To start planning / buying for Christmas?

[Farevalah]

Went to Tesco the other day and noticed the tubs of Roses and QS at the front, which only means one thing!

I've made a start on a few small gifts, DH thinks I'm crazy and it's far too early. Please tell me I'm not the only one planning in August? ☃️🎄🎁

Never too early to start! I’ve only got a few bits but it’s just easier to buy something you think someone would like when you see it rather then try and hunt it down months later when everyone is going shopping crazy.

Most of my adult presents are brought by November. I usually leave the children a bit later so I can get one thing of their wish list.

How much are the tubs of chocolates ? (Asking for A Friend , obvs )

I have my List started , just jotting things down in a big notebook as I think of them.
I've ordered some giftbags
I have a Christmas pudding from last year (still good til March 2022)
I have in block capitals Do Not Make Cake . No-one Eats It

Costco starts selling Christmas items mid Sept

My wardrobe is the storage space (presents) , I take a photo on my phone when I buy something
I cleared the pantry last week so I can set aside a shelf for Christmas foods

Too early .......... Is that even A Thing ?

It’s too early for me, I prefer to wait until after the schools go back.
September - booking Santa experience and pantomime.
October - order turkey and other food (M&S) and make Christmas cake.
November- shopping, usually start with cards and wrapping paper. Buy chocolates and biscuits. Try to finish present shopping by early Dec (I wrap as I go) then all I’ve got to think about is the rest of the food.

If I have seen something earlier in the year that I think someone would love for Christmas I will buy it and put it away but I don’t really think about Christmas during the year.

I voted YABU Op ... August is way too late for me to start I begin planning in May, it helps stop the costs spiralling out of control. Come and join us on the Christmas bargains thread

I've started on the stockings and a few small things. The Christmas Bargain thread is a godsend

I buy small gifts throughout the year for my daughter. Either for her June Birthday or Christmas. Much easier on the purse and it seems easier to spot things when meandering.

Go for it, I started in September last year!

Yes, I’ve started, even got my wrapping paper and cards in the matalan sale this week.
I have 4 DC, all December/January birthdays (badly planned hey) so it’s such an expensive time for us. I’ve been ticking a few things off the lists in the last couple of weeks. It just makes things more easier financially as DH is self employed and never know what can happen.
I also host all the family for Christmas dinner so that works out bloody expensive too on top of presents.

Yanbu. The Father Christmas gifts are mostly purchased, as we pick up bits and and when we see them.

I’ve started a gift list and decided the DCs are having bikes so that’s pretty easy.

And cards and wrap were purchased in January, and a new tree in Feb half time sales!

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with picking up a few bits here and there to help spread the cost. This has been particularly useful to me in the past when I’ve been on a much lower income and can’t afford to do it all in one monthly pay packet (or two packets!).

But I’m not one of those people who starts getting prepared early by putting up the tree/decs too far in advance - I love Christmas but definitely get festive fatigue if I start thinking about it beyond picking up the odd thing.

I start as soon as I see the ideal gift for somebody on my list and have intentions of doing this for each person, doesn't always work and sometimes a rush at end but roughly. Why have an expensive December when everything else heating etc is more expensive I spread it out

There was a thing on the radio yesterday (R4, think it was on PM) about food shortages of Christmas food because of a lack of workers for food processing due to brexit. So I bought some pigs in blankets for the freezer today x

I do admire those who can plan so far ahead. But what happens when kids don't know what they want yet, or grow out of what they said they wanted in July? Or if the must-have festive thing, decoration, toy, food, whatever, doesn't become talked about until November? I would feel I'd wasted my money if I bought a generic cashmere scarf or something and there was something more up to date available nearer Christmas.

I will probably make a start in a few weeks time! I like it to be officially Autumn before I start thinking about Christmas.

I've already got a few of DD's gifts. I'm not one for getting the tree up early but I do like to have the majority of gifts done by the end of November and then anything else is a Brucie Bonus.

@MrsBumm

I do admire those who can plan so far ahead. But what happens when kids don't know what they want yet, or grow out of what they said they wanted in July? Or if the must-have festive thing, decoration, toy, food, whatever, doesn't become talked about until November? I would feel I'd wasted my money if I bought a generic cashmere scarf or something and there was something more up to date available nearer Christmas.

I got things I knew they would love and wouldn’t date in advance so board games, puzzles etc and then they did lists late November and it was easy to just do a big order and add on anything else we wanted them to have. Adults are much easier to buy for in advance as I tailor each gift rather than generic ones and so no reason something better would be available nearer Christmas for them.

I was in the local FairTrade shop and the lady behind the counter was on the phone talking to someone and saying, "Well with Christmas coming up...".
So.

Got a huge present I know it all seems about me this will change soon but got 11 disc set of Thomas Tallis music for a brilliant price that’s going away, so’s the Fame novel and Vision Quest on blu ray. I really can’t wait to start looking at stuff for in-laws from F and M again, they loved it last year so doing the same again.