To start buying Christmas presents now?

[NeedingASafeSpace]

If you think about how many pay days you have before Christmas time, it isn’t a lot, honestly. Well, not when you have small children and birthdays to plan for, too.

I am planing to start extra early this year, so that I am not stressing about presents come the Christmas period. Does anyone else do this?

previously, I have tried to save but it doesn’t really work out for me. Only issue is, my children will almost definitely go off the characters they are into, currently. What would some good suggestions be, please?

They really are! I like the Mastercards because I can get bits of food with them too!

I start Christmas shopping in January. Always done and wrapped by October

If money is an issue then of course you are wise to budget. But if it were me I would save not buy. I can’t bear to think about Christmas with spring just here.

Yes they’re great
I have some Mastercards and then some M&S vouchers for fancy food, but I was looking at the purple card this year you can change it round a bit on the app
historically I used the vouchers but you can’t use them online can you? And interestingly at the entertainer the take the love to shop cards but not the vouchers which was a pain!

Ha! I get a £200 M&S voucher too for fancy food! Great Minds!

I’ve already bought some and if I’m not sure then I put the money to one side to make it easier later in the year

this is the organisation skills I strive for!

The issue with vouchers are that a lot of companies will not honour them if they go bankrupt. You would probably be better to have a savings account.

I do certain things….i always get a few bits in the boots sale for kids filler gifts, I saw a Man U onesie down to £10 for my youngest so I’ve grabbed that, got a lovely handbag in the white stuff sale for my step mum (she’s v hard to buy for), also I’ve just ordered some homeware on Oliver Bonas for people like dog walker/groomer who I can’t afford to spend lots on but they have some cute trinket boxes down to £7 so I’ll add some chocs to that

kids/teens main gifts I’ll hold off until much closer. Probs November time

I know loads of people who start prepping for next Christmas in January, I usually start a bit later - May time. There are 2 main methods my friends and I use. I personally use a combination.

The first is to save money either in a separate account or in a box/jar/ envelope. Some people do £x a month. Some put leftover money at the end of the month into the account.

The other method is buy through the year - usually when something is on sale or a good deal. Or if you see something someone would really like. This works well for more generic gifts/ stocking presents and adult gifts. Not so much main children's presents, that's where having that saved money through the year comes in.

I also have friends who do the whole next year's Christmas shop in the January sales.

I personally do the save through the year and buy as you see. I put £10 a month away and then top up with the leftovers from the school holidays spend budget. This is where I have a budget for the school holidays so this Easter holiday I budgeted £100 for the holiday. This has to cover all days out, car parking charges, ice creams/ drinks/ food bought at venues. As it is we were unwell the first week of the Easter holidays so we spent 0 that week on outings. This week we have had a few days out (3 to places we have either an annual pass, a visit once come all year ticket to or free - museum) and then one paid for day out. In all I've spent £36 of my £100 budget. I will roll over £30 into next half terms budget and then put the rest towards Christmas saving. If I go somewhere and see something that I know someone on my gift list would like and it's on a good deal/ sale then I use that money to buy it and put it aside.

I bought a box of Xmas cards, 8 rolls of wrapping paper and a box of Xmas crackers about a week after Xmas all for half price. I just put it back in Xmas cupboard for next Xmas. I bought a bottle of Boss Man Hugo Boss aftershave for 19 year old foster child I got with 40 percent off and popped into Xmas cupboard but I might give it to him on his birthday if he doesn't ask for anything specific. I put money into separate bank account to save for Xmas.

I buy when I see things! Whether it's January or June or September, if I see something that will be a perfect gift for someone, I buy it there and then. Spreads the cost, spreads the workload, I can arrive at December with everything bought, paid for and wrapped.

But this does work best if you aren't buying for children whose wants change on an almost daily basis. I am only buying for adults and very tiny babies, so it's easier for me.

Why doesn't saving work? Personally I would rather put X amount each month into a separate account rather than buying vouchers for companies that could go bust.

As others have said, be aware of buying in advance. I used to do this but like others have been caught out with a change in interests.

What my children are in to now, will massively change by December. I also don’t want to have stuff sat round the house all year. Yesterday I found loads of bath bombs and smellies that haven’t been touched from Christmas just gone. Similarly o tend to buy seasonal presents like scarves or winter candles for friends and family and shops won’t be stocking those things now.

I would just put the money away.

Yes but mainly because if I see something that would make a great gift I buy it there and then, rather than a budget reason. I usually have bought at least one Xmas present by now, but not this year!

I buy throughout the year, if I see something I know they will love, I get it. Mostly stocking fillers and smaller presents. I have a big family, It really helps with the financial hit

I buy throughout the year, if I see something I know they will love, I get it. Mostly stocking fillers and smaller presents. I have a big family, It really helps with the financial hit

For years I bought supermarket savings stamps for the Christmas food shop. I used to buy a couple of quids worth here and there on top of the shopping. They soon mounted up and made Christmas budgeting so much easier. I used to start buying them in Jan/Feb. Perhaps do something like that as they could be used for presents as well, especially if you have to buy for children.

I've already got a couple of presents I picked up on sale. And some stocking presents.
Each month I put some money aside for Christmas/birthday presents as soon as I get paid. Some months I then spend it if I see something good but otherwise it just sits there till needed.

@caringcarer

I do exactly the same with wrapping paper and cards. It's a no brainer really, they are half price or less after Christmas.

I save on Monzo , around £200 a month which includes food and outings
Personally its too early to buy now as things are either no longer wanted or the boxes etc get squashed

I do most of my shopping one evening online and its great just paying for it and no miserable January

Save with a building society in a passbook account, so that it's a bit of a faff to go and get the money out. You will earn a little bit of interest in the meantime, which is never a bad thing.

I save every month too, for Christmas and birthdays- £100. Plus I get paid in vouchers for doing surveys so I save that up too.

Even teens change their minds last minute, but it is easier now they're older.

For things like wrapping paper, I always get this in the sales.

I do have a drawer for little bits if I see something, but honestly part of me getting to grips with my finances was saving monthly for EVERY annual cost. (MOT, birthdays, christmas). It is tough but having the restraint to not dip back in took me some practice, but it causes a lot less stress having the pots there and ready.

90% of Christmas and birthday presents were bought in the past Christmas sales. I bought all of the wrapping paper and Christmas cards then too. Most of what i bought were between 50% and 75% off so i have saved a fortune. Start now and it takes the pressure off.