To have left it this late to start my Christmas shopping?

[ValerieDavis]

So everybody I have spoken to is fully organised for Christmas. Presents bought, wrapped and parts of the dinner cooked then frozen for the big day.

I haven't started anything yet! Not even my Christmas cards.

Please tell me I'm not the only unprepared one?

YANBU I haven't either. And you know what - I don't care! I'll worry in December.

I loathe shopping in December...the crowds, the jostling, the bad tempers...ugh.
Well, I hate shopping full stop. Shopping to me is a chore.
I love Xmas btw, the cheesy music, the food, the decs...all of it, but I like to relax in December not start shopping!
If I had to wrap gifts on Xmas eve I would cry. Actually cry. Xmas eve for me is for being with the kids, crib service, midnight mass and trashy tv. Marvellous.
Got the Michael buble Xmas cd ready and waiting for dec 1st :)

31 days......:)

Have been thinking about this thread overnight (yes I am that sad!)
I think one of the reasons I like to get as much done as possible before the day is the memories of my mum running herself ragged in the few days up to Xmas.
She has never liked Xmas for that reason :(
We live in a village' had no car and 30/35 years ago everything closed for a week over Xmas. She would sit with her lists and try and figure out how much milk we would get through, what to have for Xmas lunch, presents etc.
She always had to wait until the last payday too which made it harder for her.
I vividly remember the great mince pie debacle of 85 :( we dint even like mince pies and yet she had a mini breakdown because the ones she orders didn't arrive...
So, yes, for me it's important to get s much done as I can so I can relax a bit in December.
However you do it, I hope you all have a lovey and stressfree Xmas!

I'm almost finished with gifts, i'm still wrapping thm but started buying thm back in august!
I also find december manic, christmas plays, party season, making wreaths, garlands, food.....

I'm an organised person. :-)

Oh yes the cleaning too, i like my house deep cleaned in december....

I find it interesting that some people think that those who have already started Christmas shopping have nothing else to do!

It is precisely because am so busy that I have done so much of it already. I work full-time flexible hours, study part-time, 2 young DCs. Have a diary to manage at work which sometimes makes me want to hibernate, multiple deadlines, etc. An exam last week. If I don't want a nervous breakdown by Christmas Eve then it has to be spread over a couple of months.

Haven't even decided where we're having Christmas dinner yet, or written a card. The only thing I'm panicking about is overseas deliveries, but the family I need to send to might be away anyhow..

I will make a start when more than 50 percent of this house is not full of lurgy.

I hate shopping, but do love shopping for presents for others-when i know what to get!

I havn't started yet my teens even said what they want yet not that im paniking or anything we always do it in december I forget what ive bought and lose them if i do it before, I am not in a tizz yet it is still november people sometimes like to spread the cost or are really organised it is fine, I quite like the christmas rush in december we do all the kids over a few days DH takes days off work and we do it then

Maryz...hooray! That means you are old too a similar age to me! :) I don't get all the angst over Xmas these days...aside from the cost obv.
These days some corner shops are even open on Xmas day!
And yet...you still see the stressed out shoppers on Xmas eve buying 3 Weeks supply of milk and bread...don't understand it.
Unless they know something we don't and the apocalypse is nigh?....

Violet...I am starting some deep cleaning today...the sunshine always makes me feel more like cleaning for some reason (begins to think she may be deeply odd)

I refuse to do anything towards Christmas until the end of the first week of December. I like keeping it within a short time frame to keep it a bit special and exciting.

I have a friend who starts buying presents in September but she has to budget tightly. I know someone else who buys next year's presents, wrapping paper and cards in the January sales. I think that's freakish.

I've bought one advent calendar and a DVD.

I find it hard to get in the mood unless the tree is up and the decs. I can't imagine wrapping Christmas presents at the beginning of November. It makes it seem like any other time of year.

Christmas should be in DECEMBER. It should begin on the first. That will be my law when i am in charge 3)

A CHRISTMAS FRIDGE

I have been on forbidden planet website this morning and ordered some bits for them only because dd2 ordered her friends birthday present and it took 2 weeks to come ,

I have to start early - my list of people to buy for is in the 40's and that doesn't include my DC or DP!! Saying that, I haven't really started, just bought a few stocking bits. Need to get my arse in gear as also have 7 birthdays between now and Xmas day, but can't find the motivation. Oh well, might just write to Santa myself.

I would like a Christmas Fridge . It could be filled with wine and champagne and my special Rose and Violet creams.

I have to confess, as a result of this thread I have ordered a couple of things for DD from Amazon and spoken to the designer about the business Christmas cards. I feel quite exhausted.

Everlong I presume we are referring to the Cheadle JL?

I have a Christmas fridge!!

It's in the caravan

I have just been to order my dd's main present this mornign but have barely done anything else yet. We will all be fine by christmas I am sure.

I've figured out why I can't be arsed to start - it's because I find it stressful trying to find places to hide stuff, whereas at least when the decs are up and the tree is up (admittedly not until the week before Xmas here ) I can just wrap stuff and put it straight under the tree, rather than have to wrap it, hide it, remember where you've hidden everything, get it all back out again and put it under the tree. It's a lot of faffing.

It all makes sense now to me anyway