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 ?

I ordered the last present on Saturday. I'm not normally this organised but this year...I'm not leaving anything to chance. Whatever happens the kids will have their lists, I'll have loads of books and we have booze.

I always start in September. It spreads the cost, and I can get things bit by bit rather than in a panic.

I like to get my shopping in early, and have done it even earlier this year as people were struggling to get things in the last lockdown (eg my son wants a Switch so I got that a couple of weeks ago to ensure I had it). I just like to be organised anyway - by the end of November I like everything bought and wrapped then I can relax. Also on occasion I've found things haven't turned up so I've had to chase it up so it's good to be on top if it.

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

Yep. I could make you a list. In fact, thinking about it, I used three of the things I received last year just today. We don't go big, but we do go thoughtful - and that's why I start earlier - because thoughtful takes me longer than tat.

I have cards, an advent calendar, some Christmas food (turkey crown, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes) in the freezer in case it ends up just being me and DP, plus a Christmas pudding. No presents at all. We’re in Scotland so no full lockdown yet...

I haven't started and if I start asking people in my family what they might want I think they would be really annoyed, don't think anyone wants to mention Christmas yet, especially this year. I will probably try not to leave it till literally reliant on next day delivery in case of delays but other than that I am not worried about online.

If I had small children of an age to really notice I would be a bit more concerned to make sure I had things in for them.

Unless posting presents to people so they have them in time then I don't think it will matter too much if things don't arrive for Christmas Day, sadly I think there is little chance of us of all being able to meet up

I'd love to have all my presents for my two DDs bought by the end of November. I've already got a few in, and DD1's main gift. Why?

I don't want to leave it too late and be scrambling around trying to find things, or gifts not arriving in time. I don't mind holding back on presents for DP and my family as they're adults and obviously understand the current pandemic/if something doesn't turn up. But for the kids, even though they're still too young to fully grasp Christmas, I'd rather they had everything on the day.

I'm only spending money that I have, though. Absolutely no way would I be putting anything onto a credit card. The main thing for me is to stay well and truly out of debt.

I don't even think about it until mid December. Maybe if I had small children with exacting requirements I would do it sooner but there's no pressure to get anybody anything.

I’ve got a few bits but I’m not worrying. I’ve decided I’m going to just give dds a Christmas box of all the toiletries that they like and then just give money. As Superdrug, Boots etc will be staying open, I’ll be fine.

Parcel force stated at the beginning of September that they were now delivering a million more parcels a mono more than usual since the start of lockdown and that's before the Christmas rush. They said even with all of the delivery companies employing more people and upping capacity they still think it will be a struggle over the Christmas period so they recommended people start ordering early.

Due to this and Amazon prime day, I have almost finished this year when I don't usually start til 1st December.

I buy all mine early as I want to get exactly what they want. I’d super pissed off if I left it til mid December and then couldn’t get it.

I’ve done quite a lot of mine. I expected a lockdown and wanted to get on top of it. I always start by September anyway though.

Last year in the U.K. 32% of Christmas shopping was done online. This year it’s expected to be twice that. It’s likely that stores and delivery companies will struggle to cope. Probably not a disaster, but deliveries will take longer and some will get lost. Shopping earlier gives everyone involved in that chain more time to sort things out and more flexibility. I think deliberately leaving things until just before Christmas when you don’t have to is a little stubborn and selfish.

Also, personally I find some things sell out when I leave it too late.

I’m not doing any yet. I’ve still got three family birthdays (2 sisters and dad) before the end of November, and never start Christmas until they’re done. My family have all agreed we are waiting to support shops if they reopen before Christmas. If that means no gifts due to lockdown extension then so be it. We’re only doing online if necessary for the kids.

I usually save my Christmas shopping until December. I love walking around the shops and markets, stopping for coffee and cake whilst feeling festive.
Obviously this year I won’t be able to do that, so this weekend I’ve ordered pretty much all of our shopping.
I put £35 per week away for Xmas so as the money is there I thought I’d buy now and not have to worry about delivery times.

I actually had fun looking online for independent gifts for hard to buy for family.

My kids have asked for surprises off us and they have already completed their Father Christmas lists so no issues with getting it wrong. (Except for my eldest who has asked for covid to go away. If only!!)
I’ve left the stocking bits and presents for DH for December.
If lockdown is lifted I can hopefully get my festive shopping fix.

I've not. I'm not overly fussed by it. The sun will still rise and set anyway! If I dont get what I want il just get it at a later date

I bought everything a couple of weeks ago. Presents for kids, advent calendars bought.

Turkey bought. Get ahead gravy and parboiled parsnips in the freezer. Mincemeat made and Christmas cake steeping.

Gingerbread to make soon. Will wrap everything early December. Then I'm done.

I'm always done by the end of October every year. Then from my october pay day I put away £50 a month & start spending late August when I've saved £550.00

Kids I sort first. I ask everyone what they want so there's no duplicates. Adults I do last, so early October. Lots of places have their Christmas guarantee extended until end of January.
Doing it this way is stress free for me & means I get to just relax and enjoy all the festivities coming up (although this year is different obviously)

Oh & I agree with the first poster. If you want until 2nd week of December, things won't arrive until January.

I usually Christmas shop in November, as I am busy with my daughters performing in December. I’ll start soon,

I would normally be starting to think about and getting bits around now. This year, I’m almost finished. We only really buy for our children now, having reached agreements with most extended family that we won’t buy for each other anymore.

It’s been a crap year and I want them to have a nice Christmas so didn’t feel I could leave it any longer really. They made me lists early.

I’d also be worried about delivery time if you leave it too late this year.

I’m the same as you, op. Really not bothered.

I’ve got both my boys (4 and 1) presents bought. It’s my youngest a birthday in two weeks so I bought them all at the same time and then we decided what to give him for his birthday and what to save for Christmas. There was some good sales on so I bought eldest a presents too. The rest of the family and DHs gifts will be bought from November’s pay check, so another fourish weeks

I prefer to shop online and in the past have found that delivery times get a lot longer closer to Christmas. Getting it sorted earlier means I can go for free/cheap slower delivery options and not stress about finding something at the last minute. I tend to buy stuff as and when I see something suitable throughout the autumn.

I am intrigued when people buy gifts 7-12 weeks in advance.
How do you know it's something good the person will like?

@ragged

I am intrigued when people buy gifts 7-12 weeks in advance. How do you know it's something good the person will like?

Why would the time make a difference?