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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

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

289 replies

admiralclingus · 15/08/2014 19:45

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
admiralclingus · 18/08/2014 16:15

I think that needs to be the thread mantra

Repeat after sugar

" I will NOT buy tat, I will NOT buy tat! "

I need help for his mother, and that's everyone accounted for I think! Justghotya spread out the buying!!

OP posts:
0pheliaBalls · 18/08/2014 20:03

I'm in! I only buy for DD and DH and DD's is almost done, just the main present to get and I'm waiting until closer to Christmas to see if it goes down in price (it's a mobile). DH's stuff I usually start on in September and pick bits up over the weeks. Last year I was done by the start of November - well, I'd bought everything on my list but I did buy a few extras afterwards.

Ooh I'm so excited! Grin

misstiredbuthappy · 18/08/2014 20:08

I was thinking about tat the other day when I was going through some of dds broken toys, every year I buy some things thst I know will end up in the bin ...why!?

Looks nice all wrapped under the tree but 4 months later its broken bits of crap.

CheesyBadger · 18/08/2014 20:23

I'm in! My friend always finishes in October which makes me mad and jealous, but 1st December is much more realistic

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 18/08/2014 20:28

Remember all you organised people..............Don't Get The Twitch Wink

Original poster
admiralclingus · 18/08/2014 21:37

The Twitch 70?! Hmm¿

OP posts:
PinkSquash · 18/08/2014 22:06

Oh the twitch gets me every year. I'm in with this, I need to spend less, complete earlier and buy meaningfully. So I'm spending time talking to relatives and getting ideas on what they want.

ThatBloodyWoman · 18/08/2014 22:07

I want to be done, and have time to bake and enjoy the lead up.
I'm in.

iloveholidays · 18/08/2014 22:13

I'm in. Did pretty well last year but would love to enjoy December to the full!!! :)

My main mission this year is not to buy any tat for my girls. 2 years ago I was awful for it, last year much better for still room for improvement!!! Grin Need to think through whether it will last, get used and have a home!!! gadget the robot has been sat on our fireplace since last Christmas

JerseySpud · 18/08/2014 22:51

i will be restraining my twitch this year!

Original poster
admiralclingus · 18/08/2014 23:17

WHAT IS THE TWITCH?!

ahem

As you were

OP posts:
misstiredbuthappy · 18/08/2014 23:19

Confused ive never heard of the twitch ...

xalyssx · 19/08/2014 07:02

I twitched yesterday Sad

yumyumpoppycat · 19/08/2014 07:37

Oh no. not the twitch.... it can't be in our midst already ....ITS AUGUUUUST

Guitargirl · 19/08/2014 07:40

How can you possibly be twitching in AUGUST!! Planning, shopping, yes, twitching!?! Shock

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/08/2014 08:25

The Twitch

OK- when you have bought everything you need, something (ie The Twitch) sadistically draws you to the shops again.

"I have 8 people coming for lunch, will that 30lb turkey be enough? No? Oh, I;ll buy that ham....and a side of beef. Just in case"

"I haven't got anything nice and snacky apart from cake, pies,crisps, a cheeseboard and a fridgeful best get that tin of Double Chocolate Covered Biscuits"

"I have got X number of presents for DS, but only Y for DD. Hmmm. Best get a few more"

"Oh bum, they left pickled walnuts off my Waitrose shop.....off to the supermarket..."

And if you go out on Christmas Eve, and there are all the half-price treats. Ask yourself why the mulled wine cranberry stuffed duck-in-a-goose-in-a-turkey-in-pastry is still there. A million other people didn't want it.

Wink
IsabellaofFrance · 19/08/2014 08:28

I am determined to be twitch free this year!

A couple of years ago I read on here of a MNetter who had a principle for her DC's presents of 'something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read' and I am sticking with that (Plus stockings).

NorwaySpruce · 19/08/2014 08:37

This was the best Twitch thread ever :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1640047-The-twitch?msgid=36134822

WhoPutTheDickOnTheSnowman at Fri 21-Dec-12 19:49:02 had a particularly acute case Grin

lecherrs · 19/08/2014 08:48

I'm in!

Most years I finish by the end of Nov / Early Dec (Both DDs have their birthdays in Nov, so I have to be careful not to duplicate presents from friends).

However, last year I left it late, and was shopping throughout Dec. it was horrible, I was stressed, everyone was pushy at the shops, long queues, not an enjoyable experience at all!

So this year, I'm back to buying early. Only trouble is I've got a 10 and 7 (will be 11 and 8) year old who are outgrowing their traditional toys so whilst I know what 'big presents' I want to buy them, I do struggle with the stocking fillers both for myself and family / friends.

Have got a few bits. Hope to start shopping in earnest in Oct.

JohnnyDeppsfuturewife · 19/08/2014 09:41

Can I join please?

Every year I start really early (July or August), stash my presents away and then delude myself that I have done far more than I have. I even smugly announce on Facebook how organised I am. Suddenly first week of December happens and I realise I have actually only bought 3 presents and it's a mad panic.

And Xmas cards are the bane of my life. It's always such a last minute rush to do them for school and I always forget a teaching assistant. Then I'm so busy doing them for the kids (and forcing them to do their squiggle) that I don't do mine. Some years I have written them and then not posted them.

I also hate wrapping presents and end up at 3am every Xmas eve / Xmas day still wrapping presents, some of which I've had since August!

So this year I want to start writing Xmas cards in September, ready to be posted on 1st December. I also want all presents bought by 1st December although I reserve the right to twitch and buy dds Lego if I see some in a sale.

BakeOffQueen · 19/08/2014 09:56

I'm in too! We go on holiday at the beginning of December and I want to be all done before we go so we can just chill/enjoy the run up.

Ratbagcatbag · 19/08/2014 12:14

I'm in, super excited as normal (see my things you've booked for Xmas thread).

I am off on my holidays on Saturday, however after reading this thread and realising that I can buy a Christmas Organiser I will be buying one in preparation for my return and shopping and sorting will start in earnest.

I have one biggish present for my friends dd and my DSS and DH main present already (ticket to Mrs Browns Boys tour, with pre show meal).

soooooooo, I'm gearing up for it :)

BiddyPop · 19/08/2014 12:48

I am planning on bringing my cards with me on a business trip in early December. 90 minute plane journey (time in air that table can be down) each way - makes for a perfect opportunity to get most of them done. I've done it a few other years and it works quite well (as long as I don't stop for a couple of glasses of wine with colleagues en route to airport on the way home). The earliest I've done it was early October - when I knew I would be changing job so losing travel (I used to have maybe 20-30 trips a year in that old job, I had a role with no travel for 4 years, and I'm now in a role with about 3-4 trips a year, including one in Nov/Dec).

I am making slow progress, but progress, through my list of presents. Of 47 to get Shock, I have already organized 10 and purchased the Christmas Eve pjs for DD and DH (I will treat myself to naice ones this year as I get into, ahem, middle age).

I know that I will be cooking for 3 this year at home, rather than travelling to eat both MIL's turkey for lunch and DM's turkey for dinner. (We tend to alternate to offset that overload!!). So no big suitcase packing or lists of things we need to bring for a week and all the presents. But I will need leftovers for PILs when they come on Boxing Day (staying in local hotel) for a visit, which is also DD's birthday and day we tend to have neighbours to visit.

No travelling also means I get to use a lot less leave (turn up for an hour Christmas eve counts as work, or else take a day's leave). And I have booked a concert on 23rd for Dh, DD and I - Christmas music but slightly more serious choral and orchestral music rather than pure "carols for fun" type one.

But work is pretty manic in December, and I do want to enjoy a few nights out too. So I need to get a move on with my organization.

Holfin · 19/08/2014 13:04

I had DH in the loft this morning getting down the Christmas wrapping paper so I can see what I need. He did not seen impressed though and was pulling this face -> Hmm

SugarMiceInTheRain · 19/08/2014 13:30

Ah yes the dreaded twitch. I will not buy tat and I will not twitch! Grin

Over the last few years I have got in the habit of taking cards with me in a box in the car, so when I have 10 minutes sitting outside school or something, I can write a few. I try to get them all sent by December 1st. I've done a Webb Ivory order for cards, wrapping paper and a couple of gifts for my best friend's children. Killing two birds with one stone as it raises money for the boys' cubs/ beavers group.