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

[Doodledootoo]

Message withdrawn

Just wanted to say that i'm so over excited about christmas this year we (me and dh) have decided this is the year to start our family traditions so we'll be staying home with dc's this year, no visiting. Visitors welcome though!

Oh and if anyone's buying stuff from elc, check boots first as they sell elc stuff and it's included in the 3for2 stuff

I hope people will keep adding tips to this thread, especially money saving ones and sharing stuff they do for christmas

oooh a Christmas thread.....

yummy

Oh this is lovely! Didn't know this thread was here!!!
I haven't done anything yet, but going to get two presents tomorrow i think!! Haven't really got the money though

I am considering going away to somewhere snowy ( poss skiing) over christmas, TBH I always go mad and spenda fortune, so could spend it onthis instead, last christmas dd2 was in hospital and christmas day was very stressful because of that, we were still giving her ehr pressies end of january, the crux of the dilemma is my 2 dds are the only grandchildren and we are very close to my mum and dad who help out big time with the childcare during the year and so love seeing the girls at chirstmas, to add to the pressure my brother and his wife are home from living abroad for 10 yrs ( thought hey did spend christmas with us last yr as home on a trip - though dd2 in hospital!) i know my mum has expectatiosn of a big happy family chrissie, but tobh i think it is hideously hyped up and the reality often falls short of the expectations ....really in a tizz about it ...any thoughts welcome

Don't feel so bad now that I bought my first present in June

HCC
x

Ooh goody, a Christmas thread, I love this time of year.

I do all my shopping on line and have done the bulk of it. Have got all the nieces and nephews (9 of them), got MIL/Husband, SIL and BF 2 children. Have to get my brothers and FIL. We tend not to buy adults only children but brother and SIL do a lot for us so we still buy them. Have enough points on my advantage card to get chocs and biscuits for teachers/after school club staff.

Have most of DS's, just have about a dozen things left to get as well as some stocking fillers and a couple of dvd's and computer games. DH just gives me a list so he should be easy enough.

Bought my wrapping paper so just cards to get. Have the craft bits for DS to make cards for gran etc so we usually do them one weekend in December. Tree and decs are fine so just need to be dug out.

Food shopping is done online, so I book the slot as soon as its available and then add to it as I remember things. Cant stand Supermarkets at that time of year.

Would be ace if we had snow on xmas day but not holding my breath

Happymumofone, you put me to shame you are SO organised! Although i love all the preparations i haven't started yet, usually have by now. Bought cards for dd to give out earlier today but thats it so far! Oh and i have started a list! Will get going as soon as i creep round dh for some money! Should have saved all year but there always seemed to be something else i needed to spend the money on.

How did you manage to start this thread in a non-existent topic???? Well done you!

I ordered books from Book People today for DS, nephews and niece. Also remembered I wanted to do a personalised book for nephews so will organise that this week.

Need to get family organised on Chris Kringle thingie we do - put all adults name in a hat and everyone pulls one and buys for them.

I love Christmas!

Yay - we have a Christmas topic!!!!

christmas really is the silly season, working in a store that is selling an upside down tree, i think i have seen everything in terms of how silly things can get....

Just what I need, ideas please! I have almost 10 yr old BBG triplets! Refuse to spend a fortune on them, but so fed up with mountains of boxes then within a month you are looking for it all wondering what on earth they had!

Can now add a book for my dd to the list and two things each for my three kids stockings! Only little things but it is a start Wish i could help with ideas for the triplets....haven't a clue, sorry!!
Any of you save all year round then? Always mean to do it but can never seem to manage it.

Hello my name is Maisemor and I LOOOOOOVE Christmas .

Our theme this year is Cheap & Cheerful.

We bought tents (Tesco sale £2.95 each) for the nephews.
We only give bought presents for the children, the adults will get a jar (cheap Ikea one) filled with homemade cookies/treats.

I have finally come around to making my children's christmas sacks. White sheets hand sewn together and I am going to decorate them by sewing on a Christmas tree or whichever motif they would like.

Have finished making the Advent calendar (24 little individual sacks that we hang on a piece of string on the livingroom wall). We usually fill them with either a sweetie, a little book, or sometimes a picture of an animal which means that we are going to the Zoo (we are members) or a picture of water which means that we will be going swimming.

We only do Christmas cards for the family. My work (and my husband's) will get a batch of homemade cookies/treats.
The family gets a homemade card with a picture of the children.

soo found you all agaian - so is there any top tips out yet for the shops?

i've got DS a thomas starter set from woolies for £6.99 (was reduced form £20!) so he's started few toy pots/pans and he's sorted! lol.

Ordered DH's Xmas pressy today as I noticed it had £10 off at Amazon

Been squirreling stuff away for DS all year.

Bought a case of wine to hide for the festivities

Asked DH what our plans are this year.

Sick of the costant ads on Nick Jr/milkshake etc etc

Hell it's only October!

have got most of ds1's presents but nothing for the lo yet

adults wise we all write what we want on abit of paper up to £30 put it into a hat and then pull them out that way in my family we only buy 1 adult pressie

have no idea what to get dh though he is the man who has everything

In answer to thread title - well its October so it's officially not early. I only struggle with discussions about Christmas in August / September

Have given some though to Christmas presents but not ordered any yet.

Have got loads of Christmas wrapping paper etc (but mostly because friend is a Phoenix rep)

HMC, see first post, done in sept

I have got some more pressies, including pjs for dd to open on christmas eve. Lovely idea. Will let her have them after her bath. Then we can watch Polar Express and The Snowman, if she can stay up enough to watch both! She is only 3!

ooo also, I'm not sure if any of you will want them but poundland have some christmas plates/bowls/cups etc in plastic or melamine(sp) they have a nice looking father christmas on them and say merry christmas(I think) I picked some up as dd will love them!

Ar ha, I'm not alone. did my first bout of presie wrapping last week- for the american neices and nephews. OIts all going over with GPS at end of month. I've included a family Pre christmas pressie to make and decorate party criowns to wear for christmas dinner (crakers are not commonly found in missouri I'm told). Rather than 6 indidvidula pressies I've done 6 craft kits each of which will make 6 or more of what ever it is, so each kids gets to unwrap one but they al get to "do" all of them. It helps that the GPS will be with them so there will be more adults around than normal... thought craft session with GPs might give SiL a few minutes off duty...?

I love the idea of the poundland christmas plates etc., always come in handy, might have a look next week
I havent actually done anything else Christmassy, but thinking about pressies and lists etc.,!!

I'm so excited[saddo] I got my christmas club money yesterday and can now buy the remianing presents. Made a list this morning and there's not too much left, yippee

I want it all done before the end of my maternity leave, so i have 6 weeks.

Off into town tomorrow to get more stuff. Thing is my cupboards are beginning to feel the pressure

yay i only have to get 8 more presents and 5 of those are wine/chocs!!