1/3 of people already Christmas shopping

[Rebelwithallthecause]

That seems a lot

So I’m wondering if it’s true

In a very unscientific poll

YABU = not xmas shopping yet
YANBU = yes I’m shopping for Christmas

No I'm trying not to right now, but I do believe that I need to start. If we have another lockdown we may not get the chance to get gifts.

It wont be a big affair this year, but I will be starting to prepare for it certainly within the week.

I’ve done my one sons gift, their “joint” advent calendar and today I’m doing the little ones santa gift. My oldest is having a minecraft pass thing, so that’s easy enough to do online on Christmas Eve ready for santa. I’ve started looking at various bits and bobs for their Christmas Eve boxes but I think it will be mostly stuff I can make closer to the time. (They have small boxes) so I’ll put my orders in with my suppliers and make personalised PJs, they have personalised mugs, I’ll make reindeer food and get a hot chocolate pouch and a marshmallow pouch from someone local as well as personalised bauble cakes. I’ve already got their teddies here ready and have made personalised place mats and coasters. Only thing left is to assemble the gingerbread house for the table but that will be a project with my oldest closer to the time.
Still to purchase is 2 books, 2 sweetie tubs, a toot toot something for the littlest, a Christmas jumper each (must remember to make matching masks!) and a new toothbrush each.
Then I’m all done, apart from the stockings - which are always themed. This year it’s crafts for the biggest and trucks and diggers for the baby.

So i would normally start in November - I make advent calendars for my DC so that's what I organise first, then a list and most of my shopping is nov/dec. also have a glut of birthdays.

But this year I've already prepped the advent calendars and DCs stockings and a few presents for them.

So much much earlier than normal for me. With the uncertainty it felt better to be organised. I'm not worried about adults bits but want Christmas to be as fun as normal for the DCs.

I have started though it is earlier than I normally would. My concerns are around restrictions with covid, being able to get presents to people if we do head to another lockdown. If our current restrictions get lifted slightly that I can spend Christmas with my parents then I want to isolate as much as possible for the last couple of weeks to reduce any risk so I need to finish shopping early. I'm also concerned with issues of supplies and deliveries if I have to shop on line. Plus for me it boils down to I have a limited number of Saturdays that I can actually get any shopping down without the child in tow for only 3 hours a time, wfh has screwed up being able to pop somewhere on my way home from work and the nature of my work excludes popping out while she's at school.

I started in June/July. My two are 7 & 3 so easily pleased and don’t want expensive gadgets/latest craze. I buy when I see things on offer and very rarely buy full price. So it’s a grab when you see kind of thing with summer sales etc.

I buy for my parents but they like surprises so again I buy when I see something.

My teenage nieces get money and the smaller nieces/nephew get things I think they’d like for their ages.

I've ordered a hanging Christmas tree shaped ladder thing for the window in the hope that my bastard kittens won't trash it. Not risking a proper tree this year. I also bought some unbreakable decorations for the same reason at a National Trust place last weekend. I've surprised myself to he honest.

I only have to buy for a couple of people so will leave that until nearer the time. It usually involves a trip into town to Debenhams but ours has closed permanently which is a pity.

I've started buying a few things. I want to buy as much as possible from local shops, and thought they might be glad it now.

Plus we have family overseas, so will be posting presents, and I want to get in early in case there are delays.

I haven't started yet but I've got some money put aside for prime day, there are a couple of things I'm planning to get.

I don't like to get all of it too early, especially for the kids. Every time I've got it all done before December I end up picking up extra bits because they are perfect for the person or on a good deal, so I end up blowing the budget. So now I prefer to put money aside in September and October and make a proper start in November.

I'm almost finished. No idea what December will hold and am.not battling the mask wearing hordes in the shops. Thanks to buying early I have also saved a small fortune by not paying over inflated Christmas prices.

I've started the little gifts

I always start come Sept. It's nothing new.
And I have hardly anything to buy, it's just easier to do it sooner than later.

Haven't even started, still paying into my Parks vouchers like the peasant I am

Basically done, but am usually by now anyway

I accidentally started when I found some good reduced stuff. Tbf 1st weekend in oct normally start looking for ideas so I'm only a little ahead of myself

Nearly done, though nothing wrapped yet. I usually start around September but given covid and the fact I am due mid Nov I started in the summer.

I might not be able to get out to shops and worry there will be further restrictions so wanted it done online and early. I am a fan of the bargain thread on the Christmas board, which has saved me a small fortune this year.

With a massive family, I have so much to wrap though which I am not looking forward to! Plan to whack a festive film on and get cracking tonight..

I always start buying stocking fillers from around the end of September, to spread the cost over a few months.

I haven't started yet, much too early. Anything that people want now they are unlikely to want to wait three months for. Unless it's something like a book released in November onwards or Christmas specific food or drink.

Nearly done here - DC are 5 and 7. I only really have DH left to sort and his parents. I always start around Sept to spread the cost, prefer not to spend any of December income on Christmas - we need it for the January! I normally start and work gradually between Sept and Nov, but this year in anticipation of shortages / delivery problems / further panic buying in run up to Brexit I have just plowed on and got it mostly all done in Sept. Dont want to be going out into crowds of shoppers in run up to xmas. Have the alcohol / sweets etc in too (stored at DMs for safekeeping!) and will pick up xmas food for freezer as I go along between now and then.

I’ve usually got a few bits by now but we’re meant to be moving house at the end of the month so I’m trying to hold off till then .

I always start early. I have got stockings and a few little presents for the kids and a main present for my OH. We've also got xmas booze and chocs (most of them) in. If we got into another heavy lockdown I want to have some sort of Xmas here and with this lot it will be scaled down but still enough to feel xmassy. We have a fake tree in the loft too so that will help.

@Janevaljane

All those who've finished - don't you get things people want? Or do you just buy random things? My teens often would like special things and make lists. I don't ask them to make lists in August!

This comment made me laugh a bit. Of course I buy things they want. Why on earth wouldn't I? Being organised doesn't just mean buying a load of crap and hoping for the best.

This year DS is getting a gaming PC - this was actually decided before last Christmas. We have never been a 'write a list' family and I go to great lengths to get gifts that I know they will like.

I could do that when they were younger but now they would like specific things/brands etc. I mean they'd be happy if I got them a pair of Beats headphones for example but may have secretly wanted a turntable. I like to get them one big thing then a few smaller things which I do use imagination for.

I don't but it would not be a surprise if some people have started earlier than they normally would. If they have not had their normal holiday expense they may have the money now, there has been talk of a short period of restrictions (so-called lockdown) over the autumn half term, and there is a perhaps justified concern that increased online sales may lead to delivery issues in December.

I've not even thought about it, but I've got adult DS and only a handful of people to buy for.

If you have a lot to get then it's sensible to start early and spread the cost out.

When mine were little, I used to start in September and have it mostly done by end of October, but they are teens now, and I can't think of anything to get them. I miss buying toys! We don't buy for anyone else, apart from mini gifts for school friends.
Me and dh swap gifts, but I find that a chore, as I never know what to get, and would rather not bother!