beyond my trip to New York for thanksgiving! I'm sure the beautiful decorations in New York City will put me in a Christmassy mood,
I generally split the present buying between November and December ( purely to spread the cost)
Actually to see all the Xmas stuff in the shops has depressed me somewhat, there are several people that would normally be at mine over Christmas who are no longer with us and I want to change/alter the way I do Xmas day to make it different to what it was when they were there.

Not even thought about it really. My kids are grown early 20s and will not be here. I may or may not be working no rota yet but as l had last year off I'm guessing I'm working
No presents to buy. Money for nephews and my family don't do adult presents.
Food wise we will have roast one day over Christmas and stock up on chocs cheese and wine in December.
I do understand you have to be organised when you have young kids but am happy those days gone for me

I am an early December birthday, I don't plan much before then. My kids change there minds so until they have written to Santa I don't shop. I also don't like the Christmas period as it brings all the complex family dynamics to a head.

I don't know what I'm doing next week let alone in two months time!

Far too early for me to even think about christmas - December is soon enough for me.

@SimonJT - no outfit planning from me. I decide when I get up on Christmas Day. We’re not into getting dressed up at Christmas - more the opposite so I’ll probably wear jeans.

pink sending you support. Sorry you’re going through that. I’m escaping abroad as can’t really bear Christmas without my ma around. Good luck. Even small things can make it special.

We do the same thing every year - see my parents for dinner on the Saturday before, see FIL on Christmas Eve and then spend the day itself just us two and the dog.

However we are currently renovating our first (owned) home and are planning to move in next month. I’m really looking forward to putting the tree up and spending some chilled out time in our shiny new house

I learnt a few years ago getting all giddy too early for Christmas by the time Christmas came around it was a anti climax. I am organised in that I'll save up and if I see anything on my travels I'll buy .
But I don't make any plans till much nearer and I feel quite relaxed about it .
I remember years ago a colleague said to me 6 weeks prior to Christmas was most shocked that I hadn't bought any Christmas presents . She was like it's 6 weeks to go . I felt like I'd failed at parenthood because I hadn't done my Christmas shopping 2 months before Christmas . I got over that and I'm much happier now . The ones who want to buy everything for Christmas by September good for you but keep it to yourself,

It's DHs birthday, my birthday and DSs birthday in late November/December obviously followed by Christmas. I buy all DSs presents for both bday and Christmas in September. October is for DH and November is for everyone else (only buy for parents and siblings outside of us). This is the only way we can afford it all!
I have planned Xmas day in as much as who is visiting when and what time we'll eat...but when I say 'plan' I mean, well do the exact same as the last few years. It's a bit more tricky as my DB and his wife have separated and my DGM died and my DGD doesn't want to celebrate without her so is refusing to do anything so my DM won't leave him either but really wants to see DS. Well probably have everyone up in the morning to help.

I also find I can enjoy the whole of December more if I don't have to worry about organising Christmas day. If it's all sorted before December then December can be a lot more free and spontaneous.

The only thing I've planned is what puddings I want (and don't want). Not sure who I'll be eating them with or where, but I'm practising the baking already. Priorities, right?

I enjoy planning things for the family. So I've done a fair bit of thinking about Christmas, and I've bought some presents when they've been on offer.

I don't think there's anything wrong with planning early or doing things later in the year. What I do brings me pleasure and doesn't hurt anyone else.

The only thing I know about Christmas this year is that WE’RE NOT DOING CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.
DH tries to sneak in things he enjoys like: “Oh, but we will be having mince pies, and Roses, and nuts, and cake, right?”
Errr, no. Because that would be Christmas.
DS has volunteered for ER on Christmas Eve and DD will be in the U.K. late November for as much Christmas spirit as she likes.
So I’m thinking a 3-day spa would be a good choice!

Thank you Heron

We know we will be on holiday for actual Christmas. I'm noting down things the children say they would like. I picked up a couple of sticking presents in Aldi.
Proper planning... Late November, in time for black Friday in case anything comes up then.

Slacker mum here. I am having Christmas at home and it will be perfectly fine with pretty much the same routine it's been for the last 20 years (minus XH) so minimal effort.
Getting divorced reduced the number of cards and presents massively which was a result.
Grown up DC will get cash and a stocking of treats. Small DD wants an Elf on the shelf which I am resisting as sounds like a PITA.
People who moan and flap about how much they have to do get on my nerves. If you don't want to do it, don't do it.