DP thinks I'm mental!

[lucysmam]

Started this years Christmas shopping last Saturday (few reduced decs to replace broken/6 rolls wrapping paper for a quid/cards for school and us/couple of stocking fillers/new snow blanket to replace tatty old one) spent about 4 quid on the lot

So on Saturdays list for this week I have more stocking fillers & am going to mooch around & see what else is on offer cheap.

Plus I was going to get started on the odd little bits of crafty/making I do do for Christmas.....

Please tell me I'm NOT mental & I'm NOT alone in having started already.........................................

No way are you alone!

I bought Xmas dried flowers in Tesco on Sunday, already spying out the best deals on wrapping paper and already tried to order my first pressie. Was oos unfortunately
(Bargainous Unicorn necklace from Tesco)

so glad it's not just me!

I'm going to get stocking presents done by end of Feb, then we're moving so once we move the 3/4 'main' presents each and clothes bits will start

Not been in Tesco or Asda yet...will be on Saturday to see what I can pick up. Wasn't impressed with Wilko this year (last year) though, not much to start with & barely reduced any of it by last Saturday. Usually my one-stop-shop for reduced Xmas paper/cards

Sorry but your DP is right you are mental! I am not at all jealous of your super organisational skills, not me!

My best shopping day is the last Wednesday of January!

Boots 75% off sale

But how do you know what your kids will want next year? I wouldn't have the faintest clue where to start!

oooh, I never normally shop in Boots (like to mooch and look at all the bits I can't afford but not actually shop), but if it's 75% off then I think I may just pop it on my calendar

stockings are always the same bits....vests/knickers/toothbrushes/matey/socks/choc coins/maybe lypsyl this year since dd2 (3yo) pinches mine/couple of xmas themed bits (magic growing trees or something like that) and then a couple of individual bits when we get near

clothes are still picked by me so can do dresses/pj's/jumper/trousers each without worrying about that

As to main presents..dd1 who is almost 6 keeps banging on about 'her own laptop' so may look into a kiddy tablet of some kind for her & dd2 likes my camera (gift from mn xmas appeal a couple of years ago & gets loads of use) so possibly a kiddiezoom

And then other stuff will be things they spy through the year/don't stop waffling about

They're pretty easily pleased really....dd2 got a tea set in a tea pot and creative cakes lego this year. First two gifts she opened & it took until very late afternoon to convince her to open something else to see what it was she was that busy with them

I have bought some bought some wrapping paper (66% off in BHS), and some half price Doctor Who Character Build sets and Sanctuary gift sets (half price in boots).

Usually I buy for DS throughout the year as his interests don't change and it helps me to spread the cost but this year I have set up a weekly standing order to a savings account instead and will start shopping nearer the time.

I like to be prepared and I don't like to pay full price for things. Nothing crazy about that!

Dd is 14 now, but I do lip balms, funny tissues, comb, all sorts.
Also did tree and table pressies for family, I got Top Gear silly putty for the men, "put your own photo in a keyring" thingies, a bird house with fudge blah blah

Toiletry sets for dd friends, just tonnes of bits.

Those wine gift sets they do in BHS went down to £3 in the end! Glass and mini bottle of wine and choco, I get all sorts.

I always used to buy cards and wrapping paper in the sale - not organised enough now.

DM followed my lead one year, and they had an enormous flood which ruined everything, so not much of a saving there!

I have just this second had a very similar conversation with my DP .

I think his parting words were "can you at least wait until she has played with this years toys before you buy any more"!

I've bought a few bits, but haven't had time to go out to any shops. Have bought some craft/make your own decoration kits.

DD will be 3.5 next christmas, so I have been looking at playmobil sets - what the cheapest prices were this year for them, and putting them on to camelcamelcamel to track. That way I won't miss a bargain.

Have bought her first present - they had a playmobil set reduced to £5 the other day, that was a really good bargain, but it has finished now.

BHS will be getting a visit as well then. Would be nice to get other people a 'proper' present without spending a lot.

We have an agreement with the adults in our family that £5 max per adult & whatever they want on the kids. There's 5 kids so far between us and BIL (and his various ex partners) so we thought it better to concentrate on the kids & grown ups tend to get littler bits and bobs to open

Ooh Boots 75% off QOD

Is it selected things like Christmas stock and gift sets then?
On line or instore?
I've never been to it (but now that I know about it.....)

That'll be the 30th ?

Excellent, completely forgot about the boots sale til you just said, have put the date on the calender :)

I don't think you're mental :o

I was hoping to get wrapping paper, nice stockings, wooden advent calendar and maybe a make your own cracker set. I'm not very well at the moment though so can't get into town. Useful info about the Boots sale, thanks. DH used to work there so we'd get even more money off, those were the days!

I am thinking of a few ways to be more organised this year. Eg the stocking fillers - we have settled on some things they will get every year (toothbrush, flannel, vests/socks/undies) so I can get them earlier although I wouldn't do it now as I don't know what characters they'll like.

YourHand - we got some dr who bits too. The Daleks were very well received and are now patrolling the toy castle defending the treasure :o also built the tardis which despite my concerns seems to be pretty sturdy.

I got some, great bits in boots last year, but I am hesitant to wait till 75 off as all that is usually left are Dove things and royal jelly things in our store. Although I did fine a fab soap and glory hand tin last year, lurking at the back! Bonus!

I have already bought paper, tags, a few table decorations and some stocking fillers, same a sprevious poster, the things that they always get- bath fizzes, stationery, notebooks etc

I've bought quite a few gift sets in Boots 50% off. Wrapping paper and cards in primark down to 50p a pack!

Is the Boots 75% as late as the 30th this year? I remember it being around my bday last year which is mid month

I'll be hoping to grab some of the 75% off bits in boots for the ladies and gents (and DC's too if I can) and I store them in the underbed storage if I can. I need cards too but have enough wrap and ribbon to last years!

OP, No you are not mental. Its good economising to buy your wrapping paper, cards and decorations in the sales isnt it?

I have spent the last 3 Christmas days waiting up until midnight waiting to go shoppping on the boots half price sale stocking up for next years pressies, this year they started early though so missed out on some good stuff but still spent £65 and saved well over £70 .

I've also started making baubles and snowflake decorations to sell next christmas at local craft fairs. I did think i was the only one to do this though, and im even off to hobbycraft later to pick up some saes things so ive got them all in ready to make and get crafty with. Dp does think im slightly mental on that though!

I don't buy actual presents but I do buy actual Christmas stuff like wrapping paper, advent calendars, cards etc. Got lovely Xmas mugs last year and it was so nice to bring them out to use this winter! Will be on the hunt in the next few days.

NaiceDude You mean you don't have a Christmas cupboard?

A great idea to pick up craft kits, lip balms etc - not for Christmas, they'd make great gifts for birthdays too.

Also if you pick up gold/silver/brown paper wrap you can use all year for gifts.

I've done this the past few years and been so glad I have when it comes to December. This year, I have bought 4 lancome mascara sets from Boots with 1/3 off (think they were £13 each)and half price perfume sets from fragrance direct. This way, I can get my family much nicer presents than if I left it to December- have lots of sisters/sister inlaws. Last year I bought the marc jacobs dasiy set for £25 in the sales and the exact same set was for sale this Christmas for nearly £50. It's my lovely childminder's favourite so she was absolutely delighted. I also buy cards, gift wrap and gift bags. Then I stash it all in a big box beside all the Christmas decs. in the attic.

By the way, my husband thinks I'm mental too but this is the man who says on christmas Eve, 'what have we got for my mum, sister etc.?' so I just remind him of this and he soon shuts up!

Hmmm I think you are a bit mental. Christmas isn't that important that you need to start planning/buying a year in advance. I suppose buying cheap wrapping paper/cards/decs is sensible but presents? Sorry that is weird.