Almost done and feel a bit sad

[3bunnies]

Thanks to the bargainous thread I have almost finished my shopping and they haven't even written their Christmas lists. dc are well supplied. I have a few things left to order for other people when Nov pay comes in, but I know what I am getting and unless massively reduced somewhere probably best to wait. I still have wrapping to do which I hate but will do over the next few weeks of nursery. I also have some craft stuff to do and some cakes for Stir up Sunday. I have never been so well prepared.

Other than this how can I keep the momentum going? The word is banned by dh in the house until Dec 1st!

It might be nice to give it a bit of a breather and then ramp it up in December.

I enjoy Christmas but I really do think starting too early makes you fed up with it all!

I'm finished all my buying, wrapping and baking and am sitting here twitching until DH lets me get the tree out. I can't wait! If you're looking for something Christmassy to do maybe make some decorations with the DC?

I love finishing the gift bit early.

I'll be spending the next few weeks making decorations and deep cleaning, at a leisurely pace

I have about 2 items left to buy. The rest is bought, wrapped, labelled and bagged up ready to go! Cards are written too. New tree and decorations waiting to be put up...

God only knows how this has happened, I'm normally running around town christma eve trying to finish things off!

What will you do if what they write on their lists is different to what you've bought?

This is why I don't do anything to do with Christmas until the last week of November.

Two of mine have birthdays in Feb so things can be bumped around a bit, they've already been discussing what they want and FC tends to mainly bring the stocking tat. Plus their lists are rarely substantial enough to make a Christmas - last year dd1 (7at the time) wanted a car that she could fly to school in, immortality and a teddy. She only got 1/3 as far as we know - I've told her not to bank on having immortality!

I do have some work that I need to do before end Nov, so maybe should just duck out of Christmas land for a while and come back in a few weeks!

In our house FC brings the stocking plus something not too huge (usually under £20 as the asked-for present) as "he has to go all around the world so don't be greedy" - so when they do see him (we've booked for 30th November at a local attraction) I can get whatever else they have asked for. That's why we see him for the "proper" visit (as opposed to random appearances in shopping centres/school fair etc) at the beginning of December to give me time to order/find whatever they want or to manage expectations if it's something as rare as rocking horse poo.

All presents wrapped, have divvied up the stocking fillers into a carrier bag per child, a couple more to get then I will wrap those (with different wrapping paper from that used on "our" presents!) and job's a good un :)

December will be all advent calendars, baking treats, mince pies, Christmas CDs and family films - no pressure

I guess that I am just used to the buzz of the high street. I am going with a friend but I know that I have spent (and saved) a fair amount already so I need to keep my purse firmly tucked away. However for the last year I will have little eyes with me - maybe next year I will hold back a bit more so I can spend more in RL. The bargains were just too bargainous though!

I'm feeling a bit funny now that everyone is starting to get Christmassy but I've been dipping in and out since September july, like its 'my' thing.. how daft am I!!

Aside from DH's presents which we get in December when we both have a day together at the Christmas market, I'll be finished buying next week Thursday on payday. I always feel a bit sad when there's no more packages due...

Then DH and I spend a festive evening in December swigging eggnog and wrapping the presents. I've done the Christmas cake and mince pies already, rest of the baking can only be done nearer the time. I've made the garland and DC's stockings. I basically spend December baking and crafting with DC. Ahh... I love this season.

You could

Make flavoured booze
Start writing cards
Research carol services, ice skating, free stuff to do
Practice your 'ooh its lovely MIL' face
Write your new years resolutions
Get ahead with work so not pressured nearer Christmas

I know how you feel I am done really too.

However I also think it will be nice to go to shops at last minuet and have a look, get that buzz but without the actual desperate need that makes people buy utter rubbish like two slippers both left foot in different sizes from DF

I have the antidote to this.
Have everything done before December except for the stocking fillers and sweeties.
Then have a lovely day in town picking up these bits and pieces, soaking up the atmosphere and partaking in a lovely mulled wine gingerbread latte and a bit of festive people watching.
I usually do this in the second week in December.

I thought I was the only lunatic to feel like this. I have most of my shopping done and just a few bits left to get when we get paid next week. I already know what I need to buy, so no more browsing to get that perfect gift or wondering what they would like.

I have no baking or freezer cooking done, so will spend the last two weeks of November stocking up with mince pies and anything else I can cook to get ahead.

I definitely feel a bit lost now that the present buying is almost done! I have saved an absolute fortune tho, and because of the bargains my kids are getting far more than I thought I could get originally and I am still under budget. Will use the extra I have saved for some nice days out over the christmas holidays!

make salt dough Christmas decorations?

If anyone has finished they can feel free to help me

the bottom of my wardrobe is full of bags of presents, i#m going to spend saturday sorting them out and maybe start wrapping.

i took a notepad through to ds and asked him to write some ideas for his birthday and Christmas , both in December/

he's getting tights if he doesn't put his thinking cap on.

I haven't started yet if you want to shop feel free to do mine, i am a shop on Christmas eve type as the teenagers keep changing thier minds, plus im a, skint, i hate christmas

I haven't done much yet as I think too soon spoils it.
Much better for me to wait and the joy is worth waiting for.
I'm not even sure we'll put tree and decs up much before 23rd.

I've hardly done anything. Have a huge list written out for my shopping frenzy on Saturday with my friend. No DC and 6 hours (3 of which may be spent in the pub!) Should give me a decent start. Majority of the rest of it will be done online.