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?

I'm getting on with it now.
I had it done by Dec 1st last year and was sooo glad of it.
School demands enough of your time throughout the run - up, with an angel dress here and christmas fair there.
If you're sorted out already, you can really enjoy these times more. And have some nice days out / hot chocolate and lights trips etc.

I seem to have blocked it all out from last year 70!!!

The joy has not started yet.... Tis early days!

I'm still at a loss what to buy his mother and then I think I might be done!

Tis early days

I'm going to keep bumping this thread so I remember to come back and hassle you

After the first this will become the admiral is pissed off with crazy people and wants to vent and rage about it thread

I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS! Got to brave the shopping centre this weekend for a few more bits then I think I might just be done. That is apart from food/alcohol presents which I will get towards the end of November. Also waiting impatiently for christmas pjs to arrive in the shops!

On Sunday night I plan to lay everything out in the spare room and stare in wonder and amazement at all the lovely things I've bought.

I'm nearly done - nieces, DM, DH all finished. Nephews just get cash so they're easy and will probably do the same for DSS as he's nearly 14 and impossible to buy for. DS is nearly finished as is DD, so then it's just the food and booze to sort out, tempted to not do cards this year and just do a donation to charity instead.

So all in all feeling rather smug, although this is the dangerous time when I get complacent and stop doing anything cue major last minute panic so must keep the focus. May write a list - can't beat a list!

Oooh in do love a good list!

I should add buying a magnetic to do list to my list!

I twitched. I bloody twitched! ITS OCTOBER! bloody bargain thread!!!

Draws Admirals attention to post of Sept 6th I WILL NOT TWITCH

Ha!
Gotcha!

Caught Red Handed

Oh and I love a list as well.
Usually I can see tiny fragments of pewter grey that is my fridge/freezer under piles of paper and fridge magnets.

By October - it's a paper mountain and the milk lives there, somewhere.

I can't believe I've only just found this thread! I'm in; I love the run up to Christmas and find I enjoy it so much more when I'm organised and not rushing about buying gifts. I've already got DS's main present and a few little things for DD. I've been collecting lovely things for the the various secret santas I take part in too. I just need to update my lists and speak to Mum about food for the day.

I've done dd, my niece's and nephews and bought one of DH'S presents. Just got my mum and dad, brothers and the rest of DH'S to do. Feeling quite proud of myself!

I know 70 I know. At least I admitted it! I might actually keep gadget for her birthday in Feb tbh, but for £25 I couldn't NOT buy him! She had a devil of a tantrum when we had to leave it behind in Smyth's but no way would I pay £40 for it!

I think we should all celebrate our success with a drop or two of (not mulled though, festive as it is, because its grim)

I got the bath bombs for the Christmas Eve hamper yesterday. I was in Lush for a much needed "twilight" for myself, and another batch load of Icklebots for DD (she may, at 8.5, be theoretically too old for such nonsense, but she loves them, the lavender does help calming and Sundays are a lot easier having an Icklebot bath than any other type!!). And as the Christmas stock was in, I bought the 2 I NEED. I may go back again for something I would LIKE.

And I got 2 more stocking fillers for DD, a set of pocket binoculars with built in compass, and a bug viewer.

And a stocking filler for DH - a London Bus tree ornament (given his love of buses beyond just work - as evidenced by our holiday photos every year!! ).

The weather being so bad today, coupled with the massive increase in commuter traffic recently, means I abandoned the car and got the train to work (it took me 40 minutes to drive what normally takes 5-7! and the radio was warning of delays the rest of the way in so I'd be almost 2 hours instead of 35 mins!), so I cannot bring home the stash of bags under my desk as planned. Unless I get creative in my carrying ability later.

I have to go past M&S later today again, so I'm hoping the book is out here.

Loving this thread - so many like-minded ladies!!

Am hyperventilating as I type though. I thought I was organised starting in John Lewis last weekend. Clearly I have been completely misguided.

I am beginning to panic now. Only have DMS and MIL and DN presents and only just started to think about DD and DS last night.

You're completely right moonshine - there's so much to enjoy in December. Don't want to be shopping!

Right. Time to get serious tonight. I'll start with a spreadsheet.

If I am to succeed, I must not be tempted to discuss anything with DH. It always turns in to a bloody argument discussion about money and have I spent 30 minutes on each present scouring the Internet for the best price.

SOOOOOO excited!!!!

We work for the same company admiral and this is the first Christmas in four years I will mostly avoid the crazed nightmare that is Cash and Wrap during December. I do drugs now don't-cha-know . It has already begun this year though, I worked extra on Sunday to get the Christmas merchandising built (we are staffless and horrifically behind) and people were climbing over me to see what I was unpacking. Insane.

Went to London last week and visited the IWM - brought some bits for DH, a wooden build your own spitfire kit and a plane spotters book (he's frustrated would-be RAF) and a moomin mug from the moomin shop in Covent Garden for SMIL, but's so cute I'm tempted to keep it for myself

Remaining to do list:
DH - Spicebox, paella pan, smellies, stocking stuff
DF - Ubiquitous shirts, smellies, something garden-y
FIL - Blow up boxing gloves, actual non-stupid gift
SMIL - Blow up boxing gloves, actual non-stupid gift
Wrapping
Food

DH has also thoughtfully invited his DM and three of his brothers for Christmas day in our half-built, damp, no heating, hoarded 3 bed terrace. So that's going be great fun... Happy fucking Christmas to me!

What are icklebots?

Still, they are Lush bath bombs filled with lavender that are in the shape of a little robot, and called Icklebots. Specially for small children's baths (I suspect really aimed at the toddler market, but they are a great thing in this house for the 8 year old!!).

Oh the relief, I managed to finally get my mitts on the Frozen dolls that DD wanted. I have been trying for weeks and they were sold out everywhere. Now I just need the dress to arrive and my increasing panic can subside. DD said yesterday that if she doesn't have a Frozen Dress 'she will be soooo sad' - no pressure then.

I still haven't sorted a Scalectrix for DS but other than that and a few stocking bits he is sorted.

One niece done, 2 to go.

Nothing for DH yet. Or my parents.

Actually now that I am typing this I realise that I have loads to get yet - but I have been ordering stuff left right and centre off Amazon!

I'm buying some presents as I go about my day to day [grin
But , YY to getting it all out the way and enjoying December.
There's no fun at all in crowded shops and struggling by the time you've bought two bags worth.

I'm going to buy the Christmas crackers (bulky) and I've already got gift wrappings organised.

I need to get some teen boy gifts for DS (I'll have a nosey in Boots, I've got some Points Boosters) then at the end of the month, the No7 Advent Calender (for me)

What is the No 7 advent calendar 70 ?

Malibu I was thankful I'd moved into the drugs too and would avoid a good chunk of the stress, but a massive cock up has landed me back on cash&wrap (and feeling murderous to be quite honest!)

Dd is done except for a couple of stocking fillers I'll be picking up in double discount and the sweets/chocolate for her stocking
Fil done
Bil&gf almost done, just one thing left to order for their joint present and some smellies for her
Aunt&uncle done
Friends eldest dd is done but still stumped for baby
Friend done except some gin
Other friend done except Christmas jumper and slippers tradition!
Dds dad started and now have more idea what to get him
Mil is STILL a problem though (in more ways than 1!) So any ideas for her welcome!

no7 advent calendar

Ooh count me in! I started a month back as need to spread the cost this year. I'm not doing one big present plus extras for DC this year, I can't afford it and their grandparents will get something big anyway. So I've set a budget prep child and am just picking up as many little bits and books etc as I can. So far have got a load of books, dominos, board games and some stocking fillers. I've also got some christmassy tableware and new mug for father Xmas stashed. Still have crackers from last year, so I'm doing ok.

I'm also going to start stashing Xmas food that'll keep. Jars of sauce, boxes of quality street and biscuits should keep. Etc. buying a bottle of wine each week is a good plan as well, thanks to whoever suggested that upthread.

My aim is that December can be spent making Xmas decorations with the DC and actually enjoying advent and the run up.

thanks biddy... they sound great for my 6yo... may need to take trip to lush. In London, so you think they would be everywhere, but don't actually think I've walked past one knowingly