*poked head in, shuffles in quietly*

[notamonkeysuncle]

Ive done it.....ive started Christmas shopping!
My local Primark seem to of found a whole load of winter stock and are selling it off very cheap.
I got 2 Minnie Mouse onsies and a Micky one £6 reduced to a pound and a kids hat, glove and scarf set reduced to 50p.
I then came home and wrote a list of what for who and began the Amazon Christmas wishlist.
Ive never been this organised!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Aww I went back to work in the Sept after DS was born .
I still get a when the Lakeland Limited Catalogue comes through my door in late September now (though it's all online now, not the same)

But the little gold tree on the cover...........ahhhhh (DS will be 15 this Christmas)

[Marmaladecat1]

70! There you are! When are we hardcore bargain hunting again?
I'm under a different guise at the moment but regular on the bargain thread last year.

[Marmaladecat1]

Good work i love Christmas
I have cards, need wrapping paper.
Not sure where we are spending Christmas at the moment, weirdly might be my first away from home in about 29 years...pass the brown paper bag whilst I practice deep breathing

[notamonkeysuncle]

Marma do we have a bargin thread yet this year?
I'm always interested in bargin, especially as ive started out buying bits with massive savings

[Marmaladecat1]

We had a blooming amazing one last year, I think it kicked off in July maybe?
What do you reckon 70?

[DownstairsMixUp]

I think this is a brilliant idea! I have another DS due in september so I'll be really short of time/not fancying shopping with a 3 month old so I might start picking up bits and bobs as I see them as well...

[nickdrakeslovechild]

The bargain thread is active. Can't link as on stupid thing, but if you look on the Christmas page it's there.

[notamonkeysuncle]

oooh lots of babies due in the run up to Christmas. Congratulations ladies
So yesterday I had a good ebay rummage and found some brilliant girls stocking fillers, they'll be imported from China but I got 7 items for £3.76 as well as a beautiful scarf for my mum.
Im a roll now and very pleased

[ValiumQueen]

I have lots of things already, but need to get a list going so I don't forget it all. I have everything in a couple of big bags. I love Christmas, but need to get Birthdays out of the way first. My youngest will be 2 in October, and there will be no more babies, so I am finally feeling as if I am beginning to get ahead again.

[Marmaladecat1]

Is it? I just thought It was last years one!
Excellent, thank you, I'll see you over there :)

[OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly]

3 yrs ago M&S had Christmas cards reduced to 25 cents a pack in January. I bought so many that me, my mum, and my sis haven't had to buy any since... (smug)

[DownstairsMixUp]

I got given some free Xmas cards at work today as we won't be selling them this year, yay, freebies!

[CalamitouslyWrong]

Arf at the Christmas topic starting up already.

[ValiumQueen]

The Christmas topic never shuts down

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

The Christmas Topic isn't just for Christmas

Marmalade I start my Christmas Shopping in July when QVC do Christmas in July ( DH works out our leave so I always engineer it so that I have the day off-though QVC are extending it to 24th/25th July now- and tell the DC "The telly in the back room is mine " )

I know there were brilliant threads for bargains on here last year, I'm sure there will be again this year.

[ValiumQueen]

70, I have heard of that but never seen it. Is it full of bargains then? I imagine it to just be a day of singing Santas and other festive bits and bobs. Is it just to get you in the mood, or proper bargain hunting territory?

[DownstairsMixUp]

I hate it when people come on here to moan about xmas starting early. For some of us it's such an expense you really don't have a choice but to do it all year round. :(

[Blondieminx]

I have started too ...it's never too early! I bought wrapping paper and cards in the January sales, and some Christmas jumpers in the next size up. I'm also writing lists! I didn't know the bargain thread was active again, will head over!

[elQuintoConyo]

^^ Christmas all year round.



I think I've found my new home!

I have already made two sofa cushions from fleece that look like Christmas puddings and will be making DS a cuddly gingerbread man.

A group of us friends did Secret Santa last Christmas which was an overwhelming success, so we shall continue.

My best friend and I start rabbitting on about Christmas at the beginning of September, mostly sewing things and exchanging recipes. I scared her with my Chridtmas Folder of organisation

Oh, did anyone buy those 'finger lights' (I think they were called) that featured heavily on last year's bargain thread? Would you recommend them? I have 4+8 yo niece/nephew, would they be appropriate? And wtf are those plaque-showing purple 'sweeties' called and where can I get them? Thanks in.advance.

I have a box full of already-written birthday cards for every birthday this year - only took.me an hour or so with so I feel very organisd this year - hopefully Christmas will go without a hitch!

[Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench]

I bought the the finger lights last year for all of the DC and they loved them (21-4) and the plaque disclosure tablets from amazon.

[notamonkeysuncle]

downstairs im in the same boat as you. I have spent £5.97 this week on stocking fillers and im pretty proud of myself for making a start.
Although I am known to be finished by June, which was the year before last when tax cresits decided I'd been under paid for the year so gave me a nice one off payment.
Stupidly I didnt venture to the January sales this year which I really should of.
quinto I know adults who love the finger lights so im sure they'll be a hit with children

[HermioneWeasley]

OP and others - you have to link to th bargains you find y'know. It's the LAW

[Pimpf]

I'm not sure whether to admire you or hate you!

[Scout19075]

I often start in December for the following year. I take my Christmas presents home to the States in November and when we come back to the UK in December I always find presents for family & friends in the States in the sales so get them and tuck them away. I have a presents box and everything gets recorded on a spreadsheet so I don't overbuy or lose anything.