to think anyone contributing to a Christmas thread in July needs to find a life?

[MardyBra]

They're popping up already.

Instead of planning Christmas now, go out and enjoy the summer.

I need to hide the Christmas topic until December, don't I?

[PeanutButterMmm]

I have never started christmas shopping before september is out and rarely ever pay full rrp for anything related to christmas or presents. Nowadays everywhere has offers and sales as well as online being cheaper. In fact I have bought things in november in a sale only to find it cheaper still in december. Some things are worth waiting to buy later as these days shops are so keen to get custom away from online they discount things heavily in november and december.

[PeanutButterMmm]

Just because someone doesn't do their christmas shopping in july doesn't mean they leave it until december so I do not get it when people are saying "i have to start now because december is too busy"

I don't start mine now nor do I leave it until december. It is always either black or white on mn.

[differentnameforthis]

Perhaps it is you that needs to get a life, op? Surely people can comment on what they like & if you don't like it or it offends you, don't join in.

We have something called Christmas in July here in Australia. People celebrate Christmas at this time of year because it is cold & darker as it is winter, which is when Christmas traditionally is. Not ion the baking 40 degree heat of our summer Decembers. I know a couple of families who do it, some places even do fake snow, and restaurants do Christmas in July dining specials. And yes, they go all out, tree, decs etc.

I don't do it. But equally, I don't get offended by it either.

[50shadesofknackered]

I love talking about and planning christmas so I love the christmas threads. Why do you care? This is the only christmas thread I have seen outside of the christmas topic and its started by someone that thinks that the people talking about christmas in July need to get a life I wouldn't talk about christmas in Chat or AIBU because I know that lots of people aren't interested. Maybe you should stop wasting your life by reading threads that are of no interest to you!
(Wow! You can tell I love Christmas, I used the word about 10 times in one post)

[Capitola]

I love Christmas but in my life, all talk, preparation and thinking of it is banned until 1 December.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

For me, buying early doesn't mean buying lots, it means buying well. Each present I buy is well thought out and usually but not always bought whilst on offer. When I have left it until December I have panic-bought a lot of crap. Buying early works for me.

I like spending December doing fun festive things rather than trawling around the shops.

[jenniferalisonphillipasue]

Yabu

I have 4 dc's under 8 and a large family. They all get nice gifts rather than tat as I buy them in the sales. They would have tat if it was left until December. The whole build up to Christmas in December is manic with children (school plays, carols etc) that if I wasn't organised now it would be very stressful.

Hide the thread if your not interested.

[fuzzpig]

Buying in advance doesn't necessarily mean huge piles of presents. For me, it gets the present bit out of the way and I can choose something really ideal (I tend to panic and overbuy if I'm surrounded by huge stressed out crowds, due to above mentioned social anxiety), so December is left for crafty stuff, decorating, watching movies and cooking.

I totally agree there is too much pressure on people to be perfect at Xmas, I used to really feel this. Xmas was awful as a child and I always dreaded it, so I wanted to make it better for my DCs. I am a lot happier since realising that it doesn't have to be perfect to be a happy Xmas. :)

[AwwCrumpets]

Last year I had my dd Xmas all bought in September at little cost and bought little bits for relatives.
I regretted getting my dd so much so this year iv picked four things that I know she will play with like arts and crafts materials which is mega cheap on eBay and I could actually make a crafts hampers for my nieces and nephews so win win as there's 4 of them and I don't know their tastes.

All four things I will be looking on eBay for as she is still so young she won't know the difference if its 2nd hand or not,as long as its boxed/wrapped and good as new.
I picked up a elc cash register for £2 out charity shop it works and I know she will love it just for the microphone on it.

I started planning last week but I'm really only buying for children this year and won't be having Xmas dinner at my house.

[Arisbottle]

I am not bah humbug about Christmas, although I am not particularly religious it is one of my favourite times of the year. We decorate the house and the garden, I judge a decorating competition in the village that we live in, we tend to have a house full and I start cooking in September - although I spend a lot of time in the kitchen all year anyway.

I just don't understand the piles of presents that need buying months in advance.

[BiddyPop]

DD wants to do a specific trip that she has done twice before but it is extrememly popular and I missed booking the tickets last year (I ration it to every second year - but when I looked for tickets in August they had sold out in July). So this year, I am looking out for the day they go on sale so I don't miss them again. It's not that expensive, but just special and magical, and DH and I enjoyed it too.

So things like that NEED to be planned in advance.

And then there are all the other things I want to have organised - it's as much about having a plan in my head and knowing about organisations to be in touch with, what their deadlines are, what their requirements are and so on.

Having a list of different activities to keep DD busy during the month (which is very busy workwise as it happens, I have some small relief over the summer). Things that are important to do - like cleaning out old broken toys, making sure we have nice clothes to wear for different occasions (not just tracksuits which she'd live in!), and giving her some time and space and the materials to make cards for her cousins and granparents. Making sure i know where there are carol services and when. And what other things we can do in the spirit of Christmas, the birth of Christ, as well as just family fun things.

All of these things take planning. Quite apart from shopping for the multitudes (large family on both sides), making sure I have things packed for travelling or have rooms ready for guests (or both!), and keeping on top of the housework (as I said, it's a very busy time at work) and having fun things for when DH is at home (he spends a lot of time travelling so I need to schedule some things for his time here).

And at the same time, I want to make sure that, despite the chaos of the Christmas season (work, festivities, organisation etc), that there is some space in there for ME - to unwind, relax and enjoy the season too. Family issues can cause plenty of traumas (it's a big one with some members being very well able to be particularly hurtful and prevent anyone else from enjoying anything fun), and I need to make sure I have time to retreat from it all. I need to make sure that we have things to keep DD occupied and also that we have a plan for everything we do and ways to leave if we are having problems (DD has aspergers and ADHD so can get very overwhelmed even at things that she is really looking forward to), and make sure I am choosing things that will be less troublesome in terms of her sensitivities to noise and light, or that we have breaks built into events so that she can go to and enjoy some of the things that most other kids would enjoy.

So if I need to work around all of those issues, perhaps you can understand why early planning is needed. Quite apart from budgeting (and while I am lucky to afford a reasonable Christmas for all, I am not made of money and need to get good value - as well as trying to get something that is meaningful for the recipient) and purchasing aspects.

But luckily, there is a great bunch of like-minded people on the Christmas board who think about similar issues. Away from the main traffic and not imposing themselves on everyone else who is not yet ready for it. While at the same time, trying to live with the spirit of Christmas in their hearts all year round.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I think the over commercialisation of Christmas and the pressure to have a perfect day does impact others.

Agree Arisbottle. I hate this about Christmas too. But I'm a total bah humbug anyway.

[fuzzpig]

I normally wrap throughout December (I don't do it earlier anymore as I found it got rather the worse for wear after being in the cupboard so long) but like to have it done before Xmas eve. Last year DH and I spent that night building the playmobil (has to be last minute as nowhere to hide it when built) and arranging all the figures round it, while drinking baileys and watching Wite Christmas, it was fab!

[Dillydollydaydream]

I can't entertain Christmas until at least September but that's mainly because my 3dc birthdays are july/aug/aug so have lots of expenditure then with birthday presents, parties and uniforms. When they're all out of the way then it's Christmas planning.

[fuzzpig]

I don't like shopping in December either - social anxiety doesn't mix well with a crowded mall!

[Arisbottle]

Even if you shop on Christmas Eve the shops close at 4pm. I have more children than most and I like wrapping presents so go over board but even I only take about an hour to wrap my gifts.

[trixymalixy]

Same here Murtette. I can't bear being up late on Xmas eve frantically wrapping presents like we did one year. Never again! I like to have it done in advance and have a nice relaxed Xmas eve.

[Murtette]

If I do the bulk of my buying over the course of the next few months, I have the pleasure of spending Christmas weekends doing lovely Christmassy things with the DC or friends & spending my evenings cooking & baking rather than having to elbow my way around shops in a panic trying to find something, anything that X person may like and getting caught up in the general Christmas frenzy. I find I feel sucked into the commercialisation of Christmas if I start to think about it now.

[jeanmiguelfangio]

I have nearly finished my Christmas shopping, I have to budget so I tend to get most of it in the summer sales. People don't know any different and it means I can afford meaningful gifts that people love. I also buy my brother sheet music in charity shops so you have to look all year for that. I also buy a new board game every year in a charity shop for a bit of fun, can't really afford a brand new one

[marriedinwhiteisback]

35 degrees here, on the terrace, glass of wine. Loving this thread - remembers the few bits I bought reduced by 80% for dd's stocking on about 27th Dec last year!! Makes note to order xmas cards when we get home and check date of carol concert with vic because I always do the mulled wine and mince pies afterwards :)

[trixymalixy]

I'm not buying £2 bits of tat. I'm buying quality stuff when I see it on offer e.g. Melissa and doug wooden stamp set RRP £10 for £2 that DD will love.

[Allthingspretty]

Ybu
It pays to get bargains in the sale and means that you can enjoy Christmas without as much hastle.

[Arisbottle]

I think people said they understood the need to save.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Just because people are thinking about it now doesn't mean they're buying masses of 2 pound tat. I tend to have stockings with a few useful things in them too, which means I have certain things in mind I'm looking out for and I want them at the best possible price.

If I can have the same stocking contents for £10 rather than £25 at RRP by looking out for bits in July instead of December then I think I'd be daft not to give it a go!