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?

Lucky you! I've been too busy cleaning up the flood devastation that has decimated my beautiful town and left families without a roof over their heads to even think about next Christmas...

handbags and jumpers can go quickly out of fashion

Buying Christmas presents from September, possibly August, onwards is ok in my book. But January? That's just odd.

You are DH's dream - he's a retailer and all his A/W stock comes in while most people are still on the beach.

It's the people who hold out that he curses and admires in equal measure.

He's a keen bargain hunter too. All retailers are; it's how they make their money.

Lucky you! I've been too busy cleaning up the flood devastation that has decimated my beautiful town and left families without a roof over their heads to even think about next Christmas...

Oh FGS!

Oh FGS....I know, petty old me...totally got my priorities wrong, hey?

Yes, you have got your priorities wrong.

I feel very sorry for you but this is a harmless OP that many people have spitefully pissed on and your comment takes the biscuit.

It's mean.

I could have responded: 'I'd have loved to have bought my mum a present this Christmas but she's dead. And she'll be dead next Christmas too.'

But I didn't. Because that would have been a ridiculous over reaction.

I agree with limited.
Such spite. I blame a sugar crash.

Did someone say sugar???

Well I wouldn't because I am superstitious. It feels like tempting the universe......same as I won't buy a present for a new baby until they have actually arrived safe and well. I know it's illogical but there we are.

Well done OP thats a great idea - something I've been meaning to do but haven't got around to as yet. I do start present-buying early-ish, around June. It really suits me best as opposed to having a load of presents to buy from November onwards when I don't want to be thinking about all that too much. But I'd love to start in January

I see no virtue to be gained whatsoever in paying full price for stuff, or buying it near to Christmas. Nor is there ever any guarantee - despite what some may think - that your very, very carefully chosen oh so special up to the minute gift is going to send the recipient into raptures. Its not even as if all gifts are seasonal anyway?!

I do all my present shopping online as the thought of being in super-busy shopts/shopping centres makes my head spin. So online shopping has been a Godsend for me.

Id like to think that like most people, its the thought that counts with gift recipients anyway. If its not then, there's not much you can do, is there? Thats life. Im quite sure you know the people you're buying for well enough and have chosen what you think they will like. Good for you, next year Im going to do what you've done its nice to be organised, makes life a whole lot easier and why not

I've bought two presents!

I got a fancy art jigsaw that will be a family present (might do it on Christmas Eve before bed) - in the Wentworth sale.

I also got a wooden marble run on Amazon lightning deal. This will be the main Santa present for my DCs.

Both are things I've wanted to buy for a really long time, and both are very expensive at full price, so I was looking out for deals on them.

I wouldn't get character stuff that far in advance as I agree, you can't tell if they will still be loved by then (not sure about the idea of it needing to be 'in fashion' though - who cares if it's the 'in' thing, as long as the recipient likes it?). I did buy a Planes Top Trumps set early last year but regretted that a few months later (the Planes bit, not the Top Trumps themselves - they always get Top Trumps in their stockings) - so now will hopefully sell it. Lesson learned - in fact this thread has reminded me to go and write on my Christmas file ( - but it did help me to be organised this year!) NOT to get anything character related until October or thereabouts.

But things like Lego and Playmobil are very safe bets with my DCs, and as extras, things like board and card games (not character related ones, more strategy etc).

Last year's main present was a Playmobil pyramid. It was being retired and I found a really good deal, so I bought it in summer 2013. Nearer Christmas I thought they might be a bit young to really enjoy the Egypt stuff so we kept it in the cupboard for a whole other year! Thankfully we have a big wardrobe with a large high shelf so it didn't get in the way. I'm really glad we waited as it sparked a huge Egypt obsession which they've learned loads from.

I'm really not at all worried that they won't like the marble run, they will hit the ceiling. If I just have one DC I'd use it for a birthday present instead but they will both love it so it's more appropriate as a sharing present. If by some very tiny chance I decide it's a waste of a gift, I got a really great deal and should be able to sell it for a good price.

I've always bought wrapping paper a year in advance too. It started when DH worked for Boots so we got staff discount, plus 50% off in sale etc. Still buy from there even though he doesn't work for them now, as I love their paper. I suppose it means we are a year behind but who cares .

I might get some crackers if I see them too. Not like they change year on year really.

I buy things like crackers, cards and wrapping paper in the sales. I couldn't buy presents though. A year is a long time and anything could happen - tastes change, sizes change, life changes, people die. I just feel happier doing it closer to the time.

Pissing just a tiny bit..yes...but we had a veritable Niagara falls of urine at the start

Fanjo

we had a veritable Niagara falls of urine at the start

Not a sentence I ever thought I'd read! :o

Good for you OP, it's up to you what/when you buy. There really are so many miserable MNers at the moment.

Libertas, very sorry for the people affected by the floods but get a grip.

That made me smile, Fanjo, we have a surfeit of the number two variety in our town that's leaked from the local sewage works....didn't mean to be such a lemon-sucking, pissing-on-parade a-hole, just despairing at the lack of thinking on these threads. Not normally such a curmudgeon but it does smack a bit of fiddling while Rome burns. Lots of local kiddies here have lost their Christmas pressies so I'm happy to provide details of where people can donate their sales bargains if they would like to put a smile back on a child's face.

Aww I didn't actually mean you libertas.

That sounds really stressful :(

Catswhiskers, can you please let me know where I can buy a grip? Unfortunately, my town has no shops left. Thanks so much.

Well done OP! I love getting bargains and did quite a bit of this year's stocking shopping in the 2015 January sales, plus all the wrapping paper and crackers. I know with my two FC, Lego and playmobil are always big hits, and my mum would always happily accept an Anais Anais or Je Reviens gift set. Who are these adults who change their likes and dislikes as often as their pants?

I've got birthdays for DH, Dsil and both DC and several kids of friends between mid-Nov and Christmas plus my work is always very busy in the autumn so if I can get almost all my Christmas shopping done before the end of September, I'm a happy bunny.

I'm on way back from shopping today. I do buy small items mainly for birthdays. Did stock up in smiggle's 5 for £5 section for birthday presents for dd's friends. Everything goes in one plastic tub in my wardrobe. Main reason is to save hassle having to get something at short notice. Things like flavoured lip balm, stickers etc can easily be gifted as a little extra to nieces or dd's friends. Anything that doesn't find a recipient can always go to school fair.

I definitely want to prepare earlier for Christmas next year to avoid the last minute rush and spread the spending out. I haven't bought any presents yet but will be buying them when I see them on offer throughout the year and want to be done before December. I think it's great you've got lots of stuff in the sales. You know the people you are buying for and what they like. Trends change with some things but jumpers and smellies are a safe bet. There is some snobbery on here. Just because someone has got a good deal doesn't mean it's tat.