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!

I do my Xmas shopping in September/October. I refuse to do it after as the shops are a pain in the arse with queues and all the top kids gifts are sold out (with people then selling on ebay for 3* the original value)

I love Christmas, I like to spend December doing Christmassy things, like pottering around markets and seeing the Xmas lights. Not shopping and spending hours wrapping! It's so boring!!!

Could you tell them that you’re currently trying to work out which games system to buy for the dc so you’re sure they would love a game for that. The good news is that the games often come on offer around Black Friday time, by which time you should know which system you are getting so can give them ideas of games they would love. And as an added bonus the games will be cheaper then than now. But if they really have to buy something now then to get an amazon card/cash because all the new toy adverts are currently coming out on tv and their list is changing rapidly as they see something and think it looks fab but then a few days later they see something else that looks even better - and you would be really upset for them (the gift givers) if they ended up getting the dc a present they weren’t that bothered by just because it was the first thing to be advertised when if they had waited just a little longer they would have been able to get something the dc would be really thrilled by.

I've never gone down the route of having my children write lists. I prefer to suprise them. Now they are older they will sometimes say 'I'd like this for Christmas' and I take note. It doesn't mean they'll definitely get it - it depends what else they're getting.

I’ve got a good idea what I’m going to get. You generally find that prices start to go up in November/early December so it can be good to buy in the autumn while there is still good availability and less stress. I haven’t started buying yet but will once we’re paid at the end of the month.

I worry they’ll pick things for the sake of it and then see something they actually want closer to the time

Which is exactly what my DS does every bloody year

I think only on MN I heard of people having finished their shopping by September.

While I understand the idea of budget issues I think I would have huge problems with DD and DH to give me any hints. September is a hughly busy time at work for me and Summer is just over with schools just started and normal routine back. Most times it is also far too warm to think about it.

We start after October half term, I will note down ideas on an Amazon list when I came across something I feel they may like and trawl the internet when I am bored but that's as far as I can make myself do it.

I get annoyed by this and then think - hang on they are just wanting to buy something that the child will like - so yes it is early and yes it is annoying to have to do all the thinking for everyone but better than some rubbish the kids don't want and nice that they get them something at all!

Book tokens or Amazon vouchers or cash for teens.Much better than things they don't want or need.