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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be Christmas ahopping

73 replies

Busybuzzybumblebee · 22/07/2015 21:19

I know it's really early but we're not exactly flush so I start really early, got a few bits this month. To add to it all my dc bday is early jan before the jan payday, so have to get both sets of pressies. Anyway it happened to come up at work and you'd think I'd just shat in the floor the horrified reaction. I thought it was normal to start early???? Or is it just me?

OP posts:
AdeleDazeem · 22/07/2015 21:22

I too am poor so like to get things organised early. I have already started looking out for gifts for people but haven't started buying yet.

Seffina · 22/07/2015 21:24

I've started thinking about it. I'd be shopping if I had the money too, that will come in a month or two though.

MrsHathaway · 22/07/2015 21:24

You want the Christmas topic where everyone will sympathise.

I think Christmas shopping in July is horribly depressing. If you need to spread the cost, save up. Christmas already lasts as long as retailers can possibly string it out. Pressurising oneself to make things perfect by planning from the previous spring is just hideous.

Noseypoke · 22/07/2015 21:24

Yanbu, my first present arrived today.

TruJay · 22/07/2015 21:25

My mum and I started getting a few bits earlier this month for my dcs when we went to the Disney store and there was a huge sale. We don't have a huge amount either so if I see a bargain, I grab it, just sensible in my opinion, it doesn't really affect others so I don't understand the negativity surrounding it.
If you can afford to go out and buy everything two weeks before xmas that's great but I have to do it bit by bit.

glenthebattleostrich · 22/07/2015 21:26

Your late starting. My sister and I compete to see who can start earliest!

I don't save because there's always another thing to spend savings on IYSWIM whereas buying bits DD will want whilst cheap works for us.

Damnautocorrect · 22/07/2015 21:27

I start now as the sales are really good, I've got three or four so far. I also save £10 a week towards it.

MrsHathaway · 22/07/2015 21:27

Oh we don't save in general savings; our bank lets you have lots of savings accounts for different things and we have one labelled Christmas.

ilovesooty · 22/07/2015 21:28

Perhaps the horrified reaction was because it's a bit early to be discussing Christmas?

People can do what they like but I wish they'd lay off the subject until a few weeks before.

MrsHathaway · 22/07/2015 21:28

I just ...

DM used to buy throughout the year, and it was painfully obvious because on Christmas Day you'd open things that were really relevant to stuff you'd been into earlier in the year but no longer liked. And you had to be grateful for it because at some point it had been a really thoughtful present.

ahbollocks · 22/07/2015 21:29

I have just started! Yanbu

2old2beamum · 22/07/2015 21:30

I am an old fart and I have started to get "bits" in. Having 5 with SN I cannot cope with December shopping.

glenthebattleostrich · 22/07/2015 21:31

When I but early its things like Lego, clothes, dolls, prams etc. Stuff that's pretty much used throughout the year.

We do budget for a 'must have' item too. I didn't convince a friend to go halfway across London to get the last snow blower Elsa in the fucking world then courier it, oh no

Dolallytats · 22/07/2015 21:32

Not unreasonable at all. We too are skint and have had to tell everyone we are only buying for the smaller children this year-have even had to tell the adult children that we can't get them anything. I don't like it, but that's the way it is.

The trouble with saving instead of buying presents (I've found anyway!!) is that I know there is money if I need to dip into it. If you buy a physical item there's no pot to take from.

Original poster
Busybuzzybumblebee · 22/07/2015 21:32

I dont sit around work excitedly talking about xmas, it came up as we were talking about the shifts for December etc.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 22/07/2015 21:33

Thankfully I have very little shopping to do.
I did book my Christmas holiday away at the beginning of February though.

FarFromAnyRoad · 22/07/2015 21:34

Holy freakin' smoke - this is doing my head in! It's JULY for the love of mercy!

Anyway - 10000000% what ilovesooty said, with bells on

Perhaps the horrified reaction was because it's a bit early to be discussing Christmas?

People can do what they like but I wish they'd lay off the subject until a few weeks before

Honestly - if you're banging on about Christmas in Ju-fucking-ly then I'm embarrassed for you. Stop it!

Original poster
Busybuzzybumblebee · 22/07/2015 21:34

I agree, if we've saved say 70 for presents instead of actually buying them and a tire has a puncture there is the present fund gone and nothing bought

OP posts:
specialsubject · 22/07/2015 21:35

logic of this escapes me...if money is tight, reduce presents! So the boiler conks out and you've no money but lots of plastic tat?

no presents for adults makes sense and we should all do it. Spend time together, share food. The planet and your wallet thanks you.

Totality22 · 22/07/2015 21:36

I was initially horrified then I realised that I've got gifts for DS birthday in November already and I have a lot of DD clothes for next summer

ilovesooty · 22/07/2015 21:37

So what if you have a punctured tyre and a load of presents but no money?

Original poster
Busybuzzybumblebee · 22/07/2015 21:39

Money is tight but not so tight that my school can't have nice presents for Xmas and birthday. He has a roof over his head and food on the table and if I choose to buy presents starting in July what difference does it make

OP posts:
Welshmaenad · 22/07/2015 21:40

I don't shop this early but I make fucking spectacular hampers for the majority of my Xmas gifts and jam and chutney making is well underway!

Original poster
Busybuzzybumblebee · 22/07/2015 21:41

I am using an extreme, my point is there is always something else to spend the money on, so buy as you go. I am not looking to justify what I spend on Xmas, my question was when people start shopping, as thought loads of people started early. My budget etc is irrelevant

OP posts:
DinosaursRoar · 22/07/2015 21:41

For things like shift work and holiday allowances in some companies, sadly you do need to think about it early, or if you leave it until say, November, then you'll find that other more organised people will have already booked their leaved/bagsied the good shifts.

We don't normally think about it until October when the Ocado order slots become available, but might need to get Dh to book a few days a lot earlier than that as at work either him or another colleague has to be in, and both will be fighting over the school holidays. (Used to be easier when he was working with child-free types who only wanted term time holidays and would happily be the on-call people for Christmas so long as he'd cover New Year).