How far have you got with your Xmas shopping and arranging activities?

[Greenbutterlfy566]

How far have you got with Xmas shopping and arranging activities?

I’m not very far.

Absolutely nothing other than browse the Aldi Christmas Food booklet that arrived with the post

About half way through. I have to do it all, dh is happy to provide money but does no organising.
I still need to buy for my two adult dc, I’ve sorted out my 10 year old’s pressies. Waiting to get dh’s present on Black Friday. Also need to make up a food treats hamper for dsis and her kids.
Booked tickets to see Billionaire boy the weekend before Christmas.
Not thinking about the food yet.

I bought some wrapping paper. That's it. No presents bought, no nights out organised, nothing.

I don’t really do Christmas activities so nothing arranged there.

I have bought two onesies for my DDs . Online shopping will start in the next few days I think! I’m starting to get a bit scared it’s all creeping closer and I have nothing!

Nothing at all yet apart from ask the dc what they want. We'll order them on payday at the end of the month. After that I'll get the wrapping paper and then dh & I will go to Iceland and Tesco for the food about a week before Xmas. I don't think anything else needs sorting. I refuse to turn it into this big, expensive, stressful, buy everything for everyone extravaganza because that's not what it's about.

I know what I need to get present wise and I have a date to do my shopping (8th December) to pick up the bits I can’t get online.

I know when I need to book my food delivery and have a diary reminder.

I will soon turn on the fridge in the garage and start stockpiling the booze and stuff that I can buy in advance.

Tree is going up on 30 November because my lights are booked in to go up that day too (I’m not posh but the pitch of my roof is stupidly high so a guy comes and puts them up for me - he makes a mint on our estate).

I book activities the moment they are released after years of missing out.

Tentative start to Xmas shopping...

Meals out with social clubs are all booked.
Decorations for the tree are nearly sorted.
Not got too far with gift shopping, although have quite a few things for DC sorted.
Not at all organised with who is hosting, or where.

I made a list of presents this morning. Husband has taken delivery of the kids' main present so that's sorted.So I feel somewhat in control. I get paid next week so will order it all then. Have picked photos for the calendars we give the grandparents so need to get onto photobox and make those up this week.

Have t booked anything, panto is at the end of the month so could do with sorting that. Will order the turkey this week too.

Good idea about buying bits of groceries each week although I could munch my way through everything 🙄

DC1 birthday is mid November so I never do much before then.

I have a few gifts that I'd seen for DC but that's it. Oh and also their Xmas PJs

I would usually start making my lists about now but the whole family has been decimated by the awful virus doing the rounds and I can barely function.

Kids have several things going on at school (some us parents can attend - decorating classroom on early Dec, xmas play in Mid Dec). Other things are just for the kids. Y2 has an Xmas class trip to the zoo and younger DC is going to a pantomime.

I'll also book us in to Santa's grotto locally.

We have a few festive play dates planned too.

Both DP and I have massive families so we only do birthday gifts (and then its kids only!! I have 15 nieces and nephews ) so that eliminates a lot of stress and expense. I do a token chocolatey gift for them all.

We save our pound coins and silver coins all year, I count that up and bank it around 1st December and that is our Xmas tree / food / drink fund. Plus we have about £100 in Nectar points (I usually spend those on fizz and nice bits for in-laws and my folks, like a kind of hamper for their Xmas "gift that isnt a gift")

My DC birthdays fall either side of Xmas so we don't go mad for gifts.

We already have our stockings / xmas decs / wreaths / xmas sacks / room decorations / xmas jumpers & outfits.

I have loads of cards left over from previous years and have bagged them up (so this year I'll reuse 2016/17 cards I didn't get through then). Kids will make some cards for their grandparents nearer the time.

Ok, I know it’s my fault for starting the thread but I feel panicky now

Oh well, atleast it’s licked started me

Kicked!*

@Crunchymum it's the nectar double up at the moment if you wanted them to go a bit further.

So far, I've eaten three chocolate oranges and two packets of mint matchmakers, read two Christmas food magazines and the Boots, Foreman & Field and Cox & Cox catalogues.

I've written two lists (one on my phone, one in my Christmas planner).

And... actually bought a pair of slippers which I may or may not give to DH before Christmas.

Have booked to take teen DD to see The Nutcracker in London, with my best friend and her teen DD. Will go for supper after before catching last train home.

Have booked a last minute weekend away in a cottage near Chatsworth with my girlfriends so we can go to the Christmas market and see the house all trimmed up. It's magical.

We're hosting our annual drinks party + takeaway curry for close friends the Saturday before Christmas.

No need to think about food as we're going to my Aunt's for Xmas lunch, followed by Xmas tea at BIL's. Hurray.

Teen DD wants money for Xmas so that's easy, just need to pick up a few bits for her stocking. Getting her some Jack Wills undies, a hoodie, some smellies.

Does booking tickets to the new Star Wars count? other than that, I've done an M and S order for collection so Christmas Day is mostly sorted. Need to go to butcher to order meat for Christmas Eve, and we've got friends coming on the 27th so need to sort food for that.

Gifts for my family are sorted. DH is currently ignoring his side of the family in the hope I will cave and sort it for him (not happening!) and cards nearly all written, so feeling quite organised now that I've written it down!

We sorted Christmas week back in May...
We booked a holiday.

Presents- sort of know what we are getting DDs and each other. Have 2 sets of parents, one sibling and one niece to sort. Other brother,wife and niece live in China so it's a bank transfer for them to buy something for the niece. Plus Godchildren- 1/4 sorted already.
Started on stockings.

Santa train booked
Can't do any work stuff as DH is away with work (and it's his work functions)

Need to book hotel near my parents for between Christmas and New year.

I've made my Christmas cake. That is it. And I'm going to my dad's for Christmas so don't have to think too much about food, or at least, not in isolation, there will be plans made between family members nearer the day.

No presents bought yet though. I have 4 adult children, dh, and various family members to buy for. No idea about any of it. Should I panic?

I have bought a few things I have spotted in charity shops or EBay for the children. I have paid for work Christmas lunch. I have also pencilled in a couple of Christmas activities for the children.

We'll make some Christmas salt dough decorations in the next week or so, just so the children can give them as presents to people they know.

I'm done😀 Gifts bought and wrapped.
Gig booked 21st. Theatre booked 23rd. Restaurants booked Xmas Eve and Day so no big food shop to do. New years eve going away . Wine bought on double Nectar points.
Bring it on.

Food shop ordered for 23rd
Advent calendars in the cupboard
A selection of chocs & snacks hidden
New wreath & some more tree decs
Stockings finished
3dc finished except the eldest twos main presents

Need to do
Wrap presents
Clean house & declutter
Buy chocolate for stockings
Buy for DM & PIL
Put up decs - after the big clean!
Slowly eat the stash of chocs & snacks in the evenings & pretend I didn't buy any before the food delivery

Presents - lots brought, wrapping to be done.

Advent calendars ready to be given out.

Out for Christmas lunch, buy nibbles for xmas evening.

Social calendar fully booked from 23rd November to 21st Dec.

Christmas day lunch out, xmas eve buffet stored in freezer.

Boxing day - unsure of arrangements.

27th Dec - 31st Dec will be spent decorating at home.

Happy days 😁

I'm not going all out this year.

But I have bought my sister:

1. A tiny potted Christmas tree from bloom & wild.

If anyone else wants a code you get £10 off your first order and so do I.

mention-me.com/m/ol/po5of-sophy-rafiq

1. A cheapy advent calendar from Tesco.

3.A £20 starbucks gift card.

4.Tickets to see Paddington on ice at Winter wonderland!

The thing is if you plan in advance, and start putting Aside funds every month, then you can buy things in sales, you get your choice of dates, and front row seats. Also you don’t have to panic in december you just get to enjoy it all knowing everything is sorted and paid for.

I have a list of every present I need to buy, I have already bought a handful of them.

Parties are all on the calendar.

Food shops are booked, although the only thing in my basket is vodka.