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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Christmas talk/problems/logistics in AUGUST is OTT

105 replies

keyboardkate · 30/08/2018 16:21

Sorry now.

Am I alone in thinking this? I do realise that some people have to plan for overseas/up and down country visits in both directions.

But is it a bit early to generally open topics about Christmas in August?

OP posts:
MysteriousQuinn · 31/08/2018 07:59

I don't really get the Xmas hype in August/September either.
And I save up for Xmas then buy in November and December, if I bought gifts earlier then someone would change their mind.
I know a few people who spend months buying their kids presents and don't have a budget, I'd rather save up and then set a budget per child and stick to it.

Saidthesharktotheflyingfish · 31/08/2018 07:59

One year, an immediate family member was terminally ill at Christmas (entirely unexpected in the summer). Last year, a further two died part way through the year. The same is sadly going to happen again this year. I never like to plan who is doing what with family at Christmas too far ahead any more. And I say that as a genuinely optimistic person normally.

Mummaloves · 31/08/2018 08:02

When you work in hospitality, Christmas talk starts in June or July, menus out in August, pretty much have the restaurant fully booked by September.
We even have a little Christmas tree and fairy lights to promote - have to wear Christmas jumpers to work today to remind customer to book !

MaryShelley1818 · 31/08/2018 08:06

Well Believeitornot the simple answer is because I don’t want to do it your way.
I prefer doing it the way I do. That’s the way I ENJOY it. I’m too busy in the run up this year with returning to work and our wedding to plan (as I’d already explained).
DS is 8mths, he has no concept of Christmas so won’t change his mind on presents.
Why does anyone care that people do what suits them...it doesn’t bother me one bit if other people don’t shop until December.
Each to their own.

Coldilox · 31/08/2018 08:11

I ordered my Christmas jumper in June. And I have already bought a few presents.

Fuck it. I like Christmas. I don't have huge amounts of time or money so I spread it out a bit. It doesn't affect anybody else, so why the debate?

flapjackfairy · 31/08/2018 08:13

I actually love the run up to christmas and i am not a massive summer fan so i am quietly thinking of christmas all year long.
I do keep it to myself though until around the mid point of the school hols then i get carried away by it all and sept sees the start of full on planning and excitement.
I just cant help myselfGrin

SockEatingMonster · 31/08/2018 08:25

DH and I both work in the construction industry which means our lives are crazy-busy from November through to Christmas. This is followed by almost 2 weeks of complete shut down and is the only undisturbed holiday time DH and I get each year (we do take other holidays, but are never far from our phones and laptops).

Anything non-work related that is going to happen between 1st November and Christmas needs to be planned/purchased/set up before the end of October. DH does the children’s main presents two or three weeks beforehand, but everything else is purchased and wrapped early, food deliveries booked, menus planned, who’s taking time off for Christmas school plays, who’s picking grandma up, etc etc. I aim to do all the thinking ahead of time!

Not all families are like yours, OP.

That said, despite planning my own Christmas from August, I do dislike it seeing decorations etc in shops before December, so I do have some sympathy.

PerverseConverse · 31/08/2018 08:27

Did someone shit in your sprouts OP?

Morethanthisprovincallife · 31/08/2018 08:36

It's a season not just one day.
Loads of people buy gifts now in the sales.
Loads of people need to book santa and the roh nutcracker is pretty much sold out already.

Pressure is being applied for Xmas already.

For me personally what's turned Xmas into a bigger deal aside from having dc, is dh family.

To be honest they have ruined Xmas for me. I hate how they do Xmas, they have drained all joy of what it means out-of it, Mil is pa with her gifts, never likes hers.

So it's become a battle ground rather than a lovely day.

Morethanthisprovincallife · 31/08/2018 08:40

mysterious

We have a budget, we save every month so have the money to buy as stuff comes up.

Roussette · 31/08/2018 08:42

Totally agree with you OP, but I'm not christmascrazy. Even when my DCs were little, I still didn't do anything towards it until the last family birthday was over at the end of November! (We did decide whose house we were going to in September but that took a 2 minute conversation between us all, and that was it - all ignored until about 3 weeks before!)

And we had a brilliant day despite ignoring it until then!

Piratefairy78 · 31/08/2018 08:42

DH and I talk about Christmas most of the year. What do we we at to do? Go elsewhere or stay home? What’s the budget like? Who’s working what days etc. I dont think we’ve discussed it wider than us though. We do it this early so that we can save money and experience more things. Panto tickets were purchased in the first week of the summer holidays at 40% off for Christmas Eve and I had some presents delivered yesterday to put away. If we don’t plan ahead we spend more and things are rushed. This works for our family, do what’s right your yours.

twilightcafe · 31/08/2018 08:44

YABU.
I like to put the word out as early as possible that I am spending Christmas at home. Anyone is welcome to visit me, but I'm not budging.

BiddyPop · 31/08/2018 09:22

With family scattered across the country and internationally, it requires decisions early on about who is traveling. As both families live close together and have others to stay, the chaos is too much, so if we travel for Christmas, our nuclear family books a cottage locally (very few available) so need to do that before April. (As DD has ASD, we really need that space to retreat at times).

If we want to do any Santa train, that needs to be booked in August - it’s great, but the only one is very popular. We only managed it 2 years.

Dh and I both work FT and stressful jobs, both have international travel, and have to juggle DDs sports and seasonal activities, my Cub packs’ Christmas events and other seasonal events at work etc. and with no family local to us, we need to get in early with the 2 teens who babysit to book their services.

I also need to book online food shopping slots as everything gets so manic.

And as I have over 50 people to buy for, and DDs birthday over Christmas as well, I neeed to get started early on that. As well as on various crafts I do some years as presents.

And in our house, Christmas is a season - there’s advent all through December, and the 2 weeks that dd is off school (we usually take a lot of that off) and we need to visit family over that time whether on the day or other days - juggling all the various diaries and trying to not get anyone too annoyed (we never ever spend enough time with either side, they both always feel we spend too long with the other - and we actually need to build in quiet time for ourselves too).

So yes, doing that earlier in the year than 2 weeks before is vital!

speakout · 31/08/2018 09:29

OP I actually don't know what your gripe is.

90% of stuff on Mumsnet doesn't interest me, but that's fine, I don't open those threads.
I don't gripe about other people discussing things I don't want to talk about.

OftenHangry · 31/08/2018 09:31

It's not just one day...
I've been annoying my family about Christmas organisation for these year for last month, bevause time off and tickets need to be booked.
It's great you don't have to preplan, but majority of people do.

Chosenone · 31/08/2018 09:37

I'm one of the posters with a current thread about Xmas in AIBU. The focus is really family tensions and low contact with my sibling. It could've been any family meal/gathering. It's a day that causes stress in families where there are issues and dysfunctionality. I'm glad the elephant in the room has been outed and discussed sooner rather than later tbh.

bunnyrabbit93 · 31/08/2018 09:47

If you get paid monthly it's only 4 pay days until Christmas so lots of people start buying early. I just like to have a rough idea of what's going on

Walkerbean16 · 31/08/2018 09:51

i noticed christmas themed quality streets/roses etc in my local co-op yesterday Shock

hollyjollychristmas · 31/08/2018 09:54

If you wish to eat out then you need to book in August or September to avoid disappointment.

Budgeting to pay for xmas for me starts at the time of year, with a few bits already purchased. If I left it until November I would feel stressed.

Christmas is problematic for some people because it generally involves families and social interaction Wink

Nikephorus · 31/08/2018 10:01

tripe to the cinema
Now there's a Christmas custom I'd not heard of before Grin
I'm with you OP. I'm all Christmas'd out by the time it arrives if I take notice of it this early. It's nice to be organised and have presents sorted & food ordered before the last minute, but it pisses me off that the shops insist on starting so early for everything. Christmas in August, Easter as soon as the Boxing Day sale (which starts mid-December!) is over, back to school before the poor sods have broken up for the holidays.....

Batteriesallgone · 31/08/2018 10:06

I’ve already bought most Christmas presents.

Last year it seemed like loads of stuff was sold out by the time I got organised.

This year I knew I wanted some wanky wooden toys to make a Christmas scene with and they sell out well in advance of December, so I’ve already bought them.

Also the past couple of years I’ve done spreadsheets (TOO COOL) and my suspicions were confirmed that sales earlier in the year on Amazon seem to be the cheapest time to get kids books rather than waiting for the pre-Christmas sales, Black Friday etc. This year there have been some crazy clothing sales over the summer so I picked up lots of presents there.

I hate paying full price for Christmas presents, and/or having reduced choice, just because I’ve not been organised.

puzzledlady · 31/08/2018 10:08

OP YABU - people can post what they want at anytime they want in where they want.

You would hate me - i started posting about christmas a month ago - i bought all my presents for my family in the january/june sales, i have written all my cards, stamped them all, but left the addresses out in case anyone moves. I have started planning meetings until June next year and my office drinks/dinners have been booked a month ago. I only have to book lapland tickets - as that hasnt been released yet. Just yesterday my company sent an email about tickets to winter wonderland. I knew about my companies christmas do two months ago. I cant wait to drink mulled wine. I put my decorations up as soon as halloween is over.

Just yesterday i was asking my husband where we should go for our christmas dinner (just the two of us) and i have now planned all my christmas drinks with my friends - why does it bother you that people plan in their own time? How does it affect you?

Fstar · 31/08/2018 10:08

Its the same with Easter eggs, they start creeping into shops after christmas, as does summer clothing etc. I like planning and talking about Christmas as i love that time of year.

puzzledlady · 31/08/2018 10:09

^^ and my family live in a different continent, so planning months in advance is a must - do you know how much flights cost the closer/later you leave it?