Who has already started Christmas shopping?

[Heavenscent86]

I started a while back and am progressing well through my lists. My most recent delivery is a Wii U and pro controller. Probably this will be gifted as a family present. I'm struggling a little with what to get my 9 year old daughter as she wants toys but never really plays with them. How's everyone doing?

I picked up 10 playmobil people for €1 each at our local fleamarket yesterday - does that count? Father Christmas, Mother Christmas, one elf, Marty McFly holding a zoo sign, one of the Village People, couple of kids, one that looks like me

We have an idea about what to get DS and in no panic to buy it: Lego.

Most other gifts are made, I'm afraid. Most children are getting a ragdoll or Barbie clothes (a piece of wee to make and they use only scraps- i have PLENTY of scraps!).
My Dsis and I exchange presents for children only, my parents get a book or something similar. DH organises his own family.

Our son is only 5, I'm sure we'll be visiting Readtie's thread in a couple of years for the best prices on bigger gifts

I bought my first gift yesterday! Didn't plan to start so soon but saw it and couldn't resist. Not planning on doing any more until November when we have a trip to London booked (we usually do it all online and have it delivered in December! )

I have a few big things coming up so to spread the cost I got a few things

3 for 2 in Argos got two matching scuttlebugs for twin nieces and a toy story costume for older nephew. My own DC o bought last year in January sales for a third of the original price (ride on toys)

So that's the kids done - dh gives his nephews money so I let him sort his side of the family out.

For dh I have a few things in mind. I an going to give him a gap voucher to get new jeans. There is a hat he likes for his hobby and some casual clothes. I always get him toiletries too. We tend to buy stuff we need rather than luxuries.

I'm finished apart from bits and pieces that I might pick up as I see them and some Christmassy treats for DS' Christmas Eve box. I don't have a lot to buy though. Santa and Christmas eve gifts for DS, gifts for niece and nephew, gift for DH, gift for DH from DS and funny gifts for the pass the parcel game my family play at dinner instead of traditional gifts. I get one that's suitable for the adults and a small toy that we ensure ends up in DS' lap when the music stops. Other than that DS and I make Christmas fudge on the 22nd/23rd for the neighbours/my nana/etc.

I'm going to start stocking up on alcohol and chocolates this weekend, some cracking deals for the August bank holiday on my favourites, which were noticeably absent last Christmas.

I also have kids that don't play with actual toys...so struggle there. Most other children prefer money or their parents bitch about what I've got them isn't appropriate so I'm going to take the easy way out and just put cash in envelopes and be done with it.

I bought my first human present yesterday, bought two pet pressies the other week
allbeauty.com had a flash sale for 3hrs yesterday I got 10% off a rather expensive aftershave
For my son, so was well chuffed.

Ive bought a dressing gown and slippers for my nephew . Heavily reduced
Also last night I bought a couple Star Wars notebooks from Sains . Lovely 3d effect on the front reduced form £6.00 to £1.50 this will go with his dressing gown and slippers . Altogether ive spent about £8.00 instead of £25 ish pounds so that's one person bought for

ive got a few things now, 2016 annuals - they had been reduced to 29p each in argos, a couple of the big star wars figures, ive made 2 mermaid tails for my neices and im in the process of making a lap blanket for my dh nan. the majority of my dcs presents i will get when i receive my park vouchers

Bought the dc a bike each when they were selling them off cheap. $100 off each bike. They were getting bikes anyway so I saved $200 buying them early. Bought them both a Lego set when they were doing "buy one get one half price" so another $80 saved.

I usually start buying things around July as its winter here then and there seems to be loads of sales. Been scouring op shops to and picked up a brand new battleships game for about $6 iirc.

I'm on the lookout for 3ds's in sales or on special but don't think I'll be too lucky with those.

I haven't gone overboard yet as I wait until ds2's birthday in September to go first.

Have done a sizeable chunk and will get most of the rest in the next month or so. It will certainly be finished by the middle of October.

I am quite looking forward to wrapping it all up!

Have a fair chunk of it done and have 90% of the rest planned out for each payday to purchase. Should be sorted Oct - Nov so I don't have to step into a single shop in Dec

I have 2 pairs of socks for DD and this years Christmas Pudding ( I made 2 last year)

So that's a start , yes

God no, now our son has left home we never "celebrate" christmas. Both of us hate it and just spend the day relaxing, watching tv or doing our hobbies. No stress or anything. No shopping, no big dinner, no tree. We looked at each other one year and both said, why are we doing this, we're not even christians!
We send our son a present but that's it. He thinks it's great because he can do christmas with his inlaws without a load of bitching over which family wants them this year with at least one lot being unhappy about it.
So great all round.

Chipstheeldest is nine and wants a ds.b room stuff unicorn stuff and emoji stuff

I have started buying bits and bobs to go in DD's stocking. We were at Bewilderwood over the summer and they had some pretty little bejewelled boxes, flowery fans and other little things so DH took DD off to look at other stuff while Father Christmas started the shopping.

I've got nearly 40 gifts in a few cupboards, but that's because DD1 is due in December, we normally have shopping completed by end of November, December is given over to decorating, wrapping and socialising :)

bikerlou, it's great you and your son are happy with this, but do you really think Christmas is only for Christians?

I bought a whole bunch of clothes in a kids shop sale which will do for Christmas and birthdays for about half my nieces/nephews. I also bought my sisters gifts as I had an idea and it was in budget.

I have a large family and an extremely tight budget. I'm still struggling with ideas for something small for my BIL's... They're never fussy but I like to try anyway. I'll likely end up baking again.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one to have started Christmas shopping. My budget is quite tight also so having bought a Wii I will have to be very careful. I will make the most of Argos 3 for 2 and smyths 20% off if they do them. Also looking forward to the next sainsburys 25% off for some clothes for my daughter for Christmas. Music magpie has got 20% off until tomorrow if anyone can make use of it. You have to enter a code. Can't remember what it is but it comes up on their homepage.

I have made a start. I bought ds some Batman figures and Lego from a Facebook seller in April! It's all in great condition so he'll be chuffed. I bought a dolls cot/high chair set for dd 2 in the sale, and I got some action figures for nephews too.

Smyths are doing a 20% sale in September so will get the bulk of dcs stuff then.

I have made plenty lists so will be keeping an eye out for things!!

Just a few bits for stockings. No idea what the dcs want and two of them have birthdays first anyway

Heaven where did you get the Wii from, I'm considering getting one but not sure. I have no clue when it comes to consoles! Any reason you picked that rather than a PlayStation or x box?

I kind of do it all year round, especially stocking presents, if I see cute bits and pieces then I buy them.