Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

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

Original poster

When do you aim to have it all done by?

26 replies

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/10/2017 18:32

I don't want to peak too soon but bloody hell, the shops are getting busy Xmas Shock

It will get to the stage of "I'm Not going out to Lakeside/Bluewater on a Saturday so don't even dream it" except if DD and I do a late night Friday or Saturday .

I know that if I go to one or two shops then I'll be carrying a load of bags and need to keep putting them in the boot.

I'll buy some online once I get a list (things like Lakeland where they don't have everything instore)
M&S , I prefer to order to store delivery.

DH and I always book a day to have a wander round , usually we've bought most of the bulky stuff before then, this'll be the Stocking gifts etc.

(Food will be bought on the Friday before Christmas then a late last minute on the 24th for the last few fresh things)

OP posts:
Changerofname987654321 · 24/10/2017 18:44

This year I will be hosting Christmas dinner for the first time and it is the first time I have DD and I am back at work so it is not currently going to plan. I like most present to be ordered by the end of October.

tinytemper66 · 24/10/2017 19:00

I went to Marks in Culverhouse Cross yesterday about 4pm and I gave up. It was too warm in here and too many people wandering aimlessly! I bought a pair of tights and some food and escaped home!

tinytemper66 · 24/10/2017 19:01

In there!!

Everydayaschoolday · 24/10/2017 22:22

By 1st Dec. All wrapped and tagged. I'm ordering online now and have deliveries coming this week and next. I'm boycotting novelty gifts this year - buying fewer but better presents. Well underway, but steering clear of the high street!

Squigget · 24/10/2017 22:32

I have a week off in early November so am hoping to have most of it done by then. I want to be able to spend time in December with DD doing fun Christmsssy stuff not traipsing round the shops buying things and picking up online orders. Not too sure whether I'll achieve this though!

petitdonkey · 24/10/2017 22:33

All gifts bought by the end of November. December is for wrapping and buying food.

StylishDuck · 24/10/2017 22:39

As soon as possible! I’m 30 weeks pregnant just now. I have 6 weeks left before I finish for mat leave but I really really don’t want to have too much still to do by then. I’m trying to pick up as much online as possible though. So far I’ve only got a few things for DD and one thing for my nephew though.

TheWoollybacksWife · 25/10/2017 00:05

The same as @petitdonkey

I’ve bought a fair bit online already and I’ve got a shopping trip booked for the end of next month. I’m making a list and sticking to it. I. Will. Not. Twitch. Grin

fishchipspeasandgravy · 25/10/2017 07:35

90% done present wise, just food to plan now. We generally go round to MILs but I plan and provide the food otherwise we wouldn’t be eating until all hours as they are a family of faffers.
I like (maybe I am crazy) going Christmas shopping on the high street in December, knowing there’s nothing I need to buy but being able to pick up little things that might suit someone, being able to stop for a mulled wine when I want and generally lack of rushing and stress but being able to enjoy the general Christmas excitement

Dementedswan · 25/10/2017 07:42

My dc have no idea what they want. Dh has booked off 21st and 22nd of Dec and we plan to hit the shops then. We don't buy mountains of stuff tho. Just grab a trolley each for smyths. One for each child.

We did this last year and it worked well.

DueNov · 25/10/2017 07:45

I've already bought the children in my family gifts. My other half I have done half of his presents. So just mum dad nan 3 sisters and their husbands to buy little gifts for and my other half a mum dad and nana and grandads. Will start wrapping the weekend

NoWordForFluffy · 25/10/2017 08:11

I'm thereabouts done now. I had to do my family before last weekend as that was the last time I'll see them before Christmas (I also wrote all of the cards for down that way too so my sister can distribute them with hers!).

And I think I'm actually done for everyone else too. Just need to get DH's birthday cards from the DC and me (23rd Dec birthday) and wrap his gifts and I'm done.

DearPrudence · 25/10/2017 08:20

I aim for having most of it done by end November, so that I can enjoy December. But most of my family won't entertain Christmas conversations until late November so I have to wait until then for a lot of it.

BeyondThePage · 25/10/2017 08:22

Have teenagers now, so Christmas is no longer a chore to get "done".

I will go with the flow.

Presents wise -we ask the kids what they want, DH and I are exchanging half a TV each with each other... everyone else gets money.

MIL will come for a few days, we will eat whatever we happen to get in - ASDA is around 15 min walk away. and we will spend days when not working just chilling out, watching films, walking the dog, having a houseful of stray teenagers from time to time.

Reminds me of my one chore - fill garage freezer with pizza. Grin

Lovemusic33 · 25/10/2017 08:28

I haven't started yet but planning on doing most of it online (a couple big Amazon orders and a few others) probably by the end of November, I hate the shops at Christmas, I will probably do one shop to get a few bits from primark and to buy selections boxes but that's it.

Food shop will be done on the 23rd at M&s or Waitrose (only time I really shop there) but I don't need to buy much as it's just me and the dd's Christmas Day.

Dd's are now older so I don't buy them massive amounts of presents and I don't need to track down the latest toys that are out of stock everywhere.

Anatidae · 25/10/2017 08:30

The 23rd.

MuddlingThroughLife · 25/10/2017 08:32

I love wandering around the festive shops. I've made a good start already by ordering online but I will do a big town shop nearer the day and take my granny trolley with me to save my arms lol. I love it, I spend all day shopping, stop for lunch and get my dad to pick up ds from school so I don't have to rush back.

I'm aiming to have all pressies bought by first/second week of December. Then I'll spend a few nights wrapping and organising. I usually wrap the kids stuff while they are in school as ds is still a believer.....only just!

ChilliMum · 25/10/2017 08:34

Midnight Christmas eve Blush

Although I love all things christmassy. I love the madness of shopping in December and I love the last minute wrapping on Christmas Eve with twinkly lights on the tree and a very large glass of wine or whiskey.

If I did it early I wouldn't be able relax anyway, it would be like presents under tree waiting to be opened (I have no will power) its pure torture!

gemdrop84 · 25/10/2017 08:38

I have an hour before I can get my train home after uni so have been grabbing a few bits of shopping on the way to the station. I finished just after lunch and decided to pop into Primark...what an experience! I'm hoping to have done all the gift buying by the end of Nov and wrap everything from December. Which reminds me- I need wrapping paper!

Clutterbugsmum · 25/10/2017 08:42

I like to have presents 90% done by end of October, end of the first week of November.

Food shopping meat ordered by end of October and just buy extra biscuits, snacky bits each week.

crispsahoy · 25/10/2017 08:50

I'm finished buying for the toddler. Got the bulk for the older 2 either in the house or ordered. Not buying many outside gift but hope to have everything bought and wrapped by end of November.
Already picking up party foods to put in the freezer for xmas eve. Then Only need to worry about Christmas dinner foods probably on 23rd.

Allthepinkunicorns · 25/10/2017 09:10

I've finished shopping for my ds and dh just need to wrap them up and get cards. I need to get presents for family members which I will probably do by the end of November. I have so much planned with days out and work over December that I have to do it all before. I've also started buying Christmas snacks, chocolate and alcohol. I will order my turkey and Christmas food sometime next month when I have a good idea off what is happening on Christmas day. I'm very excited for Christmas this year, I've got lots of activities planned for my ds and I have a lovely weekend in London booked with my mum to see all the sites and shopping for a few bits and bobs.

NotAPuffin · 25/10/2017 09:28

I've finished buying for the kids. DH is choosing a new car stereo for himself so I just need to get him a couple of stocking fillers, so just 3 more adults to sort and I'm done. Haven't a flipping clue what to get any of them though.

I've started having nightmares about it so I know it's time to get it sorted so I can relax.

Taffeta · 25/10/2017 09:30

I’m waiting this year. I normally have it all done by mid November but that makes the last month boring. And sometimes I see better things and wish I’d waited.

So plan this year is to do it late Nov into early Dec, paying special attention to Black Friday as there are a few tech gifts hoping to pick up then.

elQuintoConyo · 03/11/2017 21:50

6Yo's stuff is all bought - Christmas and his December birthday.

DH is bought for - CD and a book*. I'll get him chocolates for his stocking closer to the time, perhaps a huge Toblerone.

I have ordered (and they have already arrived!) stuff for Autralian nieces/nephews.

I have a few craft things to finish for my dad and stepmum, and bits for friends, then i'm done. Very stress-free, and cheap Grin

  • DH and i don't go crazy with gifts, if we see something we like we buy it. But i think it is good for DS to see his mum and dad exchanging gifts because they love each other. Last year DH's hot water bottle burst and he hadn't got round to buying another, so i got one and made a lovely fuzzy cover for it. He was delighted and it kept my Big Chicken warm all winter Grin