How are you all getting on with your shopping?!

[incontrolofmyownlife]

DH and I went Christmas shopping yesterday and made a really big dent in it! I'm happy with what we've got going on holiday next month and wanted it all done and wrapped before we went if possible.

Only thing I need now is some wrapping paper to make a start but doesn't look like anywhere has it in yet? I got some from Wilko last year that I liked so will try there again I think.

Rubbish! I realised yesterday that I haven't bought anything. I usually have a few bits squirrelled away by now.

I have no idea what to buy the kids either.

I'm usually do organised with Christmas!!

I saw wrapping paper in card factory this morning....

I haven't bought anything yet! I'm in a mild panic about it but I don't get paid for 3 weeks so there's not much I can do about it. I also have dds 3rd birthday in November! I do have a few lists of ideas though.

@livingthegoodlife still plenty of time to start! We've been good and got going early this year just so we don't have the stress of it post-holiday. I work in retail too and November/December is usually manic for me.
I'm cutting down for my eldest DD this year - no more plastic tat that she barely bothers with! Only buying things she will definitely use/wear/eat  it's making it surprisingly easier, although her main present will be a games console so I need to accept the fact her pile will be smaller than expected and make peace with it rather than worrying she'll be disappointed.

@ItchySeveredFoot still plenty of time, fear not it's half the battle if you have ideas though so well done! I enjoy the buying and wrapping, it's the coming up with ideas in the first place that I struggle with!

I'm almost done now. We're going through it all on Saturday and wrapping it. We're away just before Christmas, so I need to know we're done and ready. No Christmas Eve wrapping this year (we get back at lunch time on CE!).

Just done a bit of googling. I think the vtech Kidi concert disco ball thing might go down well with DD age 6. The problem is my kids have so much they don't really "need" anything.

Son might get an upgraded scooter....

I need to get on with all my nephews/nieces as those gifts can be a little more generic.

I've bought one thing! Starting to panic a bit actually.

About half way through, kids (nieces and goddaughters) done except my own DD as present I’m getting her is out of stock, have done a few of the adults ones too. Will finish early next month (once payday has been!). Then wrap and distribute as and when we see family. I’ll be 34 weeks pregnant at Christmas so want to be as organised as possible plus we live 3-5 hours away from various family and won’t see them close to the actual day.

I'm almost finished for the kids.

Not started on anyone else yet. But spent quite a bit the month already so waiting for October to roll round!

I got our Christmas pjs
Left it too late last year and ended up with rubbish ones.

Mostly money and tech gifts this year.
Not feeling under pressure like I usually would.

Home Bargains and Card Factory have wrapping. My local John Lewis is selling last year's off now too.

No I'm panicking!!

No I'm panicking!!

Am not surprised, only 3.5 months to go.......

M&S has wrapping paper in today too.

I'm starting on next payday, it's our first Christmas not travelling to other family so I have a few basics to buy that we haven't needed before - like stockings. I am fairly set on what we/Father Christmas are getting for DD so it's just a case of buying a bit each week on payday.

Made a small start!

Bought all 3 dc advent calendars - Lego Harry Potter, Lego Friends & How to Train Your Dragon.

Bought hedwig duvet set, hedwig cushion, HP trivial pursuit & HP playing cards for ds.

Lego American Girl set & extra dolls for dd.

All the young adults (niece/nephew/cousin etc) are having cash this year which makes it easier.

I've usually bought more by now but had lots of other expences which is annoying. I've often been wrapping on C.Eve but not this year! I want a quiet relaxing evening - no stress or back ache!

We've got some bits stashed away for the dc and I've bought dhs main, but need ideas before I get anything other than stocking fillers. So not great but not pants either!

Family we can't get until the Odeon have their Christmas themed gift cards

Pound land have some wrapping paper.

I have a list ready for two key sales this year and then will hopefully have most of it done by the end of this month. I’m leaving the dc’s main gifts until later. They’re old enough now to be reasonable if it’s hard to get, and not ask for anything bizarre and fantastical. But also old enough to be much more aware of new toys and the hype and less readily influenced by what mum thinks they should ask for

I love getting it all wrapped up (boom boom) early so I can sit back and indulge in a hygge winter without battling crowds in shops.

I’ve bought lots of stocking fillers for the dd and most gifts for my friends or friends’ children.
The other day I found a load of wrapping paper (ripped off last year’s presents) in a bag in the garage and have gone through that saving and folding the bigger pieces to re-use.
It sounds very tight but I like to do my bit for the environment

I am taking a different approach this year I have decided to try and save the cash each month and not buy until November earliest. I feel like I buy too much so hope I might be more focused starting later and DS1 in particular changes what he is into quite dramatically although not that often. I have started ideas of lists. So we will see. I am getting twitchy if I see good deals though.

I've bought main present + a few bits for DH. DH has also got me a few bits and pieces.
A few books for DS. But waiting/ hoping for a good deal on Black Friday for the rest.
Done nothing on the in-laws. I know if I leave it to DH he'll cave to BIL's ridiculous demands every year so I need to get a move on, but no ideas so far.

Sorted out presents for my parents but they are pretty easy to do.

Looks like we're all doing well! I always find the Christmases that I'm done and wrapped early are the ones I enjoy the most

Also have a delivery pass with ASDA this year so will get my slot booked in when they become available and get that out of the way! Not sure what we're doing for Christmas dinner yet, just us or parents too, will get that decided with DH this weekend.

Until now I've never started Christmas shopping until December Last year was easy enough being on maternity leave, but with a toddler and a full time job and two hours commuting each day I'm turning over a new leaf!! And I'm still wondering if this is soon enough to start. I filled a bag in Tesco the other day - some tubs of chocolate plus some small prezzies for our 1 year old. I've also written my gift buying list so that I can keep an eye out for offers. I'm all ready to go come next pay day!

It's also our first year hosting Christmas at our house, so that's a whole other list of stuff to get sorted...

Not brought anything far too early for me probably start around November
It's over 3 months to Christmas load and loads of time why on Earth would anyone panic totally confused ........

Bought a few bits for my son so far, other than that I've made lists so I can spread stuff out over the next few paydays

I'm rubbish this year. I just can't be bothered and I'm usually on with it by now. Summer has been really busy with 3 holidays, gcse's etc and I've got one birthday on Halloween combined with a trip to Milan so I'm concentrating more on that. Then we go to Venice on Boxing Day to take my mum for a 70th birthday treat. I've managed to buy 2 tubs of choccies though! I can't get into it at all. I'm not even bothered about beauty advent calendars.