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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have bought the majority of 2016 Christmas presents

192 replies

iwannadancewithsomebody · 27/12/2015 09:06

Online, in the sales without leaving the comfort of my sofa?

Bargains include:

Half price Playmobil from Boots
Half price handbags and make up brushes from Debenhams
Half price VTech toys at Debenhams and some Disney stuff too
30/50% of jumpers from M&S
Massively discounted smellies from Tesco

And now I feel incredibly smug with my bargains,plus I remembered to use quidco Xmas Smile

Has anyone else done the same or am I the only mad one?

OP posts:
whattheseithakasmean · 27/12/2015 09:08

People change a lot in a year- you may regret your choices. It all sound a bit impersonal to me - I buy for the person, not random cheap stuff.

MeDented · 27/12/2015 09:09

But what if those things aren't in fashion or what the person wants by the time next year comes round?!!!

Enjolrass · 27/12/2015 09:11

I couldn't do this.

Kids change so quickly. Nephew loves Disney cars all this year. Last minute he changed to paw patrol, I hadn't bough him anything so his mum told me was into it and I went and got him that, the week before.

I can't guess what either of my kids will want in a year. I can't guess what mum and dad would want either.

It's great if you can, so Yanbu to feel a bit smug Grin

Dipankrispaneven · 27/12/2015 09:12

By next Christmas the VTech toys will be well out of date (particularly if they're being sold off cheap now) and Disney will have brought out something else so that what you have bought will be old hat. The fashion in jumpers will have changed. And the potential recipients will have had birthdays and may well have received all the Playmobil/handbags/brushes/smellies they could conceivably want.

Kerberos · 27/12/2015 09:13

Yep YABU.

Where's the joy in that? Selecting a gift for someone they'll really like - and seeing the look on their face when they open something they love is my favourite part of Christmas.

This sucks the fun right out of it for me.

MrsGentlyBenevolent · 27/12/2015 09:13

Each to their own - it's great to save, but I wouldn't buy stuff for people a year before next Xmas. It would get lost, forgotten about, given earlier and so forth in our house. It's more expensive, but I like shopping for presents close to Christmas, it's all part of the fun finding that 'just right' gift.

londonrach · 27/12/2015 09:13

Think you slightly mad. Id forget where i put them over the year and peoples taste change in a year. However playmobile is playmobile although there usually some bargains just before christmas. Id wait till nearer christmas myself.

BarbaraofSeville · 27/12/2015 09:13

I think we know by all the threads on here over the past few days that whether the present is suitable for the recipient doesn't actually matter, 'it's the thought that counts'.

Ie the recipient should be damn grateful to receive a 'fuck it, that'll do' gift set that has been kicking round the OPs house for a year despite almost no-one actually liking gift sets and them still being a huge rip off at half price.

PingpongDingDong · 27/12/2015 09:14

But not all recipients are kids. We sometimes buy some presents in the January sales too.

cantgonofurther · 27/12/2015 09:14

I brought some playmobil so one dc is almost sorted for Christmas 2016. I am going to buy bits each month though when I see deals. I usually start shopping in November. I think the danger for me starting early is the dc may end up with so much stuff and being tempted to give the toys before Christmas.

Birdsgottafly · 27/12/2015 09:19

I've bought Easter presents, mainly PJs and the like, but one handbag, also. Got lots of baking bargains in Lakeland for my GDs future Birthday parties etc. So I've planned years ahead.

We celebrate Easter, my DH was Catholic and it was the only time he got off work and we were all well/the weather was good etc. Just to answer anyone saying, Easter presents!

MigGril · 27/12/2015 09:20

I think I'd be tempted to bye birthday presents in the January sales but not next year's Christmas presents. The only things DC will still like next year is Lego.

YABU as there are plenty of other sales through out the year sometimes with even better deals then at this time. So only bye what you think is a good deal now anything else is a waste.

TheBestChocolateIsFree · 27/12/2015 09:20

Playmobil seems pretty rock solid for a child of 5/6 but apart from that YABU. Your family might really want/need something else. A relative of mine had a major appliance breakdown in November and requested AO vouchers from all close relatives for a replacement - so I got her that and a mug I knew she'd like. If I'd already spent real money on her in January I'd have been screwed.

G1veMeStrength · 27/12/2015 09:21

It depends on who you are giving to. I could probably get nice 'extra presents' for people who like certain brands, but my DC are too unpredictable and my inlaws do a wish list near Christmas, so I can't really take advantage of the sales.

GoodGirlGoneWrong · 27/12/2015 09:21

I have got a few birthday presents for people with birthdays in Jan and Feb!

As for Christmas presents I may see if I can spot anything, but I normally start buying in September onwards.

I find with my small children they change their minds on what they love very quickly. One min it's toy story the next it's Disney princesses to the lion king.

I tend not to buy adult presents till end of October start of November.

sooperdooper · 27/12/2015 09:23

Yeah why not! I always try and pick up nice wrapping paper, tags and cards in the sales too and pack them away with the decorations, one less thing to worry about.

BondJayneBond · 27/12/2015 09:25

I think buying presents for adults now is okay, especially if it's something where tastes etc are unlikely to change (e.g. someone's favourite brand of smellies). Provided of course that you remember where you've put them next December.

Although the 30% of jumpers from M&S thing - it's a great deal, but they started that before Christmas this year. I bought a few jumpers for relatives from there for this Christmas and have now handed them out, complete with gift receipts in case it's the wrong size / colour etc. Your gift receipts will have expired by next Christmas. And if M&S have done this deal before Christmas this year, they may do a similar deal next December.

I'd also be wary of buying now for children as their likes can change a lot faster than adults. They might like playmobile or vtech now, but be utterly desperate for something completely different by next Christmas.

Iwanttokillthem · 27/12/2015 09:25

I never have money left for the sales and I sometimes resent that.But even if I could spend what I like I don't think I would get anything other than the basics.

Playmobil and Lego are probably the only toys I would buy .Perhaps specific perfumes or accessories like scarves and gloves in choisen colours or materials would last the year but I would probably forget where I'd put them or ruin the boxes through overfilling a cupboard or something.

Roussette · 27/12/2015 09:36

In answer to your question, you may well be the only mad one!

Who wants cut price half price or less 'bargains' from the Boxing Day sales which is usually tat that no one wants anyway for next Christmas? Cut price smellies from Tesco anyone?

I would rather be given some small thoughtful gift that cost next to nothing than cut price anything.

Lego is the only possible one but I would forget where I put it probably.

MegaClutterSlut · 27/12/2015 09:46

I bought some presents yesterday Blush not any main ones just small stocking presents for the dcs like Olaf bubble bath, Olaf wash buddy, Simpson krusty wallet for ds, lynx set.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 27/12/2015 09:48

I'd never do this, even on budget grounds there's Black Friday, Sainsburyshalf price toy sale etc in the run up to Christmas. My DCs change their tastes considerably iver the course of a year and I start listening to them seriously and buying accordingly from about Sept onwards. Same with adults, we all do wish lists and talk about what we'd like from about then too. Also I don't want to have to store it all for a year.

AmandaTanen · 27/12/2015 09:51

2 of my gifts were bought in the sales last year, plus they got staff discount, I have no need for a travel hairdryer or last years Baylis and Harding gift sets. I would rather go without. Toys for your own kids fair enough but it takes the joy out of choosing a gift, so money orientated.

Jollyphonics · 27/12/2015 09:58

I've bought random Lego sets for years, as both DSs mad on Lego. I always had something in reserve for Christmas/birthdays. Then, about 8 months ago, it was as if a switch was flicked and they stopped playing with Lego. Since then they have had no interest whatsoever. I have about 10 expensive Lego kits in the attic, destined for eBay or other people's kids. I wish I'd saved my money and not tried to be clever!

I hope your family are more predictable than mine OP!

Teawaster · 27/12/2015 10:03

The only person I buy things in the sales for is myself

treacledan71 · 27/12/2015 10:08

I did this one year for my nan and she died before the next Xmas :( so felt like I jinxed her!! I will get wrapping paper and cards if see them in shop and reduced in sales but thats it really. I could have bought your Lego off you jolly lol.