To complete all my Christmas shopping now.

[jb2941]

With talks of a second wave I keep thinking about Christmas.

Not worried about panic buying food or anything because we all managed last time.

But Christmas. My son has asd and has given me a specific list of what he wants - things that are probably quite popular - Lego etc.

Aibu to just get all the Christmas shopping done now?? We can afford it so it's not like we are spending extra money. We need to buy it soon anyway (like to be done shopping by November as I bloody hate shopping and find it stressful).

We know at the start of lockdown last time deliveries were sometimes taking weeks. Imagine the Christmas rush with online shopping etc.

I like to shop on the high street as much as possible but the very thought of Christmas stopping in store this year makes me anxious.

I know there's much more important things going in the world than presents but my children are young, they both have autism and love Christmas! They've had a terrible year (as we've all had) but we've had a few things going on personal to us too - lost a close family member amongst other things.

Oh thinks I'm mad but am I? I usually shop early anyway!!

Anyone else doing the same??

I'm nearly finish xmas shopping for the kids... I started late this year too lol

havent bought anything for family yet though, usually wait til black friday

Why on earth would you be finding this a hard decision to make? You know what he wants and can afford it, so just buy it surely?!

Shop whenever the hell you like but please post in the right topic so those of us who have it hidden dont have to see this in their active convos

If I could afford to, I would definitely do it now.

I also have 2 kids with ASD.
Mines never know what they want till the last minute (sometimes not even then, Ds has a bday on Monday and has 'no idea')
I'd get it out of the way early if I could too !

If I knew what my kids will want in December, I probably would, but it's way too early for them. I am not worried about a second wave at all, deliveries worked extremely well during the lockdown, it's not the zombie apocalypse, the whole world is not going to suddenly stop. And frankly if it was, I'd have to rethink the gifts list anyway.

I normally start and finish Christmas prep of any kind in November, that's plenty of time. We haven't even had half term or Halloween yet, my kids won't have a clue what they want any time soon.

I always start now, so as to spread the cost over several months

I sissy’s do mine is sept/Oct as it spreads the cost a bit.

I've started on the food and drink shopping already - a bottle of 'something special' each week (wine or spirits), and then one other Christmas item, like cranberry sauce, or stuffing mix. It just leaves the fresh food to get closer to the time, and spreads the cost. Being a small family (2 of us, no living relatives) the present shopping doesn't really come into it!

How crazy to think about Christmas in September.. I have actually seen one house somewhere, with Christmas lights and a lit up reindeer in the window already..

Unless you are hosting 30 people - which won't happen this year anyway - I never understand how some people manage to spend so much more than usual for what is basically a couple of party meals.

I tend to do a huge shop to save me from treking down the supermarket during the party season, but it's just the same quantity of food.

I normally like to be done for Christmas by November - I start picking stuff up from July onwards. If you can afford it, and your getting anyway get it in no. I’m also expecting Christmas deliveries to be a nightmare and have encouraged other members of the family to start earlier than usual.

I have nearly finished my present shopping and my DH has said today that he would like to start getting the food shop started . He has already bought the chocolate and drink.

@1forAll74

How crazy to think about Christmas in September.. I have actually seen one house somewhere, with Christmas lights and a lit up reindeer in the window already..

If my daughter had her way that would be our house .

My dc are far too fickle to do this. I won't shop for them until late November and final lists are in. But I think it sounds like a good idea if it makes you feel more organised.

I never start before early December but it is up to you. Whilst a list is never a terrible idea, perhaps you need somehow to manage expectations that your DC will not always get everything they'd like, and in a year where it has been very difficult, not a bad one to start.

I agree with the sentiment about meals and food expressed.

Yanbu but also there is no rush, I have started looking for stuff now but dd doesn't ever really want much so I have to do the guesswork of what she would like. She is not really into wanting new toys and she has loads so a few boxes of lego brickheads and gadget related stuff for the rest. Gadget stuff is the most expensive so I am keeping my eyes peeled for 2nd hand or offers.

There are some Lego offers on at the moment. Head over to the christmas board bargains thread for info.

I've nearly finished mine OP. I just don't want the stress this year for various reasons aside from Covid. I think it's fine and agree that getting things that will be popular in a short while, now, is just sensible.

For those who think that a child giving a list in September is odd. My autistic DS gives me his Christmas list just after his birthday in March and I will get his birthday list just after Christmas. He likes to know where he is with things and that's fine by me .

@fairydustandpixies Just no lol too jealous of your organisation. I have 4 birthdays to sort out and the rest of Xmas...thought I was doing well getting the dc in a couple of gifts early as it was...

I'd definitely go ahead and shop now, if you have the money and know what you want to buy.

The only reason not to, under those circumstances, is if you can't hide the gifts effectively for so long (if they kids would be actively searching), if there's any chance they might buy the items themselves in the meantime (or be given them for a birthday before Christmas)... or if you might forget where they're hidden. (Sounds like a joke, but my grandmother found wrapped gifts she'd hidden a decade or more after she bought them!)

...Or if you think they'll be offered for less closer to the date, but that rarely happens, and it's usually a pain to get them then because of crowds and high demand.

My Dd works in a toyshop people are doing their shopping, if I had young kids I'd be doing it too, as it is I've started getting gifts in.

I wish my dc were old enough to give me lists as it’s a nightmare thinking of what to get. Dc1 is starting to give me some idea but at this age changes his mind like the weather.

I’m doing the same. Pay next week so getting the kids sorted. Not too worried about adults but defo don’t want the little ones to miss out. Crack on I say.