Those of you who started planning Christmas in June...

[MardyBra]

... was it really worth it?

Or do you feel a teensy bit disappointed that you spent half a year planning one day?

Depends what you mean by "planning".

I knew in June that DD would be getting skis for Christmas.

Yes, the picture of her grinning from ear to ear using them for the first time was worth it.

I shop for xmas right throughout the year....im happy with that and now that xmas is over at least i have money in my bank account and dont have to struggle our way through january with loads of debt or because we used our nov/dec wages to buy xmas presents.....i also look at the things i got my ds in sales during the year and think...'anyone that pays full price for toys in the months before christmas need their bloody heads tested' lol. My ds main xmas presents were a train table retailing at 125 quid i got it for 60 and a kids tablet that was sitting in toysrus last week for 199.99 i got it months ago for 65 ! Well worth shopping and planning all year if you are doing it on a budget ! X

I always have my presents bought and wrapped by October. Then I can relax, I hate crowds it makes me I'll so would not go shopping in December if I can avoid it.

Lovely thanks :)
And really stress free.

I bought gifts on the 23rd and put the tree up on the 24th. All on discount (huge outlet 10 min drive) and no crowds at all in the morning when I went.
Ok, except DS's main present, which was ordered on a special offer and delivered about a month earlier.

Definitely worth it.

Presents all bought by the end of September with just a food shop to do a few days before meant I could relax and enjoy the build up to it all without going into the shops full of annoying humans getting in my way and not getting what I want because it's sold out.

I'm already putting cash aside for next Christmas so shoot me!

Having said that, DS is told to put things he wants on his Christmas list throughout the year, as his birthday is in January!

I would love to plan well in advance.
Literally every year I resolve to start Christmas shopping in August. And fail.
I envy anyone who has it all bought and wrapped by the forst week of December. The. You can actually enjoy Christmas shows etc, as you have more time and money.
Tips welcome.

I try to buy before December because once Black Friday is over to kick off the shopping season, prices skyrocket.

If I'm out shopping and I see something someone will like on sale, I'll buy it if I have the spare change and just give it to them at their birthday or for Christmas. Sometimes festivals that have really nice artsy things only come around a few times a year so I buy gifts then.

But I don't actively plan for Christmas or get decorations. Those are all last minute buys during December sometimes. We're slowly acquiring a nice collect of Christmas stuff.

I don't plan Christmas at all - it just happens. Same as my wedding day.

But I did start shopping in September and that was well worth it. Stuff that I paid half price for online was a lot more expensive by the end of November, including Black Friday.

i save a little money each month and perhaps buy the odd present during the year if someone happens to mention that they like something.

It's the first year I've actually been able to save regularly for Christmas, and I'm so glad I did. it means that I'll have a stress-free Jan & Feb with no huge bills.

Personally as someone who has volunteered in a charity shop this year and has had Xmas shoved down her throat continuously since early September- I couldn't enjoy it at all this year. To the extent that I didn't even want to decorate my tree and didn't do my shopping apart from some little bits until the 23rd Dec on Amazon

I get the basics done by November, and do a gift shop mid December. Then enjoy the lights and carols and all that.

This year we had a smaller Xmas, and I was on huge catering mode untill I realised it was half the size it was last year. When I relaised that I really relaxed, because it's just a big roast lunch innit?

Some years I have been very ill before Xmas, so I know not to leave it all till last minute, but I don't do anything UNTIL november, and mid November is fine.

Out tree goes up on Xmas eve and comes down 6 th. This year I bougt some bottles of wine, as we have a few people coming over before NYE, but we don't drink much, so that's unusual.

I start early, in one way it was worth it as I didn't have to go near the shops in December, in other ways it wasn't as the dd's change their minds up until Christmas Eve. Will I be starting early next year? Yes, I'm sure I will but will leave buying the dd's main gifts until the end of November or even December.

I don't start in June ( really) but I do look forward to QVC Christmas in July.
I bought some gift bags ( regular and Christmas) in the July C in J show, and some boxes in August. Much , much cheaper and easier than finding them in store and lugging them home. Wrapping was lovely and a joy not a chore.

My DS birthday is December.
Shops are evil in December.

I love October onwards, Hallowe'en, Guy Fawkes and Christmas. And part of that is the planning.

Big one - Flights need booking,

Less big - panto needs booking.

Don't book early enough, don't get what you want. There are enough people coming on and whinging about not getting a grotto slot/railway trip/decent panto seat because they left it til Dec. Why not plan early and make it stress free.

I have just booked next year's panto. Amazing how many seats had been sold already! Other than that I will forget about it until after the summer holidays ;)

Thing is, if you enjoy planning for Christmas, and do something towards it in June then you're not looking for payback in December - that enjoyment exists as a 'stand alone' thing.

I just ordered two Christmas duvets for next year.

I start budgeting and getting gifts then, it's defintely worth a more stress free December :)

That's true newname. I enjoy the preparations too, so do not see it as a stressful experience (except when I've run out of time and am buying last minute in December).

I bought next year's Christmas cards in the sale today - will go into the Christmas box when all the decorations etc are packed away. We save money every month towards Christmas although that's also towards events and catering.

We start vaguely planning in the summer because I live 200 miles from my parents in one direction, and 100 miles from DB/SIL in another direction, who in turn are a flight away from her family. Hotel rooms, flights, train tickets etc need booking as soon as they are released. In-laws are local but make early plans that we can helpfully fall in with.

This year for logistical reasons it was convenient for me to do 90% of my Christmas shopping in November. By early December it was done and wrapped and I could concentrate on Advent - church, school, etc - without the awful sharp-elbowed crowds of shopping when you are too busy to go. I liked it and will do so again next year.

I couldn't spend half a year planning one day, no, but I do spend the odd half hour planning a major family get-together. I would be utterly depressed by collecting presents all year, though. Mine can't be the only children whose tastes and wants change as time goes on.

I already bought presents for next year before this Christmas.

I start early. I enjoy it and it means I can enjoy December doing christmassy things with my kids, and not running around the shops when they're packed. I consider Christmas to be all of December and the week after, not just a day.

Not really sure why anyone would give a shit what I, or anyone else, might choose to do with my own money and time?