To think people have a superiority complex about leaving Christmas shopping late?

[windturbines]

I've just been on a thread and I noticed a few snide comments directed at the OP for shopping early for Christmas. Presumably, late October-early November. Which, in my opinion (and this year especially) is the most sensible thing to do, funds permitting?

I'm aware some need more time to save up, etc, but if you can afford to shop early, I don't see why it's a bad thing. Leaving shopping until mid and late December doesn't make you anymore festive, does it?

I personally would never run around the shops on Christmas Eve trying to find everything but I wouldn't judge someone who does. However, it seems like it's fair game to give off at someone who is organised early?

YABU - It's weird to shop for Christmas early
YANBU - Shopping early is the only way!

I didn’t vote because I do it differently every year! Depends on how busy we are really.
I’ve done it early this year just because, well, there’s not much else to do is there? Plus I don’t want there to be an issue getting hold of the things the DC have asked for if I leave it too late. Some years I’ve left it until mid December if I’ve been particularly busy with work/social events.

Weren't many of the criticisms on the other thread aimed not at the fact that the OP had done her Christmas shopping in November but that she expected a 10 year old to have written their Christmas list 2 months in advance. And, having said they didn't want anything in particular, she took them at their word without realising they were almost certain to change their mind.

I usually have all my Xmas shopping done by the middle/end of November. I hate shopping, especially in December when it’s busy, so usually get most of it online. One year I managed to get all my Xmas present for the year in the January sales! That was before dc though! Now I start around September as I need to spread out the cost a bit or it’s too much. I can’t believe people feel smug about other people having to start early because they can’t afford a big cost in one month!

Oh and I should add the caveat that I just can't shop in summer/September for Christmas. As soon as daylight savings happens though it's festive enough for me to start

@MessAllOver

Weren't many of the criticisms on the other thread aimed not at the fact that the OP had done her Christmas shopping in November but that she expected a 10 year old to have written their Christmas list 2 months in advance. And, having said they didn't want anything in particular, she took them at their word without realising they were almost certain to change their mind.

Ah is this the thread where the op’s angry with her dss for putting something on the Xmas list now, when she’d already done all the shopping?

We also have DD’s birthday in Nov, my Dad’s, FIL’s and DH’s in December and DS’s in Jan so we have to be pretty organised or it would be manic.

I haven't even begun to think about what I want for Christmas yet

One year I managed to get all my Xmas present for the year in the January sales!

See, this one is my slight bugbear if I'm honest. It just smacks of buying any old crap that you have no idea if it will even be remotely relevant to the person in 11months time, just cos it's cheap.
I have stuff like slippers, socks & knickers etc that I buy as presents every year but it's only a small percentage of what I buy overall. I couldn't call the rest of it that early - if I want to get something they actually want. Which is what Christmas is all about for me.

Shopping early is one thing, but having everything bought and wrapped and under the tree in October is weird imo. I usually start in November, buying bits and pieces, whatever i can afford. How is it a sign of wealth to shop in December Redwrecker? Most people i know are only recovering from back to school costs in October and have to save up for Christmas, they have no choice but to buy nearer xmas.

@CheetasOnFajitas

Honestly? I am just not a great saver! My budget for Christmas comes out of around 2, sometimes 3 pay packets, which I recognise is a privilege - but I prefer to just buy it when I have it.

I would say my second reason - of less December stress and enjoying the season, is probably the bigger factor. Even if I could save the money, I prefer to spread the purchases over 2/3 months in order to not get present shopping fatigue and not to limit my options. I enjoy shopping with independents, it can often mean longer delivery times - I don’t want to worry about if things will turn up on time.

No one really cares when you do your Xmas shopping.

@Deadringer Did caveat this with not all and probably just my circle ;)

Is it not a privilege of money to be able to buy whatever is available on that month of Christmas without having to plan in advance for any offers or without forward thinking?

People I know who spend it as they get it earlier in the year in preparation for Christmas often do it in case the money gets eaten up with other things.

I always get most of the Christmas present shop done in September - early November. I allow for the one 'I must have it' present for DH although he's grunted two items at me so far and shrugged whenever I've said is there any special you'd like for Christmas! Just become a teenager and Kevin from Kevin and Perry has entered the room!

I also start buying food bits and pieces as they come in the shops - just an item each week or so. It spreads the cost, saves me hurtling around the shop chasing the people who seem to have every loaf of bread in the supermarket in their trolleys a few days before Christmas and means I know I've got everything in. That came from my mum and from the fact that, working one Christmas Eve when I was first married, I decided to get cream etc on the way home. Two supermarkets - no cream. Christmas without cream - it was like someone had switched the lights out!

I mainly do it because I run a small, on line Etsy business that sells items that are more in demand at Christmas. So December usually means working the day job, then doing orders in the evening and usually the weekends too in between doing the usual Christmas events like pantos etc. So trying to do it all in December would send me insane. Just getting the tree up and the house decorated, even with DH and DS doing the majority, is enough.

Christmas is a lot of work if you have a family or do the emotional labour of Christmas. I tend to find lots of the arsey comments are from people who don't have to do as much work.

For example today my mum was saying my dad had said she's obsessed with Christmas shopping. But she buys everything for around 15 adults and 5 kids. Plus decorates, wraps the presents, makes arrangements (less so this year!) buys the food and cooks it. So it's easy for him to be rude about her shopping lots or early but she has to in order to get it all done.

My uncle has always been a great one for criticising the gifts bought for him by other people. But I don't think he's chosen a gift for anyone else for years... I'm not sure he'd know where to start. My aunt does it all.

I don't shop early. Nothing to do with finances, it's just because I can't get in the mood for thinking about Christmas until at least mid-November. People can obviously do as they please, but I dislike Christmassy stuff starting early. It drags it out and spoils the fun.

In normal times I don't want people focusing on Christmas too early as autumn can be a beautiful season and I want to appreciate it. This year given that the restrictions could possibly be extended (doubt it), I don't blame anyone for starting earlier.

YABU with your poll; neither are 'weird'. Just different approaches

This ^

Neither is better for everyone. We are all different, and have different circumstances. I wouldn't be surprised if most people do a mix - start picking things up during the Autumn but end up having to get a couple of things quite close to Christmas.
Not sure why you feel the need to divide people into two Groups

People get ‘superior’ about it because really what they’re saying is they can afford to just get all their presents etc in one go in December and have the funds to do so. Whereas us mere mortals perhaps can only afford to get them a few at a time starting in September. If I left all present buying until December I’d be skint.

Just to clarify, I really don't think there's anything wrong with leaving shopping until late December. It only becomes an issue when people are flustered and rude to retail workers (I've worked in retail and hospitality over the festive season for years and some of the behaviour I've seen has been horrific), or when you go and things are out of stock, which is what I try to avoid by shopping in November. Some of the gifts I've bought my girls are already out of stock and I only got them last week, for example.

I definitely agree regarding starting earlier making it financially easier as I like to spread the cost rather than have one huge outlay. The Christmas food shop in December alone is quite hefty for us.

Regarding comments made about 'the thread' I was reading, I agree and disagree, really. Yes, OP 'should' have waited until she knew what DSS wanted, but I really found some of the responses about her being a 'smug shopper' and starting too early a bit rude and it got me thinking. It was obvious, to me anyway, she had tried to plan things and buy things he'd like, and with the current climate, I can't see it as a bad thing.

That being said, I do enjoy having a last minute mooch around the shops on Christmas Eve as I love soaking up the atmosphere, but without the stress of having to find and carry loads to the car :)

It depends on the age of who you are buying for . My children are all in their early 20s and haven’t a clue what they want yet !!! Easy to buy for the elderly or little people at any time of the year .

I can’t afford to do it all in one month, so it gets staggered. From around october time.

People can feel superior if they like, it won’t be me waiting for ages to get into a shop in the cold and pissing rain, nor will I be wringing my hands on 23rd December hoping my deliveries will actually arrive, so I don’t really care 🤷‍♀️

I don't think I'm superior for not getting in a tizz about Christmas in August, I just think I have different priorities.

Literally the only thing that fucks me off hugely about Christmas is that I can't be on Mumsnet without seeing it shoved in my face from August onwards, when I actually don't want to think about it until December. As I don't watch commercial TV or go to shopping centres I can pretty much avoid it if I want to. Mumsnet is the exception to the rule.

If HQ could just get round to moving threads to their relevant topic then we'd all be happy.