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

I've started and am probably about 50% done.

I always start reasonably early, so I can spread the cost and aim to have everything bought, wrapped and ready to give by the first week of December.

I don't want to be stressed out with present shopping in mid December, I'd rather be curled up with a baileys, a mince pie and a Christmas film

Nope not even started and I have 5 kids and a big family

About 2/3rds of the way through here. I always buy things when they occur and put them away so that they are things which I genuinely think folks'll like rather than having to scrabble around and chuck money at something that'll do in the time available. Bonus is that it gets done without as much of a big bang effort!

I’ve nearly finished. I’ve got everything for the three dc and dh. And a little something for dm. And birthday presents for two of my friends who have birthdays two days either side of Xmas.
Still need to get for pil and dss but that’s it. Thinking about starting the Xmas cake soon. Not bought any food yet or it’ll just get eaten! I always start in around sept otherwise how is it affordable?

Haven’t started, we both have massive families and buy for everyone (apart from our own siblings and their partners although there are 2 siblings who don’t have children so we buy for them aswell) and 3 dc of our own.
I never start until December, 2 of our dc have November birthdays and the list of people to buy for is so long that I don’t want to give it months worth of headspace. I give myself a week to 10 days to just get it all done and that’s it.
Finances aren’t tight so I don’t need to spread it out from that point of view. We also would struggle to store things for months that wouldn’t get in our way or make the house look really cluttered, plus I wouldn’t have a clue what people might want in 3 months time. I’d rather wait until closer to the time and ask them.

I’ve bought two pairs of socks, that counts!

My kids are nearly 3 and 5. I've bought a few stocking filler type things as I've seen them. I will leave any bigger purchases until late November at the earliest. I have a list of ideas but there's a good chance that they will encounter a toy between now and Christmas that will become their most longed for thing so I'd rather wait a while.

I've got an idea of main presents for the kids but waiting for some vouchers to come through before I purchase.
DS's birthday is 10 days before Christmas so I've got to think of that as well 🤔

I've made a start , it's DH birthday just before Christmas. Just makes things a bit more complicated
Last year we ( DH and I ) gave each other token gifts , the plan was to go away for a weekend every month in 2020 .... that was a good plan 😷

I'd have no idea what anyone wants for Christmas yet! I definitely have no ideas and for small things, if I need them now then I'll buy them rather than wait 3 months until I can ask someone to get me them for Christmas.

My kids are older which I'm not sure if that makes it easier or harder? Easy as clothes and money could be sorted in a weekend but they still like surprises and I like buying little things and refuse to give money for Christmas.

Last year I said I'd try and have everything sorted by the end of November but with work so manic and the fact that nobody has even thought of Christmas (I feel like we've literally just finished summer!) I'm sure I'll still be wrapping presents mid-December...

Nah. I will do lots online and have a shopping day in Norwich in Dec.
Nothing to send overseas (apart from cards) and we don't exchange more than token gifts for adults so it's just the kids (14 of them age 4-21).

I enjoy it.

I only buy for DD and usually start in the summer so I can spread the cost. I'm a bit late this year and only bought the first item last week 👍

I think it is true, folk are now realising what it's going to be like at Xmas. Massive queues to get in shops etc. Obviously you can buy most stuff online but sometimes it's nice to see the product in front of you.

I always start early so no different for me. I am starting to buy more though when I see it. Mainly things for my little girl. Need to wait a bit longer to see what she finally decides on as her main big present though.

I've still got lots to buy, especially for family as I have a lot of birthdays before Xmas too.

I’ve started mine too so that I can spread the deliveries out. We’re only shopping online so when I need something I tag something on towards Christmas. Have started to add a Christmas treat or two to the food shopping each week so that if items get restricted again I won’t have to worry about non essentials as will already have them.

All of DDs bar one has been bought, all from ebay to make our budget stretch a bit further, this is the first year she'll really 'get' it and what it's about. DHs family have a secret santa as they're a big family (large budget on your santa, fiver for everyone else) after years of spending an age on opening presents and various filler gifts. Won't be able to get those until the draw is done next month. DH wants everyone to club in for a fitness tracker so that's sorted for him. Feeling pretty organised already!

Going to go for the brown paper wrap that can be recycled this year, get some xmas stamps and let DD go wild on it

I think for some people, me included, I know for sure that December 25th will happen. There isn’t much that can stop the date arriving. I’ve accepted it might not be the usual Christmas that my family love, so I’ve stated preparations a bit earlier than usual so enjoy every bit of what I can before things change again.

I am, but I always am by this stage. I can't do it all in one go financially - have to break it down over a few months.

Yes I have - 3 teenagers - and 2 birthdays before Christmas as well (DD1 Weds and DD3 in December) so I have to start early to avoid being skint!

I've not only started, I'm about finished. I have 3 more presents to buy, just waiting on them telling me what they want when I see them tomorrow then I shall get them and Christmas shopping is finished. That also includes all the sweet treats for dd, stocking fillers and xmas Eve box.
I've also wrapped everything I already have.

YABU The word Christmas doesn't register in my brain until about two weeks before.

I've started getting bits and bibs. But only things if someone says I want such and such or I see something and think such and such would love that.

Only because I'll either forget they want it or it will be sold out.

Also it spreads the cost out

Well, I'll be popping over to Aldi to pick up something later for some friends - it won't be there next week.

I got 2 books for a friend in an ebay auction that was offering the deal I wanted now, can't bank on getting that closer to Christmas.

I think it's a good point to spread it out to help the postal/delivery services - do it now and couriers will still have work between now and the panicfest of Christmas.

I usually refuse to even think about Christmas until December 1st but this year I have already bought all of my DC's "Santa" presents. I'm planning on getting their clothes soon and I will be buying food for the day alot earlier than usual. We're even talking about buying a chest freezer to store food in. Hoping to be completely done by December 1st. I've become the type of person I hate

Reasons for this 1. I didnt want to order the Santa presents online incase they were delivered while my children are at home, so all shop bought while kids are in school.

1. I'm worried about another lock down and not being able to get things even on line. It took 3 months just to get a trampoline delivered during the last lock down because they were in such high demand.
2. Shops at Christmas time are always packed. I hate this at the best of times but this year, due to limited numbers allowed into promises, we will have to que for hours just to get into the shop and then que again to pay for the stuff. No thanks

I’ve been shopping since April when I found a beautiful Barbour scarf for under £20 in a sale. I’ve just got a couple more bits to get from DH then I’m all done bar the wrapping. Turkey is ordered and paid for out of the pee pot, butcher’s order is going in Tuesday morning and I’m slowly stashing drinks and packaged stuff with long sell by dates away. Fresh stuff has been budgeted for so it’s just a case of picking it all up now.

I suspect that this Christmas is either going to be very quiet due to tight finances, lost loved ones and not being able to see family, or everybody is going to go absolutely bonkers and splash out because it has been such a rubbish year. I hope for the sake of the economy that it’s the latter, but I’m not going to put myself through the worry of delayed deliveries or worrying about money. I like December to be about fairy lights and Christmas trees and absolutely no stress because of crowds, shopping in miserable weather or tight finances!

Like many people I usually start at this time of year to spread the cost and avoid a last minute rush. I like to be done by December so I can enjoy the run up to Christmas sat under a blanket eating mince pies .

I started particularly early this year, in August. Children are almost sorted so just adults to buy for. Primarily as I just wanted something nice to look forward to but also I was worried about delivery issues/overcrowded shops in run up to Christmas.

I've started buying a couple of bits of non-perishable food for Christmas now and will add one or two things each weekly shop. I just find I can relax if I know that even if the world is going mad we can cozy up at home, have enough food in and Father Christmas will definitely have delivered the children's presents