To not have Christmas lists ready in October?

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

‘For budgeting reasons’ (whatever that is) my in laws want to start their Christmas shopping and have messaged asking for Christmas lists. In October.

Our children are older so I don’t have to think of things exactly (though I do usually have some thoughts) but again it’s October, so the subject of Christmas hasn’t even come up yet.

Should I be sitting the kids down now to make Christmas lists/ideas? I think they’d be thinking or things for the sake of it at this stage just so in laws can tick them off.

Why do some people do this? It really sucks the joy out of it and turns it in to a chore. Why does it matter if i get back to them end of November/beginning of December? They do all their shopping online anyway!

It may be annoying for you but they've obviously got a plan and "budgeting reasons" suggests they have a budget they want to spread over a few months maybe just have a few gifts ready to tell the in laws that your kids wouldn't mind having, but then save their "main presents" for you to get or to put on a list closer to the time?

I get that Christmas is expensive and certainly we put money aside each month as we can’t afford it all in one go, but that doesn’t mean I have to buy presents in October, it sits in my account until I know what to buy.

Thats fair enough, YANBU for that, however they are not BU for wanting to. Everyone is different

Cash is king, just tell them they want money.

I think my dsis thought this when I asked her last week. I like to be organised, rushing around with crowds isn't my thing. I also like to spread the costs out over a few months. Are you a relative of mine 🙂

Wait, they ask you to give them a list of things for them to buy your DC?

That's a bit odd. Whatever happened to just buying a gift. It's a bit Argos like isn't it?

I would just tell them to choose something they think your DC will liek, or, as is common for teens, give cash/voucher

I guess they’d rather the kids just got any old thing then because I don’t have any ideas to give them at this stage. I’d literally be wasting their money with a random suggestion. It’s bizarre.

At least they are asking you and not just offloading some random tat.

Amazon voucher

Well quite, they could choose their own gifts! I then get 50 follow up questions anyway and then they just end up asking for amazon links. It’s all a bit shite.

I usually ask if anyone would like anything in particular or would they like a surprise, then go from there. Either way it certainly doesn’t happen in bloody October.

I should also add, we host everyone, every year. So if anyone has lots to do and buy, it’s us!

No harm in it

I’ve finished my Christmas shopping already

I can’t be doing with battling through the crowds during Christmas trying to get what I need whilst listening to the same Christmas song for the 10th time

Get the kids to make an amazon wish list and send the in laws the link. I do this with my DD16, I'm not attempting this with DS6 though, as he'd fill it with Pokemon crap 😂

Today we saw a Christmas tree up in someone's window...!!!

The solution is simple, if your kids are older.

Delegate.

Tell them to email their grandparents with their list. Or they risk getting something they might not want.

My SIL is a vicar so December is a pretty busy month for her! We got a text on Monday asking for ideas for Xmas by Thursday or she would "get creative" (always a risky business with her!)

We also have 3x nephews and niece birthdays in December so we all quite often start early, but she's always the first!

We were handed a massive Christmas present to store once. In October. It wasn't even a good present.

I've never understood this either. I don't know what anyone in my family will want in 3 months time and kids are so bloody fickle. I start in late November and even then I try to leave getting the kids stuff as long as I can.
I save up through the year for Christmas, surely it's the same as spreading it out so why the need to start buying things so early?

I always have an ongoing list on Amazon of things my kids would like so I would be fine if the GPs asked me. As it is they all get me just to buy anyway. My children's birthdays are in Spring so there are always things by now that I know they would like. I don't thing it is that strange to know things your children would like a couple of months in advance.

I am also on a tight budget so like to be prepared in advance so I can find bargains and spread the cost. When you are on a very tight budget it isn't always easy to just put the money aside as there is always something to spend on.

Most people have already purchased the majority of Christmas presents, so am surprised you haven’t even thought what your dc might like yet.

it sits in my account until I know what to buy.

Maybe they will end up spending the money if they leave it in an account, some people aren't great at saving or keeping money aside.

Our kids don't have lists yet but I'm sure they could think of a few things they would like if I asked them now, so maybe ask them to come up with a few ideas.

I used to start shopping about this time of the year when our kids were younger but I don't tend to start to think about it until November.

That’s another thing, my kids’ birthdays are in the latter half of the year.

It also kind of depends what we end getting the kids. At the moment ds is coveting a Nintendo Switch, if we decide to get him that then games for it would be good. If not, then a bit pointless.

Most people have already purchased the majority of Christmas presents

No they haven’t

Most people have already purchased the majority of Christmas presents, so am surprised you haven’t even thought what your dc might like yet.

Most people have bought the majority ? Really ? I used to start early but I had never bought the majorityof presents by the start of October.

Like this guy Perfectly