Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To NOT have done ANY Christmas shopping yet and I have 4 DCs??

40 replies

LastMinuteLouise · 20/12/2011 10:04

I am starting to feel irrationally worried and don't know why!

The DCs always find the presents before Christmas so this year I have decided not to get anything until the 22nd (DH's last day off before the Day so I can go on my own). I will get the food then as well. I know what they want and they will get it together with stocking fillers. I also have my mum and dad and a few nieces and nephews to buy for. The DCs are not getting expensive presents this year as most of the stuff they got last year (i.e. £50 each Toy Story figures, laptop and mobile phone) has already been broken.

We don't have a lot of money to spend so I will have £450 (together with £70 in Tesco and Sainsbury's vouchers) which is what I have calculated we can spare this month and I can spend that on all of it in one go. Surely it is better to do it this way rather than spending weeks panicking about it and buying loads of stuff that is unnecessary and in the end spending way too much?

I am actually looking forward to a day of retail therapy to myself!!

OP posts:
TheFidgetySheep · 20/12/2011 10:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GypsyMoth · 20/12/2011 10:06

Good luck...... That's if you can find anything still in stock!!

WorraLiberty · 20/12/2011 10:09

I went for a few bits yesterday and the shops were mostly sold out of everything I had in mind. It didn't bother me because the gifts were for adults, but if they had been things my kids were hoping for, I would have been a bit stressed.

Out of interest, why do your kids go snooping for hidden presents? Are they allowed in your bedroom without you or their Dad?

callmemrs · 20/12/2011 10:09

Personally I would have done some on Line shopping and timed it for delivery just before Christmas to avoid being discovered too early. I think the shops will be hellish on 22nd but if you don't mind that then yanbu.

Original poster
LastMinuteLouise · 20/12/2011 10:10

Well the only specific items the DCs have asked for are Wii games and the ones they want seem to be in stock in every shop I've been in but prices vary massively (£35 in one shop and £20 in another for the SAME game) so hopefully the cheaper ones will still be available!

OP posts:
WilsonFrickett · 20/12/2011 10:10

YANBU That's how I normally do it, although this year I took advantage of the Tesco voucher 2 for 1 thing for DS presents. Got everyone else's in a one-r last week as have work this week. As long as you can be flexible and DCs haven't got their hearts set on specific things you'll be fine. And the sales are on already so your money will go further, wish I could have waited till this week tbh. Also, the later I leave it the more Christmassy I feel... Have a great day!

tethersjinglebellend · 20/12/2011 10:11

I salute you.

Original poster
LastMinuteLouise · 20/12/2011 10:12

Yes, they are snoopers and will actively search the house!

OP posts:
AFuckingFestiveKnackeredWoman · 20/12/2011 10:12

If the kids snoop they lose a gift - a rule carried on from my own childhood
(i lost at least two a yearXmas Grin)

I do mine end of November, No panicking no overspending, There's alot of good deals on then too and i can then not worry about anything and have a stress free December

callmemrs · 20/12/2011 10:14

Yes- prices vary massively, but do check out on line, if they can deliver in time. Things like DVDs, wii games I found cheapest on line generally

usualsuspect · 20/12/2011 10:15

I always leave some shopping until the last minute .A lot of things get reduced this week

Miette · 20/12/2011 10:19

If it works for you and the kids are happy on Xmas day then it is fine. Personally I go with the spreadsheet of pressies in November and all done and dusted by now. I'd be panicking hugely in your situation. But if you aren't then no problem.

samandi · 20/12/2011 10:55

I would be furious if my kids snooped for Christmas presents. It would never have crossed my mind as a child, especially as it would ruin the excitement of opening them on Christmas Day.

Groovee · 20/12/2011 11:08

My friend has had to move everything to a friends garage as she caught her son snooping. My 2 can try but their presents were wrapped in November and placed into their bags and put in the attic Grin

OldGreyWassailTest · 20/12/2011 11:08

My son only snooped once, and carefully tore a small corner off to see what he had got. He was so upset on the day that he had no surprises that he didn't do it again.

Good luck with the shopping!

lljkk · 20/12/2011 11:19

I couldn't leave it all this late, the shops are already hellish & a lot of stuff might sell out (or has sold out already). I am too fussy to do it.

I was a rampant sneaky snooper, so are DC. I am amazed by kids who don't snoop!
It's funny because DD knows she has DS1's present in her room on back of high wardrobe shelf; she doesn't know that I've cunningly added a load of other stuff to that pile.

I prefer to get DC only one nice big present, if I withdrew a present for every incident of snooping, they'd all rapidly end up with NOTHING at all.
I am harsh... but not that harsh. Xmas Wink

WorraLiberty · 20/12/2011 11:21

You can always get a lockable cupboard if you can't manage to control your children's snooping.

Though personally, I'd take a present off of anyone I caught doing it.

lljkk · 20/12/2011 11:24

Lockable cupboard would be like red rag to a bull, no? Neon sign that meant "Your presents are you here!!"

Gosh, though, it's an idea. I wouldn't mind a Christmas present of 4 DC that don't fight any more. Might actually get DC to cooperate & stop trying to kill each other. The challenge of how to figure out the cupboard lock combination or sneak the key off me without getting caught.

lljkk · 20/12/2011 11:25

are in here.
Sorry, screaming DS on floor, sigh.

perceptionreality · 20/12/2011 11:29

It just depends what you are going to buy really doesn't it? I have had years where I rushed around on Christmas Eve and tbh it's no fun. Since I live in a town where there are hardly any decent toy shops I do most online anyway.

WorraLiberty · 20/12/2011 11:30

Yes but the fact it's locked will still mean they can't get into it...red rag or not.

BellaVita · 20/12/2011 11:31

I could never ever leave it this late. It would totally stress me out.

RainboweBrite · 20/12/2011 11:33

If you can cope with this, it's up to you.
I gave my very last card out and did the bulk of the food shop yesterday, 6 days before Christmas. I had everything wrapped by the 7th December, although I only started shopping in the last week or 10 days of November, so not too early.
Different strokes for different folks. Good luck!

ouryve · 20/12/2011 11:40

If you think you can carry it off without getting too stressed, then YANBU at all. I'm an early shopper, but good at hiding things. I don't have any handles on my wardrobe doors, for starters - makes them hard for little hands to open. Also have an overstairs storage cupboard in our room which usually has furniture up against the door, so that's a good hiding place. We have a bulky gift for DS2 which is in the garage (not accessible from the house) I'm sure in future years, we'll have to resort to the loft.

befuzzled · 20/12/2011 11:43

i also salute you! You may just have played a blinder though. My ds's each got a wii game that I bought from amazon a couple of weeks ago and one's birthday is between xmas and NY and he got a third for then - anl all 3 were slightly cheaper in GAME yesterday when I was out doing the foof shopping Xmas Angry. I think with recession, cut backs etc the shops seemed to have more stock thant they might otherwsie have. Tesco full of toys too. Good luck.

Swipe left for the next trending thread