to not really start thinking about Christmas or discussing Christmas or planning for Christmas

[Mintyy]

or buying things for Christmas or giving fucking Christmas any headspace until 1st December?

Well, am I??

YABGrosslyU.
Get a grip and get planning!

If your budget and lifestyle allows for such frivolity then nope not at all

Links arms with Mintyy

No and I am 100% with you!! I will not spend a quarter of the year planning for one day!

Yes. Scrooge.

I'm planning now, but I'm hoping to make some of my gifts. If you don't need to plan early, don't.

I am sorry and I know some of you are going to hate me, but I really truly don't understand this budget argument. If (like most of us) you need to spread the cost of Christmas, then why not save for it, or put it on a 0% credit card?

What is it about being on a budget that means you have to start discussing seating plans and colour themes and who goes where to what and when and whether to have frozen yorkshire puds or make your own and where to get Christmas Eve pyjamas three months in advance?

Scrooge! Scrooge! She hasn't said she isn't going to celebrate christmas, just not yet.

She is going to enjoy Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night and the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Kicking through the autumn leaves and enjoying the bright sharp mornings.

OK?

YABU. Surely you want to at least to decide where you're going to spend Christmas day by November? If you have a lot of presents to buy, 1 December is quite late to start, unless you're super organised and know exactly what you're buying everybody and know where to buy it from. And if you're the super organised type, you won't want to leave it until December to start buying presents!

Also, some people find it helpful to spread the cost. Yes, I know they could be sensible and save a certain amount every month, but however much Martyn Lewis tells us we should be doing that, I bet not many actually do.

Having said all of that, I have 2 young DCs and rarely start my shopping until 15 December . I'm just glad everybody else doesn't do what I do, or there'd be carnage in the shops and nothing would get delivered in time.

And yes, I do realise my post is completely contradictory, thank you very much.

YANBU in essence. BUT over the years I think I understand why people buy gifts throughout the year, and get excited about now. Christmas is expensive and can be stressful.

I ADORE Christmas and am the same as you... December is always a manic, stressful month for me, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Other people prefer to spread that stress, that's okay too.

I AM getting excited. I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

Luckily I have the distractions of my boys' birthdays (just gone) and now am looking forward to Halloween, and Bonfire night (if there's a celebration I'lll make it mine) before then, as well as my friends' various religious festivals which I rather like to acknowledge too.... distractions. By Dec 1st I'm ready for the month long celebration that is MY Christmas... others might say IABU.

Out of fairness to everyone. YABU

YABU I've already planned my lazy PJ chocolate fest that is Christmas day. If anyone fucking invites me over for lunch, I'll be furious.

I hate Christmas and never even put up decorations until about a few days before. It's all blocks to part you with your money, the true spirit of Christmas is long gone.

In all seriousness when my family was smaller it was all done a week or so before Christmas, but I find December is now filled with parties, plays, special events etc so I try to get it out the way as December is so busy. There is also a better range of stuff available in October/ November. ( ie cheap primark Xmas pjs).

I've been enjoying the run-up so much more since I've got better organised for xmas.
Xmassy activities, socialising etc are better than chasing up parcel force or trying to park in town a couple of weeks before.

I love Christmas too - in its rightful place and in perspective.

In my family we start talking about Christmas in about August! We love it. However, we've learned to keep that within the family as other people do think it's weird

maybe - if you have the funds to buy it all from Decembers wages alone

I have 2 birthdays before Christmas - dd1 - Oct and dd3 - Dec - so unless I start buying early I have bugger all money

I have actually got everything except stocking fillers!

I try and not think about it until at least after Halloween but I can't help peeking at the mumsnet threads in the christmas bit which inturn gets me all excited and I start planning it in my head . What a saddo, I know, but it is fun to think about it.

Smug mum at school announced today that she's done all hef Christmas shopping. I pissed on her parade.

YANBU in principle, but:

A) I have a major event coming up at the end of Nov and need to get it all sorted before then

B) all the best toy deals are on NOW!

3. I have no life

I'm pregnant with baby 2, due 8th December...got a DS who recently turned 2, he knows about Santa and it's got me excited about Christmas thinking about making it special for him. Am I looking forward to Christmas....yep...have Indone my Christmas shopping.....yes! Because my DH won't do it and in a week or two's time I will be two knackered. I've even made some of the trimmings and put in the freezer...and today ordered some M&S bits as I doubt I'll be up to making everything from scratch this year.

YABU, some of us need to plan ahead...and so what if some are doing so just out of a sense of nostalgia?