to not give Christmas more than a passing thought until the 25th of November. Every year.

[Mintyy]

Just that really.

I can do Christmas in a month. Dh is the same.

I am not interested in giving it more headspace than that.

Am I in a minority or a majority, do you think?

Well you would be quite wrong about that. I just don't understand that argument at all. I actually save money all year for Christmas.

It's great when you actually have money to save, though. I'd love to be able to save. At the minute, though? Nope, just not happening.

Yanbu. I sometimes buy things in sales mid year and stuff them in a box, but that is it. Wrapping is not even contemplated before 20th Dec. Don't ask me what the kids would like, conversations not even contemplated yet.

YANBU, think about Christmas as much or as little as you like. It's optional.

You're probably in the minority though.

Even if you don't like/celebrate Christmas it's in the shops and at school etc. from October onwards so it's hard not to think about it at all.

I'm even later with a shorter Xmas:
5 Dec until I acknowledge Xmas is coming [ lazy old bag emoticon ], then whirlwind shopping and out to a few parties.

Any cards or Advent calendars I receive before then are put unopened in an office tray, so I can enjoy them at the proper time

I post Xmas cards on 15 Dec, 10 Dec for abroad
Decorations go up 15 Dec, then removed 2 Jan

I pick up presents throughout the year to save money but I'd never wrap anything until Dec or give dinner etc any thought until the week or so before - I don't get the big to-do over Christmas dinner, it's a slightly posher Sunday roast!!

There's a house round the corner from me who have a Christmas tree up!!?? Weirdos

I don't usually start thinking about Christmas until after my Mum's birthday on 13th November. Normally that's fine but I really didn't think it through this year as I'm on crutches until the new year and can't drive and I haven't bought anything. A little forward planning this year might have been helpful!

No YANBU at all. Agree ads, shop displays etc seemed very early this year. Christmas does not exist for me until December.

I'm in the US. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, which is a week from tomorrow. After that I will start thinking about Christmas.

25th November? About 18th December I start thinking about it. I like my Christmas short and uber festive.

Like Bunbaker I had loads more people to buy presents for, several years ago. My Xmas was even later then, though !

...oh and there was the year I didn't think about it until 24th December. Did a lot of online shopping for vouchers that year.

Christmas doesn't exist till Thanksgiving is over.

To be fair though the shopping isn't as stressful here. A bit busy but not queueing down the aisles in the supermarket, which helps.

I'm just starting to think about it this week, there is still plenty of time. I do the presents, DH does the food. I only buy for 6 people though so it isn't too arduous.

Isn't saving for Christmas the same as spreading the coat throughout the year though? You're doing the same thing but just spending the cash at a different time. The only thing that would make a difference was whether you were taking advantage of sales or time-limited vouchers at different times of year

Anyone who does crafty type stuff will be getting ready for Christmas very early, some even start in January for the Christmas that year

If it works for you, fine. I prefer to spread it out over 2/3 months and enjoy the December run up to Christmas knowing it's all pretty much sorted.
Each to their own, there's no right or wrong way of doing it.

Three years ago I was expecting my DD at the end of October, and having suffered SPD previously I was concerned I wouldn't be up to Xmas shopping after (and with 2 toddlers and a newborn), so that year I was super organised and got loads in advance.

It was ace and I've done it since. My December is now for fun activities, and on the rare occasion I go to the shops it's to browse and stop for a Xmas coffee with friends. I'm 'done' with my present shopping and have saved a fortune (following the bargain threads-I'd estimate that on each person in my large and extended family I've saved between 20 & 50%. I've not paid full price for anything, so in some instances I've saved heaps and in others it's allowed me to buy much more substantial or thoughtful gifts).

I don't see present shopping as a chore as it's done mainly online and from the comfort of my home, without time pressure.

For me (and especially now, on the back of the worst year of my life), Xmas is a wonderful time and I want to squeeze as much pleasure out of it as possible. Decs up on 30th Nov, and the kids and I have been counting down on my Xmas app from '50 sleeps'. It's now only 35 (yay!).

Merry christmas!

Anyone else think the shops have started "Xmas" very early this year as well (apologies if someone has already said this). The worst was one I walked into at the end of September (when it still felt like summer ) all done up in baubles and lights.

I really don't like that. It's commercialism gone mad, makes my brain ache as I wonder what month it actually is (and why we are wishing our lives away in this way - or at least the shops are), and spoils the real Christmas season a bit (which for me starts at the beginning of December).

Having said that, I am off to start a Christmas stocking thread as I am out of inspiration .

I start early every year, as I like to leave December for all the fun stuff.

I pretty much have all presents bought by the middle of November.

December is for my birthday, sisters birthday, Christmas parties, cinema, Santa lunch etc etc. I hate shopping in December when the shops are heaving - too many people! There's also lots of sales on and good deals to be had in October and November, so I save money.

Tree doesn't go up until about the middle of December and I do my food shopping at 8am on Xmas Eve.

Personally I cannot afford to spend out in one month for all the food & stuff we like to have at home/take to other people's places, so I need to be able to spread the cost (one wage) over several wage packets. I layby'd my girl presents in July & have been paying little bits off each week.

I actually save money all year for Christmas. Which ins't really that different to buying things here & there, is it!

11 November or Remembrance Sunday, whichever is the later. I regard Christmas paraphernalia during the poppy period as the grossest of bad taste.

I try and get all my shopping done BY December, because as much as anything, it takes the stress out of Christmas so I can actually enjoy it. Many years ago, I used to work at the Trafford Centre and it was utterly horrendous. I had to leave an extra 45 mins early to get to work and I'd often be queuing 45 mins after the centre closed (which was 10pm) to get out of the car park. I don't think its quite as bad there now, as people do a lot more online shopping, but it put me off facing the December rush for life. It find it more enjoyable to start early and really think about what to get people rather than panic buying the first thing that comes into my head.

Now the problem is ordering online early enough! In the past there wasn't quite the same pressure on deliveries as less people shopped online. This year is particularly crazy already. I've noticed that three separate delivery companies round my neck of the woods have turned up in hire vans rather than their usual branded vans. Plus Amazon moving away from Royal Mail and trying to push Amazon Prime, their deliveries seem to take much longer. In previous years orders get turned around in 2 days. Now it is much more like 4 to 5 days (its been like that all year to be fair). I can actually see there being a problem with a record number of deliveries not making it out before Christmas this year. I am watching with interest to see what happens.

A due a baby in next week or two and have a little one 13 months old so I had to get organsied this year (never usually do)

I have to say I didn't go crazy, just kept everything simple and got all I wanted on special offer. I got some jewellery in late August, nephews present, concert tickets, clothes etc. then in October I updated all my decorations

Last week I bought cards and wrapped presents - have two more things to buy. Not shopping for food and drink early. Just buying what we need as I want to shift baby weight or at least minimise damage and people always bring around tins of biscuits, baileys etc so I often have too much (only two of us here plus dc)

I am going to be this organsied every year, even down to hair appointments!

I only think about Christmas in December.