If you don't want to discuss Christmas this early in the year - don't bother clicking on this thread.

[Doodledootoo]

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I've started Christmas already.

Not posting what I've got people exactly, in case they lurk but have got DH a couple of small presents, some presents for posting and a couple of stocking fillers for the boys (these) which they'll have a whale of a time with on Christmas morning against the patio doors.

I love Christmas cards though, which makes me Odd, I think - I love writing them, receiving them, putting them up, snipping them up to make gift tags with after Christmas.

Want to get some good decorations this year. Have made do the last few years and it's all a bit tatty now. But this year, we have room for a Real Tree, which I'm looking forward to. It'll smell all Christmassy!

There are things that you are going to buy for your kids, Christmas or not. So it is often convenient to buy the at Christmastime. For example, last year, we bought bikes for our older kids.
This meant that this was an expensive Christmas for us, but it was really just case of spending last December rather than say the following spring.

Without major things like bikes, I'd say around £50 per child is what we spend.

Yes, i always get dressing gowns/ slippers, stuff like that at Christmas! Makes it look more...unfortunately my dds are difficult to please, and are into computer games. They do get exersize too before anyone gets uppity! It's about the only time they stop arguing when they are playing on their handhelds .

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Hmm......i dunno! My two would argue over a dance mat - probably kick each other! The main wheeled item they got on with at age of 4 was a scooter! And they liked moonhoppers.

I have an 11 year old son and have been looking through experiences for him like Aqua sphereing and ice climbing....something different instead of a computer game which I am refusing to buy him this year.

Doodle i just realised it's a twin dance mat...ok, better idea (depends how good they're likely to be though), but my two would still find some way to argue over it!

Vixma - also good idea, the memory of a great day will last longer than a computer game anyway.

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Why does the aqua sphere have a weight limit of 16 stone for women and 19 stone for men?

How will it know (or care)whether there is a man or women inside?

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I'm thinking of hamper type things for the parents/nans, anyone got ideas what I can put in them?

Am hoping this way they'll be more thoughtful and maybe cheaper[hopeful] Gonna take a squiz round the poundshops to try and find cheapo basket/hamper type things and then try and get ideas from the rellies for fillings

oo i'll visit some charity shops too to get stocking stuff for dd, got a lovely beaded purse the other day for a quid, all sparkly and pink, she'll love it

Thanks for starting this thread doodle love christmas

doodle, you're making me sing 'doodle do' over and over in my head, blardy cbeebies

I want to discuss christmas - I would LOVE to know WHY we are discussing Christmas!! I wanna get inside your heads!!

I log onto toyrrus about end november - (although I have been known to leave it until later, and until last couple of years, I went into the store the week before Xmas) and I buy toys up to my budget. Wrap them. job done.

Same with pressies for other folk, have a look online, oh X'd like that, click...job done.

I have 10 + people round on Xmas day for a meal. Online food shop, delivered, coooked. job done.

Decorations out the loft and handed to kids to deal with. job done.

I just really really don't get why all the stress, preperation and planning. Am I missing out on something? Would I have a super duper all singing all dancing christmas if I put a bit more effort into it?

I get - a nice, relaxed event that just happens, pig ourselves stupid, get drunk, kids play with and then wreck, new toys.

Those who spend months planning - what do you get, over and above that? - If it's something really bril, you may have to teach me how to plan Christmas better!!

Ah, I get apid Wenesday 9student grant so no more until january LOL), so will be starting the, am doing Christmas cards but tooks ome great pics of our village in the snow last MArch so using those on most, with the kids cards 9they like to send them) being bought from the NAS and BIBIC, charities which amke a daily difference to us, so ethical in a different way.

Best not be doing the bird thing- all our family rescue cats, might be a bit of a Bad thing in our gardens!

Have a new nephew due soon so am ewnjoying looking for ideas for him , Dh getting the boys a Wii and ds3 an Iggle Scooter- still got to decide on the rest yet but we HAVe decided no mroe plastic crud to line the playroom with!

for me, i have nothing else to think about Also i'm on ml til dec and I know when I get back to work it'll be manic for the first few weeks/months til I get used to it all again.

Also, it is different for people with complicated families they need to plan where they're going/who with etc

Also, good for people on a tight budget to buy bits during the year. some people find it easier than saving(which they could dip into).

I have saved £50/month for xmas, but i don't plan spending all that. We ideally want to have a lot left over to buy something nice for us (me and dh) as we don't buy each other anything normally.

I love CHristmas but I hate being responsible for it. I always feel like I can't pull the whole thing off and wish I was just going to be at someone else's house not mine!

I am much too tight to leave it all near Christmas. I do shop mostly on line apart from stocking presents which I get in January in a local shop when they reduce loads of stuff. But I find that if I keep an eye out during the year I can get what I want at a better price than I have managed to nearer Christmas. Also, when DS was a bit younger by the time it came to 7pm I used to be so shattered I would be fit for nothing and would never have got round to ordering anything. And I had my Mum having a hip replacement a few days before Christmas so if I hadn't been organised Christmas wouldn't have happened.

Last year was the first year I was more organised and I found it so much better as I was able to relax and enjoy all the Christmasy things that were going on around.

This year we are going away on 14th December for the weekend to go and do the LaplandUk thing and there are loads of other bits and pieces going on. So I have no intention of wrapping presents, sorting food at that point (you can quote me on that when I am still running round like a headless chicken....)

Every year without fail I am at the shops the night before looking for fairy lights or something or other anyone with their head on straight would have organised ages beforehand.

I do actually start quite early but I'm just crap at Christmas, I really am.

I bet someone really organised (ie. not me !) has a list they get out each year with everything you need to remember to do on. Maybe they would post it up so we can nick all their ideas and be sorted out with time to spare ?

oh very good, ct

Doexn't everyone have a list???????

Oh. Maybe I AM a control freak after all.

Er no Peachy, would you like to share please ?

I'm hoping that this is the year I am somehow organised in time, and have great pressie ideas for everyone

Dd's b'day is on Christmas Day, so I need double inspiration for her, and that's also why I need to start buying bits early! (spread the cost, and get birthday themed party plates etc before they disappear from the shops in October to be replaced by Christmas stuff ) )

Don't know if this is any good for older relatives, but I gave dh's gran a Get Well Wheel when I first got them,and she's giving them to her neighbours for Christmas.

Well, I always keep the list of pressies I bought for people last year, so I don't get them the same this year...my memory is terrible

Last year I was mega organised and had it all done by Sept (was starting new job then and aso had old one so knew there would be NO time!). This year I'm partialy organised and loving it!! got the kids botha DS which they are desperate for! Done most of DDs, just a few stocking fillers to go and go most of the stuff for friend's children. Still to get some bits n bobs for DS but can just go to tesco and get anything power rangery so not a prob. Know what we're getting my parents so just grandparents and inlaws to ponder over. Then I've just got to wait for Dec to arrive so I can send dh out one night and leave me to a wrapping frenzy!! I put on Miracle on 34th st, have a glass of wine, fire on, tree lights on and have a festive wrapping sesh!! Love it!