Anyone started to buy Christmas presents yet?

[Nicpem1982]

I'm very excited for Christmas this year and have started to pick up presents for my dd (2.8)

Nothing that will date and nothing character branded as she changes her mind like the wind.

Mainly board games, play doh, wooden toys and jigsaw puzzles at the minute.

My dh thinks I'm mad for starting this early (normally July) has any one else started?

For those worried about losing/misplacing presents between now and Christmas, I am taking photos of everything as I buy it then putting it in a separate photo album as I go.

I've started buying some handmade clothes for dd from some of my favourite instagram shops.

And then I'll be buying her presents as and when they're on sale. We went totally ott for her first Christmas last year, totally overwhelmed her, so we want to concentrate on quality over quantity xx

I put 2 big Lego sets on layby as the July half term holiday always see's "The Big Annual Toy Sale" at The Warehouse with $10 deposit on layby's so that's 1 for each child.

While we were there they had bins and bins of clearance then were doing an extra 50% of clearance price so we picked up loads of starwars/avengers pencils/pens/crayons/rubbers/pencil cases and notebooks for their stockings. Cost us $13 all up. Plus a blu ray each that were on clearance $6 each. I also got loads of Jimmy Coates and Zac Power books brand new pretty much for 50c each from the opp shops.

That'll be it for the moment until ds2's birthday in September then I'll hit the shops full pelt.

Our kids are 8 and (by then) 7 and this will be our first ever Xmas just the 4 of us so planning to make the most of it. Usually we've got random family/friends/colleagues for Xmas so it's going to be a bit different this year.

For Christmas morning breakfast, we tend to make fresh orange juice (or maybe buy one on Christmas Eve) and have fresh croissants with that - we buy the Jus-rol tube and roll them out, then they can cook and kettle boil for coffee while the stocking gets examined. DD eats sweets and fruit and maybe a croissant, while DH and I get some quiet time before the rushing to mass and visits, and then getting dinner on (we eat in the evening).

But DD loves to roll the croissants and it is a nice treat to have. The Pain au chocolat's are also nice but a little more work to prepare (like 3 minutes instead of 2!).

And M&S now do bags of frozen croissants, pain au chocolats or raisin danishes, that also cook pretty quickly but need NO prep work!

My lego order arrived today, complete with a free pig money box to build. I got a couple of sets in the clearance section for DD, and might go back to check next month for duplo for younger DNieces/DNephews (and to see what the new "free gift" is if I spend enough!).

I think I'm about 3/4 of the way there now thank goodness

I have! Got 2 high-branded duck down jackets for less than half price for my 2 teens. Could never afford to buy them full price. Bought them back in April!

I also save with Park and get vouchers like JD etc from there.

Oh plus PJ from Primark and jeans and the likes.

Thanks Biddy, I had no idea M&S did frozen croissants! Making brunch on Sunday for DH's birthday. Excellent!

I have a good amount of presents bought and most of the remaining planned/on the spreadsheet. Have also bought reindeer bedcovers and a hardcover of twas the night before Christmas for DS first Christmas. His constant night feeding has lead to an even earlier than usual amount of online shopping with one hand being done