To have bought the majority of 2016 Christmas presents

[iwannadancewithsomebody]

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

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

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

To be honest, your post makes it sound as though to you gift buying is a chore to be got out of the way with minimal thought, effort and expense. I don't feel the same.

[AutumnLeavesArePretty]

Handbags and jumpers can quickly go out of fashion, I'd buy for a birthday in Jan or Feb but not for twelve months later. If they don't fit or are not liked, there's no way they can exchange twelve months later. Peoples sizes and tastes change.

Toiletries if buy for myself but packaging changes every year so people would know it was a cheap item from the sales.

Lego and playmobil are fine as easily sold if children decide they don't like anymore.

[expatinscotland]

I had a bad hangover so didn't get online till 3pm. Wasn't really impressed with the sales, tbh. I did manage to score a Christmas jumper for me next year. But otherwise, meh.

Just put away some money ever week.

[Sparklingbrook]

I have bought two rolls of wrapping paper from Wilko for next year. That's it. There's no way I could buy anyone's presents a year in advance.

[honeyroar]

Good for you OP. I'm not sure why people are trying to make you feel as though you've bought cheap tat and are not putting enough effort in. I'm sure you got some lovely stuff for next year. Each to their own..

[ChutneyRhodrey]

No, YANBU.

Things like smellies are great for token gifts and I've stocked up on a few myself.

Regarding the toys, I guess it depends on the age of your DC as to how much their tastes will alter next Christmas.

Well done you for being savvy!

[Sparklingbrook]

Very brave to buy any smellies after seeing all the moany threads on MN about them this year. Especially from Tesco.

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

Great!

Why not also buy for 2017 too? Then you can feel doubly smug.

[TiredButFineODFOJ]

Oh for goodness sake! Well done OP.
There is a slight risk some things might go out of trend etc but you have a haul of things you know people will like, which you could afford to get because they were on sale.
I have xmas and birthday cards, wrap, and stocking fillers and gift sets one of which will be saved for next xmas,maome will be birthday gifts.
No way would people be getting designer/high end perfumes or bubble baths if I didn't stock up now whilst they are on mega discount.
No I don't fancy spending the months before xmas stalking the offers on black friday week or whatever non specific sale event happens sporadically.

[WorraLiberty]

You might be stuck with that lot next Christmas

People buy things all year round and tastes change too

[MrsHathaway]

I'll buy cards and wrapping paper, etc, but not presents.

DM used to shop too early, and it really showed. We'd get lots of presents that would have been great 6-12 months ago. Obviously we pasted on our "how lovely" faces, but the experience has really stayed with me and I spread my shopping over November and December after saving up all year.

[trixymalixy]

YANBU, I'll be trying to pick up some stocking fillers, cards, wrap and crackers etc. Lego and playmobil etc are always great presents.

[Sparklingbrook]

You have to be careful with cards. Some shops like to print the year on the back of the card.

[MrsGradyOldLady]

I don't think it's a bad idea actually. This year I started buying in August (usually start in November) and the kids especially were thrilled with their gifts. My son actually said that i always get the best presents but this year I'd surpassed myself smug cow I think it's because I put a lot more thought into what people would like and bought things as I saw them rather than the usual last minute "that'll do"

I think I'm going to have a browse online too...

[LosingTheWillToSkate]

Why to god would you buy perfume now to give someone in a year? Or anything else for that matter!

It is always evident when someone gives a gift which was bought cheap Xmas before. Packaging changes, it doesn't look as fresh as the new stuff, people's tastes change, gifts just look random and odd.

I have no idea why anyone would want to buy wrapping paper and have it kicking about getting musty for a year either.

[Sparklingbrook]

The wrapping paper is shrink wrapped and goes in the loft wrapped in a bin liner in a box. Nothing musty going on.

[MrsGradyOldLady]

Where did you get your playmobil and lego from op? My daughter, nephews and friends son all love it and I bought quite a bit of it this year

[BondJayneBond]

Wrapping paper won't get musty if it's stored properly.

As for cards having the "wrong" year - I don't understand why this would be a problem? Surely most people will use up cards left over from previous years if they have any left? So it's not obvious they were bought half price IYSWIM.

Unless people really do buy all Christmas cards new each December????

[Sparklingbrook]

I bet some people have relatives who would tut at getting a card from 'last year'.

[sooperdooper]

If you're spending time at Christmas checking the date on cards you need to get a life

I've been buying wrapping paper in the sales for years, it doesn't go musty because my house isn't damp :)

God people on here are bloody miserable, and are just looking for a way to whinge about anything - so what if the OP has bought things 'because they're cheap' if it means there's a few extra pressies under the tree next year?

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

I think it's a good idea so not really understanding the pile in. If I had the money leftover I would do it, especially if it means I'd save a lot in the long run. My DCs had a lot of stuff this year that they liked last year (board games that they haven't played yet, hex bug sets, lego), so I would be pretty confident that similar items would still be played with next year. DD still likes Frozen, dolls, etc. so not much has changed there either.

[AmberFool]

Good for you OP. Especially if you are on a tight budget. I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't like smellies. MN is a whole other planet when people get so worked up about something and nothing.

[Sparklingbrook]

Exactly sooper but judging by some of the threads on MN over Christmas checking dates on Christmas cards is quite tame.

[Industrialhelicopter]

Yes. You will have bought generic thoughtless tat. Playmobil isn't just playmobil- if you want a fairy set then a unicorn one just isn't the same etc.

Buy less and choose well. It will al just get re-gifted.

[IncidentalAnarchist]

There are no half price makeup brushes on debenhams website; I know this as I'm looking for some myself 😐