How do you 'do' your Christmas shopping?

[PenguinBear]

Today was my first proper shopping day for Christmas. I usually don't even think about it till November but work is pretty hectic this term and we have building work at home so I wanted to get a head start.

I have a mental list in my head that I wrote this morning.
I've bought some bits to go with a doll she wanted and have got a Furby Boom. I think these will be a big seller this year so got in quick so I could get the right pattern.

Anyone recommend any shops I can get reasonably good stuff at a low price?

Thanks :)

I research on line and make lists for the children and family we buy for we get what we can local / off line the rest we have a day in the city and finish it off.

By a reaching on line it gives me ideas what to get people otherwise we'd spend days roaming round not knowing what to get the vast majority of things come from John Lewis

I make notes of ideas through the year, sometimes pop them on Amazon wishlist. If I see something that jumps,out at me at any time, I' ll get it if I can afford it at the time. Then the last week end of November, I order everything from Amazon.

Try B&M and The Range for cheap presenty stuff.

I write a list and then do all the online stuff over a couple of days and then have a couple of days to get the rest in the shops . For the children I just start shopping in October and finish on Christmas Eve whenever I see something I think they'll like .

I plan online, reserve in store or call to check stock for anything I am particularly needing, then head to John Lewis and the other department stores on Oxford Street. When I'm done I reward myself with a coffee/hot chocolate and a cake somewhere lovely and go home to plan my wrapping.

Order wrapping paper etc online (amazon or paperchase). First or second weekend in December I sit with a mug of tea and Muppet Christmas Carol and wrap.

Online & During lunch breaks for paper etc. I don't celebrate Christmas but have lots of Eid & birthday gifts ti buy. I find the thread below good for bargains:)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1855652--I-squeezed-out-a-baby-today-and-missed-the-sainsburys-salad-bowl-in-the-process-Christmas-bargains-not-to-be-missed-out-on

We do a mixture of:
QVC (especially the Christmas in July day and then the 25th Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov and Christmas shows)

Ebay/ Amazon especially extra Nectar Points days

I like to browse online and buy instore for John Lewis and Lakeland Limited.
For M&S deliver to store so I don't have to wait for the courier.

The Range, Homesense - keep going in to look .

DH and I go out for a day at the end of November without the DC (on a Friday). I have my list, he carries the bags and follows like a disheartened pack horse (but I do buy him lunch and coffee)

The Christmas Eve Hamper pyjamas from Primark.
A few bits for DD (clothes, jewellery)

DS is usually X-Box and techy related (so DS orders online)

Main presents - Amazon or ebay bought between September and December (every payday a little)

Little haberdashery stuff - start looking in shops November / December and just grab what I fancy. There is always loads that I know DS will love, same goes for things like underwear etc.. I just grab them during the weekend shop.

I have a spreadsheet that I've used for the last 5 years. It helps me keep track of what I've bought and who for.

I keep an eye on the book people boxes etc that come to work for stocking fillers and gifts for neices etc. Start looking about Sept and start putting a few bits away.

I ask other people what they want. Not terribly romantic, but makes it easier for me. I just try and find what they want for the best price I can get it for. Amazon etc is my friend.

2 years ago my Dad had heard how good the Rock and Roll Panto we had just been to see was and he was disappointed he'd missed it. So last year I got him a ticket to come with us and he loved it.

This year, I've bought tickets for him, my 2 sisters and their family after checking and finding they'd like to come. It will be like it was when I was a kid and he used to take us. :) Only my Mum left on my side that I need to buy for as she hates panto and stayed at home when we were little.

I've stocked up on the £4 tins of chocs from Tesco today so that's the gifts sorted for the friends who we see rarely, but who still drop a gift of biscuits/chocs etc off on Christmas Eve sorted.

I write a list then order all the big stuff online i get all the little stuff when i go to the mall need 2 go a few times to get everything in and i also get stuff from tescos or b&m when im in

I pick up bits and pieces throughout the year as I see them (especially if they are on offer).

I have a notebook and write it all down so I don't forget anything.

It works really well for me.

Ooo 2kids I love the idea of a spreadsheet.

Please could you tell me how you've laid it out do I can copy it. I am crap with spreadsheets

Amazon
Credit Card
Bottle O'Wine
Start and finish on the evening of the first Saturday in December

If Amazon don't sell it, I ain't buying

When the DC go back to school in September, I buy 'The Christmas Notebook' It has to be small enough to fit in my handbag, so I have it with me all the time.

I make lists of; food and drink, cards & wrapping paper and then each person gets a page to themselves. I write ideas on one side of page and things I've actually bought on the other.

Then I do a combination of online, craft fairs/markets, adding bits when doing the weekly shop and making trips to specific shops eg card warehouse, wilkos, Argos, PLA resource centre. This year I'm hoping to get more bits from small eBay sellers/local craftspeople.

I love the whole build up, but after last years December d&v fiasco (went through me and the DC twice, so lost the first half of December and then got really stressed finishing everything in time) I'm aiming to be pretty much done by the end of November. I plan to sit calmly through the dcs nativity plays, not with half my brain wandering and my fingers crossed that the postman will not come while I'm out. do not remind me of this in December

I get lots of ideas throughout the year, and my main way of organising these ideas is my amazon wishlist. I have several, divided into categories (DVDs, toys etc) and also a specific christmas one where stuff gets moved to as we decide what is being bought.

I do sometimes keep a list on my phone where I organise it by person.

I do have the odd browse in shops in autumn but only ever when it is really quiet as I have social phobia. I often take notes to compare prices.

I buy on amazon usually at least a month in advance, but this year I am determined to support more local shops so I will be making a detailed list and then making a beeline for specific items as and when.

I buy bits and pieces throughout the year if I see anything at a good price. But I start taking things seriously from September .

I am a spreadsheeter and include lists of ideas. I buy Christmas PJs and sometimes wrapping paper and decorations in the post-Christmas sales.

Then my plan of action goes:

Wilkos for bath stuff for stockings
Fairy shop/Accessorize/Claire's for DD's stocking fillers
Transport museum shop for DS's stocking fillers
Visit Harrods toy department and Hamleys with the DCs to see what they like the look of and then try to get it cheaper online
Train journey to nearest Home Bargains
Toys R Us visit for more 'mainstream' type presents
Country Living Christmas fair and Spirit of Christmas fair for decorations
Fortnums/Harrods/Harvey Nicks/Borough market for foody type gifts for non-London relatives
EBay for any character type toys that the DCs are into that particular year

good thread thanks OP

last year i left everything until december and it was utter stress and panic, wondering if delivery would arrive when i was out, suppliers running out of the requested item, prices much higher for items in december etc

so this year, i'm planning...and loving the list making!

Some ideas:

Argos 2 for £20 or whatever it is, good stocking fillers for DC
Amazon for books/dvds and lego/carstoons
tesco or local grocer for bargains on chocolate/edible gifts
Supermarkets or Boots for shower gel stocking fillers for mother/sister etc

will also aim to support local crafts for unique pieces, have seen gorgeous hand knitted hats and blankets (etsy/ebay/gumtree)

(also aiming to complete all shopping by november, as DC 3 due in feb, so i need to save extra cash for spending on baby stuff)

oh and primark is great for wrapping paper - quality, good designs and about 6m for a pound

Penguin - I have 2 tabs per year. One for the main family members and one for my DDs' gifts.

The next column says what I've bought, then how much it cost and finally, whether it is at home (lots of stuff bought online so good to keep track of what has actually been delivered.)

Then I set it up to add up and put under each family member's name how much I spent on them as well as keeping a running cost at the bottom of how much I have spent altogether.

I can go back over the last 5 years and see what I bought people, so I avoid buying duplicates of things that I think people would like,.

Thanks for the layout 2kids. Sounds rather complicated but I shall give it a go! My back up plan will be to ask my dad when we next visit

I have been putting things onto a wish list on Amazon and then I wait for the prices to drop before buying (if they don't drop by December and its something the dc's really want then I buy it full price unless I find it else where).

I also have a shopping trip with my mum to b&m to get stocking fillers and I keep an eye on hot deals and moneysaving expert for gifts at bargain prices.

I then write a list of what I have bought so I don't end up getting carried away.

I'm not doing very well this year, have only bought 2 things (a lego set which was on offer and a onesie for dd1), we are going to take the dd's to toys r us today to get some clues as to what they might want as so far they havn't shown much interest in anything.

I live for the google shopping tool, you can price compare, bookmark etc and then go and find locally (which google shows) the cheapest. I think a physical list is safer than a mental one, but that's because I have a head like a sieve

I find what I'm after online or through suggestions and then pretty much order everything from amazon or reserve at Argos and collect on the way to the school run as only down the road! Stockings etc i get when out and about. I never have to go out for the day shopping as I get it over 3 months gradually. The only time I go the shops is for our Xmas outfits a couple of weeks before but that's nowhere near as stressful!

I have 311 items in my amazon wish list. That contains ideas for gifts for me and all the family. I wish there was a way of breaking it down on amazon person by person. I am the only person with access to the list, and I choose what to buy people from it, buying a bit every week or so from September onwards.