when you go,who do you do the xmas shopping with?

[knittedbreast]

i always go alone, which takes the joy out of it. its just me making all the decisions and paying for it all. my dp hates shopping, xmas and spending money, oh yes and town and crowds etc...

i dont have many friends with children and my mum and i dont get on very well so it all falls to me.

do you shop alone? if not who with?

After my birthday
By myself
With Google

knittedbreast - I come to Talk via Active Convos - I look at the thread title and not the board that the post is in!

But I still think it's wrong to be talking about Christmas in June ...

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALONE!
I adore my lone christmas shopping expeditions.
I arrive at the local shopping centre early, sup a gingerbread flavoured latte (too too sweet but it is christmas!) at costa whilst perusing my christmas organiser to remind me of who I have left to buy for.
I then meander around the shops from 9am, not too many stressed punters around at this hour, and am done by lunch time.
Home to relieve DH of the DCs.
This usually happens about 4 times during Oct/Nov/Dec.
I can't bloody wait!!!

We don't get much in town now, I get most of it online. I like browsing for ideas in the shops though - probably still alone but only because it's hard to get babysitters. Until this year we went to Boots double staff discount day every November and hammer the 3 for 2 offers, but he doesn't work for them any more so it'll pretty much all be online with the odd bit at an independent toy shop which I want to support.

I was planning to wait until after DS' 2nd birthday (late august, got his presents in the January sale at Boots...) but I'm already planning. The main present for him and DD (4) to share is a dressing up box so that'll need lots of shopping around or I'll end up spending a fortune.

I'm hoping to start my new job soon so once it's confirmed I might start getting stocking fillers (mostly wooden train track accessories) if they are on offer. Prices on amazon change so much.

I like doing the shopping myself (even for DH's DCs) - we do discuss ideas though. DH does most of the Xmas dinner so it seems like a good exchange :o

I tend to do most of my shopping alone because I like not having to argue with DH about what to buy. He usually does his family's two days before christmas and gets them all alcohol. I do go shopping with my mum and then with my nan but I don't buy much.

I usually do it on my own, with a brief chat with DH about what to get the DC, and i usually do it all online. However this year i think i'm going to go on a shopping trip with my mum for a few bits and pieces. I love christmas, this will be our first christmas that we spend just the 4 of us and i bloody well can't wait

Mine is usually-
online for main presents.QVC and Amazon

a late lone trip to Bluewater or Lakeside for last minute shopping late evening.Usually the week before Christmas.
Sainsburys trip on 22nd/23rd Dec for last minute fresh foods and veg

DH and I try to fit in a days shopping at the end of November before it gets too hectic ( he carries the bags and docilely follows me round )

I buy all the stocking gifts ,new PJs for DCs when I see things I like

We plan a trip out to London before Christmas and go to Hamleys . Last year we went to Winter Wonderland and it snowed. It was magical.
Getting home was a nightmare but you forget that.

This year I will check out the new Westfields in Stratford.

I usually have a trip to our nearest big shopping centre with DH (but not dd), sometime during December and we get most of the shopping done in one go.

I have a list of what we need and where to get it (researched in advance on-line) so it's fairly painless, we have lots of coffee breaks and generally make it a nice festive day out.