To not be doing my christmas shopping

[tarantino123]

It seems everyone has already done their christmas shopping, or else is planning to do so by Thursday. Is this primarily driven by covid/lockdown or are people usually this pre organised?
What's the main reason ? Is it to spread the cost?
I never do mine til 2nd week of December and never have any issue getting things. I put my money every month from July ish to save up.
If you buy so far in advance, how do you even know what people would like that early ? Also if it's > 30 days since you bought the item, the recipient won't be able to exchange it if it's too big/too small/they get duplicates- how do you deal with that?
My extended family are panicking to get to shops. I mostly order online so i'm not bothered. This time i'll just get stuff online if shops don't reopen before christmas.Most retailers have this option.
What's the rush ? Am I missing something ?

You and everyone else will be getting stuff online.
Unless Santa lends his Elves I'd expect longer delivery times.

Do what you want, obviously. The uncertainty has some people worried. Some people don't care. All fine answers. Just do you.

Personally, with having small children and being a prepper by nature I started in August. We don't buy loads usually so it's been manageable, we have dinner stuff in the freezer. My kids might change their minds, if they do and I can get what they want in December I'll get it. If not, then I have things they will like instead.

I’m hoping it’ll lead me away from the meaningless consumerism that comes at this time of year.

Nope, yanbu. Online shopping will still work in Dec.

I've done mine but I find Dec v stressful with work and family things and generally the whole THING so like to get it all done by 30 Nov and then be able to sit on my sofa drinking Baileys tea in December.

I always try to get my shopping done early. Most big retailers have extended return/exchange policies for the holiday season. I like to start shopping in October. Earlier if I see something. I'm hoping to get to some of our local shops before Thursday to browse and see if they have anything from my gift list of ideas so I can support them. They might not be able to open next month.

I love bargain hunting and prepping things like hampers so I start early. Also i have found I can't get pj's I want for nieces etc in the size I want when I go looking later on.
Dc have given me plenty of ideas and I have them sorted. Dh needs clothes and is a standard size so I will sort him.

For me it's spreading the cost but also I can enjoy December without fussing about and waiting on deliveries.

I haven’t done any and in previous years I would have started buying stocking bits (stationary/toiletry bits) in October, mainly to spread the cost a bit, but I have no enthusiasm this year. I may become one of those people I normally despair with and do it all the 20th December!

I usually have most of my Christmas shopping done by November, partly to spread the cost and partly because I don’t like to spend December organising everything.

I also had a feeling there would be another lockdown before Christmas so I was particularly organised this year. I’ve only got a couple of presents left to buy. Not to mention it helps to spread the pressure on the couriers who no doubt are already struggling this year (I work in ecommerce).

Normally, I buy a lot of gifts in Oct/Nov. Most retailers start their Christmas returns policies then so no need to worry about returns. I also only buy for people I know well, so I don’t tend to worry about what they’d like - e.g. I always buy my mum the same posh chocolates that she loves, I always buy my nan something from the same toiletry brand that she likes and wouldn’t normally treat herself to.

Because stocking filler crap doesn’t warrant a delivery charge to me. My second is due any day and tbh the last thing I want to do in a months time is be amongst a load of stressed, shopping deprived Xmas shoppers with a newborn.
I will buy the bigger stuff online in the next couple of wks.
As for what people want- I only buy for kids, I already know the schmutter to buy, won’t change in a month.

I buy throughout the year as I see things people would like rather than waiting and buying something because I have to find something.
I’ve still got a couple to get but not panicking.

I also wrap as I go.

I start early because I like to enjoy christmas without worrying about shopping. DH does his Christmas eve because it's part of his christmas routine, he likes shopping on Christmas eve.

It was a nightmare last year with Hermes failing to deliver stuff so with that combined with thinking another lockdown might happen and the fact I have to get gifts to family overseas too, I started buying early.

I'm almost done so glad i'm not going to be stressing about it but also a bit sad that we definitely won't get to see people we love this year and might not get to see others properly so I'm just glad that they will all have something nice to open on the day.

Argh, I haven't even started yet!
I'll probably just panic buy online during the run up to Christmas lol

I like to have mine done by the end of November, although it's usually earlier. (I'm done this year.) It's because; generally I like to be organised and if something needs doing I don't see the point in waiting for the last minute to do it. I really enjoy doing it so find it fun to take my time with it. I don't live near any family or friends so it's good to have it done early so that I can make time to see everyone and exchange gifts during December.

Also, I once read a tip that to have a good Christmas you should always plan to buy yourself the perfect gift. So I save this for December so I still have shopping to do when everything is all Christmassy.

If you want to do yours just before Christmas that's fine but I don't see why it's such a huge badge of honour to wait until the 11th hour to do it.

December 2010 I remember well, I was always a late shopper, that month we were snowed in twice. No post at all, parcels piled up at the central sorting office, thank goodness my eldest was an ace driver and I had a 4x4 which was used for straw, hay and feed. He became a taxi service for the village he rescued a few too. We got to the central sorting office and queued for ages to get our parcels and post. I became a prepper after that could not go through that stress again.

Fairly organised here I've got mine done this month few bits left to get which I will probably get wed so then I no am done an don't have to worry about it. There's nothing worse an more stressful that shopping in December even just food shopping is a nightmare so I'd rather get it all done before then.

Got into the habit when living abroad. Parcels could take up to 8 weeks if they came by sea, 3/4 weeks by air.

Also this year, I wanted the little stuff and children done asap in case of another lockdown. There's a couple of shops I won't make it to, as I have no desire to drive to one of the big shopping centres right now. But nothing that will be missed really.

I'm hoping the charity collections will be allowed to go ahead though. I know these are relied on by many locally. Demand was expected to even higher this year. It's a mixture of new and second hand toys, books etc., So not easily replaced by simply money.

@Squirrelblanket

I like to have mine done by the end of November, although it's usually earlier. (I'm done this year.) It's because; generally I like to be organised and if something needs doing I don't see the point in waiting for the last minute to do it. I really enjoy doing it so find it fun to take my time with it. I don't live near any family or friends so it's good to have it done early so that I can make time to see everyone and exchange gifts during December.

Also, I once read a tip that to have a good Christmas you should always plan to buy yourself the perfect gift. So I save this for December so I still have shopping to do when everything is all Christmassy.

If you want to do yours just before Christmas that's fine but I don't see why it's such a huge badge of honour to wait until the 11th hour to do it.

Ha funny thing is I think the people who do their shopping in October/November as seeing it as a "badge of honour". I don't consider myself doing it at the 11th hour either, usually done by middle December. The 11th hour is christmas eve !

I live in a place where it's already a pain to get things delivered.

With so many more people buying online this year, I'm expecting it to be worse.

Plus, I really enjoy the process of looking around and choosing lovely little things for people I love. It's cheered me up while I've been stuck at home.

@Biscusting

I’m hoping it’ll lead me away from the meaningless consumerism that comes at this time of year.

Meaningless consumerism it certainly is! It's like there's a compulsion to buy anything and everything or a competition to spend the most.

Do people even remember what they bought/received the previous year?

Do what you want. I'm normally buying presents by now and I have this year. I do it mainly online every year. I do it so I can just do it at a leisurely pace. Bim also normally quite busy enjoying Christmas stuff in December so I like to not be having to do lots of gift shopping.

I’ve done mine. Did it ages ago.

I think there will be quite a delay as everyone will be ordering online. People will be buying more as obviously only essential shops are open. Most people might want to do all their wrapping during lockdown if there is nothing better to do. I bought some stuff in card factory. They don’t sell wrapping rolls on their online website so I figured I better buy them now.

My Christmas shopping was done by September. My children are too young to be asking for specific things and can have more generic gifts in line with what they enjoy doing.

Lockdown played no part in it. I keep my eyes open during the year and pick up what I want when it goes in the sale or there's a good deal. It also helps to spread the cost, and It means when its closer to Christmas, I have more money for activities and I'm not stressed trying to find what I want

I'm actively buying earlier this year because:

• we have been warned not to leave things too late as delivery companies will get overloaded
• in case I get ill
• in case I get overwhelmed which happened in 1st lockdown
• I need to make up a parcel to my shielding parents so want to get everything for that in good time
• lockdown

I try and get most of mine done in November every year.

I got caught out badly one year, I was sent to Sydney with work at short notice in December so did all my shopping online. There was really heavy snow here and most of my Christmas presents arrived in January. Very stressful - never again!!!!