Christmas enthusiasts who start in July

[DianaT1969]

Was it worth it?

I see threads from July onwards from posters who adore Christmas and want to share their excitement and plans months in advance. It concerns me that they are (almost) wishing their life away for the sake of one day.
So if you are one of the MN Christmas enthusiasts, did 2019 live up to your expectations?

I started buying presents in August and was more or less done by September. Took all the stress out of present buying and wrapping loads all at once. Wrapped a few every couple of weeks.

I work for a charity as a Christmas coordinator. We start packing for Christmas in July to give out 6000 gifts and 350 food hampers. My volunteers are know as Elves and work with me from July, but they increase in number as Christmas sheets closer.
I need to be organised for work and for my own Christmas prep as we get so busy giving away and parties in December.

And yes, it's always worth it! My tree was up 10th November, and will stay up till 6th January. I love love love Christmas! I'm not wishing my life away, just making the most of my favourite time and being able to support thousands of families to have an amazing Christmas too!

I also got slightly frustrated at DH who decided on Christmas Eve to make mince pies with the children. This was off plan and mucked up the incredibly clean kitchen.

This is rather sad

I started later than July but I was able to organise and plan so things were taken care of. I'm not a fan of the day itself but I do love the festivities throughout December.

We've already decided that next year we're skipping the turkey etc and will just spend the time together enjoying ourselves.

This is rather sad

That’s what I thought. I’m sure the children loved it.

I am not an organised Christmas person, but after this year I think I’m going to try and become one. Wrapping gifts late at night on Christmas Eve when I was knackered and just wanted a glass of baileys and to go to bed was pretty shit.
Next year I aim to be done by the 1st December so I can actually enjoy all the Christmas activities, rather than stressing about when I’m going to find time to buy x, y and z a present.
The only thing I’ll leave later will be the DC’s main gifts as I need to know what they ask Santa for!

@ShirleyPhallus completely right and I didn't say anything and then after two minutes realised it was lovely
So my point for including as a con was I needed to go with flow more

Most people start planning the summer holiday months in advance so why not Christmas too?

What does 'starting' consist of - is it shopping? What other types of things can you do so far ahead?

I make pudding and cake in November if I'm organised enough, and have a look at what things might be happening in the local area for children, but that kind of stuff isn't even listed necessarily until October.

This thread is so depressing. I'm starting to suspect 'Christmas' is the only creative thing some people do.

Why do you suspect that TheSandman? I paint (quite well, I sell my work), I crochet, I knit. What relevance does that have to preparing for Christmas?

I look forward to Christmas very much from about July onwards, but I don’t overplan and I don’t put any unreasonable expectations on myself or others. We keep it very, very low-key. Good food and drink, and lots of chilling.

I don’t wish my life away, I’m very much present in my daily reality, but for me the nostalgia and anticipation are very much enjoyable, so I indulge myself.

It was definitely worth it. Christmas isn’t over yet, either! We'll keep up the festive cosiness until NYE, and our tree will stay up til twelfth night.

Biarritz, for me starting will involve planning and making lists. I always find in December I am making lists of who to buy for, cards to write etc. No reason I couldn’t do that earlier. Food shopping list, try to be more on top of school events (dates often sent out in September). That sort of thing.

I start early but I enjoy the prep and planning more than the actual day so it's really for my own benefit!

I love Christmas. I plan early. Santa's grotto booked in August, gift buying completed by mid November, lists and plans done etc.

December is too busy, between church and charity stuff, Carol singing in hospitals and sorting hampers for those who need them, plus Nativity prep, it's a busy period. We don't have much spare cash so buying early and being able to save allows me to have a bit set aside in case.

People plan for weddings, christenings, birthdays, summer holidays, festivals, concerts etc. Christmas is a special event, I like the excitement and preparing, same as I do for any other special event.

How can you buy presents from August onwards though? Surely by Christmas some people will have either bought the item themselves or decided they actually don't want it anymore?

The gifts I get tend to be stuff people wouldn't buy themselves. My Mam wouldn't buy a pair of earrings (for example) just because she fancies them with no purpose, and if she did, she wouldn't buy the same ones that I've bought her etc Same for my Dad and husband. My DS is only 3 so he gets what he gets. Everyone else is token gifts, box of chocolates or wine or whatever.

I saved money all year, put tree up in November, shop nov/early Dec. Wrapped as I bought- keeping a tally of what I've spent and wrapped. Easiest year ever this yr.

Only creative thing? @TheSandman

I'm a writer and gardener in my professional life. I paint, crochet, sew, sing, play several instruments, bake, cook and that's just for starters.

Just because you don't do something or clearly don't understand it, perhaps it's kinder not to denigrate it?

I go in cycles with this, I'll have a few years of starting early, being done by mid December, then I'll go into CBA to start till
mid December mode for a few years. Overall I think I prefer leaving it till December, I was wrapping until 9 on Christmas Eve but the DCs (teens) were helping and it was all good fun. Also, thanks I guess to those who do shop earlier/online, going shopping in December is no longer the ordeal it once was, I was able to drive straight in and park at the nearest major shopping centre last Saturday at 2, the shops weren't heaving, just pleasantly busy, ditto Sainsburys on Monday morning was OK.

The planning and thinking is the best part. Why else do people enjoy planning weddings and big holidays. Also, I’ve been that person still wrapping at 2am on Xmas eve - no fun in that at all!
Another bonus that I did not expect this year was I ended up in hospital for 6 days in December (fine now) and everything was done. That was one less thing to worry about.

I love planning Christmas throughout the year. I start buying little bits in the jan sales such as Christmas pyjamas for next year and when I see bits I will buy and save them. It means I'm not going to get myself into debt in December. Also my business is very busy over the Christmas period so I get very little time off to do planning/shopping. I book santa/day trips well in advance as they sell out as soon as they become available and I also know what days I can have off. I like to be organized so I can enjoy myself and not be rushing round.

My excuse reason: my DMum never "did" Christmas .
When I was under 10yo we had a tree (small, fake , one string of fairy lights , probably pretty run-of-the-mill) . Presents were in a pillowcase , diner was a chicken roast . All low key

Then she didn't even put the tree up. She'd foist off cooking to whoever would do it (either myself or a family friend who stayed for Christmas) .
She didn't shop (my Dad did it)
She'd say Oh I wish I could sleep until New Year when it was over and "My favourite day is Boxing Day when it's over^ , like she was rushed off her feet (when in fact she did bugger all and we all felt we didn't deserve any effort )

So when I got my own house I did the decorations , nice meals . (And my DMum and DDad loved coming for Christmas especially when I had the DC)

I used to book a day of A/L to watch QVC Christmas in July , it used to be brilliant , a lot of USA products . Then it got a bit shit , they just recycle tat from Clearance so I didn;t bother with it .

My DC are 17.6 and 20 now .
I make a Beauty Advent Calendar for DD (3rd year now) , I look for nice little usable gifts )no filler tat , all Cruelty Free) . I put it in a gift box with a ribbon and a number (1-24) each day . She can use the box for storage .
It;s part of her presents as it does cost a bit .
Takes a load of planning too

This year I;ve been unwell since October so very little shopping ( did some online) .
I do feel I've missed out - the shops, the planning, going out to places . I don't want that again really but I know my Christmases will change . DD will be off to University next year .

Each to their own.
I don;t mind the "Ive got everything bought and wrapped by November" but I feel they miss out .
But the panic "OMG it;s Christas Eve tomorrow and I haven't bought XYZ " .......well you;'ve known the date since ...well last Christmas so I don't give any headspace (or sympathy)
I've had a shit past couple of months but I haven't whinged (out loud) it wouldn't do any good !