Right. I want to be all done by December 1st....

[admiralclingus]

I work in retail. The last 2 years have involved mad dashes round town after working all day with some horrible people taking out their Christmas woes on you and spending 73 billion hours waiting in queues and trying to avoid the crowds!

So I want to be organised by the first, nothing left to buy and only wrapping and decorating to worry about.

Anyone else up for the challenge?

Count me in

Im determined to be completely organised this year. Last year I was crying the week before christmas panicking I hadnt got enough was totaly skint and had a million things still to do.

This year WILL be different ....

Will get on it in sept after dd's 8th birthday and sort out what cards and wrap I have. Had a massive spend yesterday on school stuff,have a very close family christening so outfits pressie etc for that,family birthdays gosh the list goes on.....

Will get on it in sept after dd's 8th birthday and sort out what cards and wrap I have. Had a massive spend yesterday on school stuff,have a very close family christening so outfits pressie etc for that,family birthdays gosh the list goes on.....

Count me in too! I've been having a look online for some ideas for prezzies, currently 36 weeks pregnant at the moment, but once we get settled deffo going to start getting presents, don't think I want to be hitting the shops with a baby and toddler!

I'm in too! Cooking dinner for 10 for the first time ever and DS b day is NYE so will need to be organised

Haven't started properly yet just got a few bits from the book club at work when I've seen them for stocking fillers.

I'm in too. DC's birthday is in the same week as Christmas which means I have to arrange a birthday party for 20 little ones at the same time. A few years ago I ended up in hospital on 20th Dec, I was out by 25th but it was a lesson on getting more organised early. I also have a lot of PTA commitments around December so the more I get done before then the better.

Bring the organisation on!

So far I have one present which I saw on my summer holiday. I need to catch up!

Oh and I brought the Argos catalogue home last week so I could start to get an idea what the DCs are interested in.

Now that's an idea. BTW - Sainsburys toy sale is always either the Thursday before the half term where I am so you're looking at 22 Oct-ish....

Taps nose, knowingly

I was wondering when the sale started CSI thanks.

Don't suppose anyone has ideas for a just 4 year old girl? She's getting frozen dolls and outfit for her birthday, has a bike and scooter and dolls house.....

My 4 year old has started to get into Monster High girls.

Also Slyvanian stuff - I think she is a little young yet but am happy to get her a few small bits to see if she likes it before making any big buys.

Also Lego friends seems to be quite popular.

Thanks! Hoping to avoid sylvanian families they make my skin crawl with their horrible velvety skin!

Awwww, I think they are cute! But I find them a little 'wholesome' for my taste. I much prefer playmobile or Lego where there is bit more humour. But, as I keep having to remind myself, I'm not shopping for me.

I forgot to say my 4 year old is also into my little Ponies.

I have just completed my first round of proper online shopping. 20% off in M&S and some stuff in Amazon. That will do until next payday!

Just bought dh a stocking filler and a double buggy for dd's numerous dolls . So......3 bought 3 million to go!

Right, have sorted this months Amazon shopping list, so that's 3 more presents and some stocking fillers for GPS and uncle! Whoop!

Me too please, bought the first present yesterday, a half price lego friends set for dd1 (from the bargain thread of course )

I'm in !
I've been picking up bits and peices as I've been going along and bit I've seen in sales
I also told the children last Christmas that this year will be scaled back ALOT
I spent £1500.00 last year I what was essentially one day it was disgusting amount of n

Money and stressful .. I'm scaling back a lot even on the food £45.00 for a goose !!
I'm determined ...

70 I''m with you. I will be very surprised if this winter isn't hell.

I totally agree shiny! DDS grandparents cook, so I can't even comment on the food, but I must have spent somewhere close to that in the end.
Dd had too much stuff and was just overwhelmed with toys

So far I've bought 6 presents and some stocking fillers for the dcs.

I fear that a lack of funds is going to stop me completing on time as I still have to buy the 'big presents' which is always a mad dash and we end up spending far too much £££.

Its easy to pick up bits here but I'm going to see what dh thinks about allotting certain purchases to specific paydays. He thinks I'm nuts and I've already used up my 'talking about christmas allowance' for this month

I'm in. Dc3 is due dec 13th & we're movig house (hopefully) before then so want as much sorted.

We've been saving each month so as to avoid the whole panic buying £20 tat we've done in previous years.

Oooh can I join in too please? Last year I had finished by October half term. This year I think I will struggle to do that due to finances and the added complication of having a baby. My maternity pay will stop around the end of the year so December, January and February are going to have to be extra lean. Plus our car is on its last legs according to my mum's DP who is a mechanic so we will probably have to replace it before Christmas. With another banger that only has a couple of years left in it I dare say!

On the upside, I have already bought quite a few stocking fillers for DS1 and DS2, a little silly gift for my mum and her DP, and a book for DH (though we have his birthday at the end of November as well). My children's birthdays are in January, February and March. Mine's in April. So 6 consecutive months of extra expenses. Great planning eh?

My mantra for Christmas is I will not panic buy tat, I will not panic buy tat, I will not panic buy tat.....

I'm in! I've bought half of dsd's presents so far and dh. Needs to be done before 14th December as we go on holiday then so am determined this year just need to get main presents