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?

What do you have to buy redtoothbrush?

I do an evening of online shopping and an afternoon of department store shopping and that's it.

YANBU but I enjoy spreading out Christmas - plus I like to get theatre tickets for DM and DGMs so I tend to need to book them in advance.

Plus I live away from my extended family so I tend to need all my Christmas presents bought and wrapped by the first week of December in order to play Postman Pat (or pay stupidly expensive postage fees)

I like to buy things when I see them. I can't afford to do the entire shop in one month and saving is fine but you might not be able to get what you wanted to buy when the time comes. I don't want to limit the time I spend choosing a present and compromise because what I wanted to buy has sold out.

It doesn't really matter does it? I don't put up decorations or write cards really early but I am prepared. I grew up in a house where everything was last minute and it caused me a lot of anxiety. I definitely have an issue with being ready for things in advance, I will admit that, but I don't 'go on about it' I just get on with it.

YANBU but people who consider Christmas from September (or January!) are NBU either.

I could never do it in an evening and an afternoon. My family are nightmares to buy for. DH is very sensitive about it for reasons that go back to his childhood (long story. complicated family) so its a minefield and HAS to be right. I could swing for them all some days.

Plus I do like to pull a real surprise out of the bag rather than just buy anything. I am a bit of a perfectionist too.

"In rl people don't chatter incessantly about Christmas from September onwards, do they?

Errrrr yes."

Errrr, no, none of my friends and family go on and on about Christmas until nearer the time.

I guess I just don't put as much thought into it as you do RedToothBrush

Neither dh or I are that fussed about Christmas and other than the children's presents I don't give it that much head space.

We all have far too much stuff so that's probably why. I'd quite like an anti-Christmas where someone comes and takes away some of the vast quantity of stuff we have. I'll suggest it to dh.

It's entirely up to you OP but I like to be organised. I start from late September with buying the Xmas cake ingredients. I make the cakes in October. November (second half) is for shopping, writing Xmas cards, ordering meat from the butcher and planning where we're going and when. December is for putting up the decorations, going to carol concerts, meals out etc. and enjoying the odd glass or two of mulled wine. I also enjoy the slow build up rather than the headless chicken impersonation that I'd end up doing if I left it all till December!

Another one here with a DS who has a birthday on 25th Nov so don't want to think about it until after then.
Last year I didn't start 'doing' Christmas until 15th Dec due to close family bereavement in Nov plus DD was seriously ill in hospital for 2 weeks at end of Nov. At one point I had declared that Christmas in our house would be cancelled last year. However, once things settled down I decided we should do something and everything got bought in record time. Just proves you don't need to spend months at it.

I usually do all of my shopping in November and if there is a gift noto bought by Dec 1st it doesn't get bought, hate thought of christmas shopping madness in December. My decorations don't go up until the week before christmas.

MovingOn that would be the big problem for me if I did it all it one or two 'sessions' - I like to really think and know what is out there to get something special for everyone including adults. It depends how fussy people are I think; my family are fussy, in a good way! Don't necessarily start early, but trying to get what bargains I can this year. I won't get requests or lists till December though, maybe not even early December, so I'll be waiting on those.

Also I can't do proper shopping sprees due to physical problems, so a dash round the shops for a day would not be an option.

I do think that the shops and tv start with Christmas too early. I'm all for people starting to get ready early if they want or need to, but there is no need to start all the music and displays in October...well, there is for the retailers...to make the biggest spending period last as long as they can...but not for consumers.

I will be doing most of my online Christmas present shopping this weekend, and other present shopping next week. I have bought a few bits but I don't have many people to but for so it doesn't worry me to leave it this late.

I haven't even thought about the food yet, but will have to as we are staying in a holiday cottage this year and will need to be a little more organised.

I am not meant to talk about it until after DH's birthday on 29/11. I am quietly doing a bit in the background before then (mainly just thinking about what to get the DC and what to direct DH towards for my present ), and have been putting money away all year, but otherwise I am happy to wait until December.

Not leaving present wrapping until Christmas Eve this year, though - did that last year, planned to do it all with DH over Prosecco and festive music. He took the car out to give someone a lift and the clutch cable snapped - stranded 12 miles away, got back in the early hours .

Just ordered last pressie so celebrating with a mini Xmas pud (I made-and we ate-the first batch of mince pies last weekend)!

Everything about Xmas is wonderful, why confine the pleasure to only a week or two when you could eek it out for longer?