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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not really have started my Christmas shopping yet?

49 replies

SummerNights1986 · 12/12/2015 10:15

I haven't put this in the Christmas topic because it's generally full of people who love the season so much they've been done for weeks so not really relevant to the general population.

Work and facebook are full of people asking 'so are you done yet?' and those that are proclaiming they've just finished off their wrapping.

I've not really started yet. It's like my dirty little secret. I do it every year and if anyone asks if i'm 'finished' I've just started saying yes with a big smile, to avoid the subsequent looks of horror if I say i'm not started nevermind finished.

I've bought one 'bit' for MIL. That's it. I still have the dc's (gifts and stockings), DH, and (counts) the 9 other family members that we buy for each year to do.

I'm fairly relaxed. DH and I are having a takeaway tonight and making a fuck off big list of everything to get. I'll spend 3 hours online Sunday night buying as much as I can online then next week have all day Wednesday free and DH has all day Thursday free to go and buy the remaining bits and stocking fillers.

I'm nice and calm and in no mad rush or panic. I still have just under a fortnight. That's loads of time Smile

AIBU to be so relaxed (lax?) in the buying department?

OP posts:
DoreenLethal · 12/12/2015 10:24

I've bought a packet of paxo so far.

Competitive shopping complex pisses me right off.

scarlets · 12/12/2015 10:26

That sounds like a nice evening to me! Make sure you have a mince pie too.

mumblechum1 · 12/12/2015 10:29

Same here. Haven't done a thing. Ppl make such a big deal about Xmas, I just don't get it

Cloppysow · 12/12/2015 10:29

I've done most of it online. I have to go out to the shops today. The horror.

DurhamDurham · 12/12/2015 10:32

You seem to have it covered, it might be more of an issue if you didn't have an entire day to get sorted and were able to order lots of it on-line. Some people have to speared it out and start early because of work commitments or money being tight. My girls are older now so don't expect a floor full of plastic tat so it's easy for us these days. I'm all done and dusted but that's because we don't have much to get.

Alicewasinwonderland · 12/12/2015 10:32

what's wrong with that? If you are happy, you could even buy everything on the 24th. I don't like it because it's a crazy day, but there's no rule.

You do what works best for you. Why should there be a right and wrong way to prepare and celebrate Christmas!

Mine happens to be done (and wrapped) before the 1st December only because I can't be bothered to go to any shops in December, I haven't got time to do full online shopping at home in one evening. I am more relaxed when everything is done, I can put the tree up, write my cards in peace and actually look forward to Christmas.

(also, between you an me, I prefer when all the shopping is paid BEFORE we are being paid end of November, festive food paid this month, so when I am paid end of December everything is already done. Christmas bonus and salary I can use to book our spring holiday.)

RJnomore1 · 12/12/2015 10:32

Omg you are living my worst nightmare. Everything's out of stock or taking ages to deliver online and the shops are heaving. Starting at this point in the year would kill me with stress.

Do you have kids to buy for, if not perhaps not so bad. Adults can make do/ like or lump.

Philoslothy · 12/12/2015 10:33

We do it all the weekend before Christmas, most people have not done anything yet.

Birdsgottafly · 12/12/2015 10:33

It always depends on what you buy, my youngest was very into Manga/Anime, before it was fashionable, so I often had to get stuff from China, which meant starting in October.

You'd struggle to get delivery dates if you wanted something personalised etc.

Another factor is having the money to do it the way you are.

I've price watched and saved around £200.

My teens used to want certain Hunters/Uggs/Docs, so as soon as the size was in, you had to get them.

I'm finishing mine on Wednesday, because it's just PJs, dressing gown, stuff in the shops.

Moonriver1 · 12/12/2015 10:34

You sound very smug Wink.

But seriously, YANBU if that's what works for you.

Some of the stuff I've got for my children was out of stock/ on order so I couldn't have waited this long or I'd have come a cropper.

What will be in your favour is shops tend to slash prices and do their 30% discounts now in the days before Christmas.

SparklesandBangs · 12/12/2015 10:46

I too can't understand the need to start shopping in Septemebr and have everything wrapped by 1st December, the shopping and wrapping makes me feel Christmassy.

I did a day of cyber shopping an the beginning of the month which covered the bulk of the presents. I have then been away for the weekend to somewhere cold and festive and did some shopping along with the sightseeing. Had an appointment in London this week so popped to Oxford Street for a couple of special gifts, would usually not do this until next weekend but had to be there, all I will do now is pop into our home town for any last minute bits.

Wrapping will be done when everything is here so most likely 23/24 December when I have finished work.

Alicewasinwonderland · 12/12/2015 11:02

I too can't understand the need to start shopping in Septemebr

well, just to get it out of the way and not think about it at all in December! Grin

Christmas parties, Christmas drinks, nativities, it's too busy to waste time shopping (for me, I understand others enjoy shopping, but I don't).

I prefer to spend the first days of school break baking and making decorations with the kids, and evenings having a nice drink and nibbles with family or friends.

The focus is less on the presents and more on the holiday (don't get me wrong, the kids are being spoilt and have a lot more gifts than they need, but that's not everything).

colleysmill · 12/12/2015 11:04

I've been both a pure December shopper and an all done and dusted in November bod. These days I'm a bit of both, especially if someone has asked for something specific I'd rather just get it so I'm not running round trying to find the exact present. And avoiding that panicked feeling.

Horses for courses. Mind you I'm not wrapped yet but everything is bought or on its way bar perishable foods

ToastyFingers · 12/12/2015 13:29

Money is tight so I had to start early this year, but I'd much rather do it your way.

I'm not quite done yet, just a couple of finishing touches left. I haven't wrapped anything yet though.

notquitehuman · 12/12/2015 13:37

Depends how busy you are in December. I usually scoff at the September shoppers, but I did a bit of early shopping this year because work will be insane. I did manage to get discounts in the Argos 3 for 2 toy offer and around Cyber Monday, although not the huge amounts people make out they've saved.

I'm going to have to do my xmas shopping the old fashioned way as I didn't get a slot for Tesco or Ocado this year. So definitely not organised in that department. Honestly though, it's a roast dinner and a few presents. It's not something that takes a military operation.

iwantgin · 12/12/2015 14:08

Same here - I done nothing so far. I deliberately try and ignore all the overhyping.

However - we aren't 'doing' adult gifts - and the DC are teens. One has an actual gift which he chose himself. The others get £.

I have two younger family members to buy for - but I have an idea what to get.

The tree might get put up next weekend. Or not.

We are going out for Xmas day - so no need to buy food either.

Relaxing and drinking port. ;)

FairyFluffbum · 12/12/2015 14:23

I would love to have your laxness! My dh would love me to have it too. I have almost finished my Christmas shopping. Most is wrapped. I start buying early as I don't have a lot of money. I don't go over budget as I have a list and I stick to it. Buying one or two a week helps me. Means I have to start October time though

HackerFucker22 · 12/12/2015 14:26

In the nicest possible way I don't give a shiney shit how other people do their Christmas shopping.

Whatever way works for people is surely the best option?

starry0ne · 12/12/2015 14:31

I can't see what it matters when you shop..Far more people shop online...Sometimes stuff gets dropped in price right before Christmas...However if a child wants a specific gift then I wouldn't be leaving it this late

broomy123 · 12/12/2015 14:32

I'm really laid back about most things including Christmas. I tend to do most of it a few days before then sit and wrap it all with a film on Christmas Eve. I do try do cards that need posting the week before though.

I don't understand people who can do it before. And also do that shocked face and say 'you haven't started, you best get going?'why? I'm not Santa! Grin

broomy123 · 12/12/2015 14:34

I should add my child has a Christmas birthday too but that doesn't even put the fear in me Blush

thenightsky · 12/12/2015 14:48

Its all hyped up by the shops wanting us to go crazy spending IMO.

I never do mine till about 3 days before Xmas. Even when the DC were small I'd not be starting much sooner than 16th December. That includes tree and decorations too.

I threw a pudding in the trolley of my regular shopping yesterday though... does that count as 'starting'? Grin

guajiraguantanamera · 12/12/2015 15:54

I used to get myself in a tizz (sp?) about Xmas presents.. This year I don't give a shit lol. I had a baby this year and quite frankly, I'm exhausted. So people will get a small gift off me this year. And like you, I have hardly started, never mind finishe.
In fairness though, I have my Dh, dss, dsd, dm and my grans birthdays in December! Nightmare.

alleypalley · 12/12/2015 15:56

I like to get most of mine done by the end of November as I work in the pub trade so December is always crazy busy at work, so what free time I do have I like to keep for spending with kids, impromptu piss up, or sleeping off a hangover. The thought of having to find time to go shopping would do me in.

I do remember one Christmas Eve at work where we had to literally put one of our regulars in a cab to Oxford St at about 4pm as he still hadn't bought his wife anything.

specialsubject · 12/12/2015 16:38

for any other event, you wouldn't buy a present or do the shopping weeks before. No need for tat-mas to be different. Wait until a couple of days before, things won't actually run out.

and if they do - buy something else.