Getting ready for Christmas 2020

[cryingcatmeme]

Who has started getting ready for next year especially with all the sales online and in the stores? All the Christmas pyjamas and fragrance gift sets are perfect to horde because they’re staple gifts.

Just picked up some great gift set bargains in my local Sainsbury’s they also had boxes of Christmas Crackers reduced to £1 I didn’t get any as still have some from last year all there rolls of wrapping paper were 50p too

Sets of Levis and Crew socks for (adult) DC's half price. Set of 12 days of Christmas socks and a pair of Christmas boxers in a cracker for DH both in Fat Face and socks were down in price by £20 . I think we're having a foot themed Christmas

Half price Jack Wills smellies set for dd for her March birthday.

Quite chuffed with recent haul

Oh and forgot sticky gift tags down to 50p a packet in Wilko

I've stocked up on wrapping paper and cards for next year, also got a couple of Christmas outfits for my daughter.

Would buy more and get proper organised but January is a long month to get through so need to be wise

Did get a few birthday presents in the sales though! Absolute bargains too

I've just ordered crackers from Amazon. Talking Tables, several designs. £4.99 down from £15 for 6. And matching napkins.
This price is for today only (apparently).

I do very few cards now, only 'special' ones for close relatives. But I don't buy those in advance in case it tempts fate.

DD is 11 So I don't buy her gifts cos I know she'll be into other stuff by next Christmas. But might get some fluffy socks or bath bombs if I see them.

I'm on a bit of an eco mission at the moment, so trying to resist buying too much stuff.

Picked up christmas wrap from Tesco and festive napkins from Aldi.
Still have ample crackers from this year!

Tempted by the posh tree ornaments in Paperchase sale but too mean to pay postage.

I am definitely being more oganised next year. I've got a very busy year with a couple of big work and personal goals so need to get ahead. So far I have:
Ordered wrapping paper
Ordered 4 out of 6 pairs of Christmas pjs
Bought 6 storage bags to go on top of our wardrobe (6dc to buy for!)
Cleared top of wardrobe for storage bags!
ordered 6 advent calendars (we do picture ones)
Set up the gift and stocking spread sheets

Off to browse for crackers and a tablecloth.

Why would you want to give people year old toiletry sets? They will be gone off by next year surely?

We went for a less stuff, less waste Christmas this year so continuing the theme I'm not buying stuff in the sales.

I have however, just cut all our Christmas cards into gift tags, folded all gift bags and managed to salvage some wrapping paper that can be flattened and cut down into sheets. These are being packed away with the Christmas decorations and stored in the loft to reuse :)

I haven’t started buying yet but I’ve started planning. My entire family were really poorly this year so virtually everything we had planned got cancelled. We had been looking forward to it for such a long time and I feel so cheated. It’s making me feel a tiny bit better planning to make next year a cracker.

I've got started: crackers, cards, tags & Christmas pudding. I'm getting ready!

In bad stash news - I found a lovely joules Xmas themed top I bought for my son and forgot about! So annoying because it won't fit by next year. I'll have to try and sell it (next year?). Grr...

I’ve bought loads in the sales for family Christmas and birthdays for the year ahead. I have not bought for my kids yet as no idea what they’ll want nearer the time. I’ve bought little outfits, PJs and smellies. Even bought leaving presents for teachers.

I’ll be jumping on the Christmas thread when that starts up to keep an eye out for bargains for my kids and DH.

My new Christmas organiser arrived today!

I'm planning my food already (like mincemeat and cake to mature for at least 8 months!)

The boots 70% off sale should be soon so I'll probably get a few stocking fillers there.

I am usually on the last minute, but have bought 2 Christmas t-shirts in the Sainsbury's sale for £3 each. They are good quality cotton and design, so will wash well and hand down to other DCs in future, meaning no cost and less waste.

I can't imagine buying toiletries, perfume, make up and so on for next year, as most seems to need to be used within 12 months?

I didn't need to buy any wrapping paper, tags, crackers or general cards this year, as we used ones left over from last year or bought in the post-Christmas sales - that felt like a small win.

Our real tree we buy at a local Garden Centre when they reduce them to half price or less a day or two before Christmas. Our £50 tree cost £20 this year and it's beautiful.

I probably won't be able to find the t-shirts in December, by the way!

Why would you want to give people year old toiletry sets? They will be gone off by next year surely?

A few years ago I bought DD a few toiletry/perfume sets from the Boots 70% sale to put away for Christmas. By the time she opened them every single one had gone bad! Don't forget, they were all probably made last spring/early summer to go into the shops by September, so by Christmas they'll be over a year and a half old. Makes sense that they'd be a bit manky.

I've got all my crackers and wrap for next Christmas, £1 and 25p a roll respectively from Sainsbury's. On Saturday me and DD will go to John Lewis to choose a few baubles for the tree, as we do on the Saturday closest to Twelfth night every year. We wrap them up and put them with the other baubles when we take the tree down, like a little present to ourselves for next year. Then we have our legendary Twelfth Night Party

DH and DD are both having new guitars for Christmas next (this!) year so I probably won't be buying much else gift-wise. I had one this Christmas so I won't be jealous!

I have got most of the stocking fillers for next year. Games from M&S, some magic tricks from Lakeland, craft kits from the works. I will add chocolate and a magazine nearer the time

For the past 10 years or so I’ve always bought toiletries for the following Christmas, never perfume, so can’t comment on that. I’ve never had an issue with toiletries.

Re perfume, I wonder if it’s stored nearby a heat source (radiator or something), that could definitely make it go rotten.

@ BBInSleepsCounting you’re right in that they are 12 month longevity but I’ve believed that was from the date of opening, not purchase. May be wrong, but either way it’s never been a problem.

The only issue I ever had was when I bought a shedload the third year I started doing this and it never arrived - the delivery van had been stolen! Boots sent some goodwill points as the order couldn’t be fulfilled.

I got some Xmas paper and crackers today. Crackers were 40p for 12 in Sainsbury's.

I wouldn't want to get year old toiletries as a Xmas present so I won't buy them to others either.

I got lots of Christmas craft sets, sticker books and story books - DS & DD really enjoyed them this year and I found that it was a really nice way to have a bit of calm amongst the festivities. Even baking made them over-excited! I’m pleased with them because then I can keep what they make as little moment is from when they were little.

Frozen wrapping paper that will do for DD’s November birthday.

Assortment of sticker books and small toys that will do for when kids are invited to birthday parties.

Not managed to find any Christmas PJs but I like the DC to match so it’s tricky to get both sizes.
I will keep looking on EBay every so often for their Christmas outfits - this year I got DD a lovely Boden Christmas dress for under a tenner including postage.

Momentos not moments!

I’ve started
Lots of things in Dealz (Ireland) for 25c and 50c - got a few little decor bits I had my eye on and Santa letter writing packs.
Tesco also had some frozen bubbles for 6c so I bought a pile, some for during the summer and put 2 away for stocking fillers.

I managed to get my wrapping paper and tags in M&S on Monday - 2x14m rolls and 14 packs of tags for €6.22. They're still in my car boot until the weekend (and I can sneak them past DH to my storage corner).

I also got 2 different sets of Christmas mugs in the sales - both for gifts - and a nice decoration for my next "Bride's Box" collection (I have at least 1 more to do, and possibly another wedding next year or 2022) all reduced by 50% or more. They are already in the storage unit, along with the decorations packed away again etc. (I have over 50 to buy for so getting a few things early is useful). I've rolled over my excel spreadsheet as well for 2020.

I like the idea of a reminders list. An initial set of thoughts includes:

Do’s

Finish the many WIP and start the ones I have materials for, to actually give HM gifts as much as possible this year
Wrap presents earlier in December
Buy cards early and write them on work trips (I normally do but I was doing other stuff on the planes this year that really didn't matter in the long run)
Make time for baking (and maybe finally make a Christmas cake!!)
Put up 2 trees - it was nice having 2 this year and seeing more of my decorations out.
Have turkey dinner - but give enough snacks earlier to keep DH and DD from rushing the final prep (potatoes not crispy enough, and the table not properly set so no candles!! )
Get out for a proper hike in the mountains over the holidays
Go down to visit family - regardless of DD's schedule of sports
Make time to arrange flowers for house and table, preferably before Christmas Eve

Don’ts

Put the Christmas tree up really early ( we were very busy this year so it only went up on 14th and that was plenty of time)
Buy wrapping paper
Let DH watch plenty of movies and not get any downtime for myself!!

All our cards are bought (10p each for fancy ones from B&M, 38p a pack from Tesco). All large present bags (64p each, Tesco) Frozen gift wrap (60p a roll) and various gift bags (50p each Tesco, 10p each B&M). Have started a designated 'Christmas cupboard' in the Welsh dresser. Bought DM's Birthday present early in the sales (£79 Pet & Country) a very heavily reduced Barbour jacket. On the look for more and of sale mega bargains now!

Aldi has Disney and generic luxury wrapping paper for 25p a roll (4 and 12m respectively)