To not want to start thinking about Christmas yet?

[Lydiaatthebarre]

A friend of mine just loves Christmas and has already started talking about it, telling me how many weeks are left, how many shopping days to go, telling me what she's going to buy various members of her family, telling me we'd better start organising our Christmas night out with ex uni friends before 'everyone gets booked up' and so on.

I love Christmas from about mid Nov on. But it's still AUGUST, and I'm trying to hang onto my Summer mood for as long as possible.

AIBU to wish she'd shut up banging on about it?

I’ve been starting early this year because I’m giving birth soon, so will be too busy and knackered in the actual run up to Xmas, plus will be on maternity leave so money will be tight this year. I like to spread the cost between a few months.

I used to be grouchy about early Xmas people. But last year I got all my gifts done and wrapped before December and it was lovely. We had activities planned each weekend, from grotto to baking, and I could just relax and enjoy them. And to be honest, your friend does have a point about stuff getting booked up. A lot of the popular days out and venues do book way in advance.

I never really ‘start’ Christmas, it’s low key but all year round for me. If ever I see a perfect Secret Santa gift or stocking present I snap it up regardless of the date and stash it away. We don’t buy many big gifts, just mums, dads and children really so come Christmas time there are only 5/6 ‘proper presents’ to buy. And I only send about 10 cards now to the very few people I won’t see in person or are not on social media. That’s a chore I don’t miss.

It is a great, stress free way of doing it but sometimes I forget where I have hidden some of my perfect buys and they turn up around Easter!

how dull to have so little to do or think about that you spend months thinking about the festival of planet wrecking sparkly shit.

lives are available. Tell Ms Dullard to get one.

Other than flights or travel arrangements, and perhaps where you will be, anything else should wait, in my view at least until November.

[santa]

I started buying Christmas presents in April trying to spread the cost out over the year rather than have it hit me (as usual) all at once.

My oldest son wrote his Christmas list yesterday. Usually I buy everything last minute. This year I'm prepared

I love Christmas! This year we have forgone a family summer holiday for a big trip over the Christmas week instead, so we have started talking about it (and the winter clothes we will need to buy etc) as it is our something to look forward to. I also like to make some of my gifts, so will start buying fabric etc to get on with that shortly, or I’ll run out of time.

I wouldn’t take about it outside the house/outside the family though- it’s too early for that! But I can understand the excitement- maybe she’s having a rough week and needs something to look forward to?

how dull to have so little to do or think about that you spend months thinking about the festival of planet wrecking sparkly shit

too true. its not even a religious fesitval anymore. just one big commercial obsession. all the companies have to "get in early" because otherwise they will lose out commercially, so it starts earlier and earlier. the original 12 days of xmas 24 december - 6 january have become the 4 months of xmas 1 september to 24 december.

I can't ban the commericality of it, obviously, but I always turn the adverts off, and really could even stop watching TV, and going shopping, and then I wouldn't even know it was happening, ha!

Seriously, I do blot alot of it out. Otherwise its, literally, bonkers.

I usually start to think about the C word around this time of the year, just to sort out travel arrangements, then forget about it until a week or two before I fly.
The adults in my family don't do presents anymore, so I only have to by for my niece and her sibling which is expected later in the year.

Budgeting and quietly buying a few things through the year is fine. I bought a couple of things on holiday in July as I saw them and knew they'd be appreciated.

But talking about it now is far too early for me. We don't need to make many plans and don't do any much Christmas socialising so it's easy anyway.

how dull to have so little to do or think about that you spend months thinking about the festival of planet wrecking sparkly shit

Or, some people have to stretch money and budget ahead? But yeah, it's because they're boring.

Tubs of Celebrations in Tesco already, must be getting towards Christmas!

It is August - get a grip and enjoy this lovely summer.

? It's Christmas fgs not the invasion of Normandy.

I hate summer. Can’t wait to be rid of the heat and humidity. If someone wants to get their jingle on a bit early, who cares?

Come back a week before Christmas and I might just be ready to think about it.