Stashing and organising gifts

[TenCornMaidens]

I usually use a spreadsheet to keep track of everything I've bought but still end up feeling like I need to buy more. I am wondering about adding pictures of the gifts to the spreadsheet since I've seen some apps do that. Do you find it makes a difference having pictures? Do you have another way of reminding yourself vividly what you bought for people?

I find a list is sufficient and like to have shopping complete before December. I don’t work a Friday so in the first Friday in November I empty out the gift cupboard, place the gifts in piles and decide what I still need to get for each child.

I kind of enjoy my little routine, and then have the remaining Fridays to shop in peace if needed or place online orders with lots of time left.

I jot it down in my Christmas planner Maidens and find that keeps me a bit organised. Do love a good list though!

It makes me feel a little jealous Lockdown. I used to have Fridays off and do it all then, but no more, have to work!

I'm not sure. I'm completely disorganised with my stash. I only found my joules xmas t-shirts bought last winter a couple of weeks ago 🙈

I need a system. I think photos would help.

I jot it down on a list and then go and peek at the stash if I need more information. I don't tend to start buying till October though and don't wrap as I buy.

I want to start wrapping as I buy this year, because every Christmas Eve is just a mad rush to get everything wrapped!

I only want to get all the wrapping stuff out once. I do it before Christmas Eve though.

Yes must break that stupid habit Easily feel I must accompany wrapping with Baileys/Mulled Wine and Mince pies this year.

I use my Christmas planner, and do all the wrapping at once otherwise I’ll have to unwrap and rewrap because I forgot what I got😂

Yes done that before Cathy in fact last year forgot to bring (to MIL) their big presents. Was definitely not very popular then

I buy all gifts by end of October, I wrap as I buy and each person has their own colour of ribbon.
I keep lists of who has what .

Food and booze wise, I buy bits throughout the year and store them in boxes and then order the Christmas food from M&S

Marshmallow I’ve accidentally got 3 of the same presents for DS1 one year

This is so helpful, thank you so much everyone!

For me, I buy and log as I go, but I have this weird feeling like the 'shine' has gone off the presents by the time Chstmas comes. So the list is like a factual list of boringness rather than a pile of exciting gifts.

Getting everything out into piles and gift bags helps but I still get muddled and overwhelmed so easily. Wrapping as I go would be a COMPLETE disaster and I daren't even try.

I think I'll try adding pictures to my spreadsheet (of the person and the gifts) and then assessing progress earlier - well before the beginning of December, which is when I usually do it.

I've just realised one problem I often have is my husband's birthday in mid Nov - always felt like I shouldn't think about Christmas before then but I am well over that now

I wrap as I go. It makes life a lot easier and frees up time close to Christmas

I tried wrap-as-you-go with post it notes stuck to each present... but the post it notes fell off. It was carnage, carnage I tell you!

DH’s birthday is early December. I take the opposite approach, everything done and wrapped before it so December is for his birthday then festive fun

Oh no Cathy that's something that would happen to me

I wrap as I go and I pencil a number, always in the same place (back bottom right corner) that corresponds to the list on my phone.
I’ve been doing it for years and no one has ever noticed the number, or certainly not mentioned it.
I tried post-its one year and that was an unmitigated disaster.
I just use notes on my phone for my list, and keep track of budget, amount spent, ideas and purchases. I haven’t found an app yet that suits my brain as well as a simple list and I can keep nosey kids away with a mundane title. It’s always in my pocket so I don’t double up or overspend on one person.
Anytime I get an idea for a gift for someone I add it to the list too, so I’m rarely stuck for ideas, and can nab a bargain year-round.
Because I’ve been using the same system for years I can quickly check back over previous years lists too.

For the dc, I try to keep to roughly a similar number and size of gifts, within reason. I stash their gifts in bags that are a similar size to the Santa sacks we use. It gives me a sense of size/proportion as I go, and makes light work of Christmas Eve.

I’m not especially visual, so I don’t feel the need for pictures but I’ve seen posters in previous years talk about using Pinterest to keep track of gifts.

For the children I keep a list but I like to be able to see the little bits and pieces I bit up in the months before. I have a kallax box for each of them. They are only little so no snooping concerns yet.

I've made a private Pinterest board and will see if that helps. You can give a board sections which I didn't realise!

Mine is all in boxes in the loft. I keep track of it on the Gift List app and then like a PP i will get it all out at the start of November, put it in piles and rebox a box per person, checking what I still need... I never wrap as I go, but will do it a person per evening from late November onwards. It works fine for me x

I just have a list in a notebook of what I have bought for who, great to see a big tick by that persons name when all their presents are bought. Last year was the first time I wrapped as I bought , it was so less stressful will definitely be doing that again this year.

Some good tips here - I think I’ll try wrapping as I go this year, it always takes longer than I think it will on Christmas Eve, and that’s just the kids’ stuff!

I use the notes section in my phone to keep track of gifts I’ve bought, it’s good because I have the previous 3 years in there too so I can check to see I’m not repeating a gift I’ve bought before.
I also keep a stash of cards & gifts I can give to people who I didn’t know we were on card & gift terms with until they surprise me with one

I might branch out and buy a proper Christmas planner - I’ve seen one that even helps your organise your meals over the Christmas period, which pleases me greatly!

I just jot down lists under each name but I dont have a lot to buy for. Once hid a small stocking filler somewhere and never found it again. Have often bought ighybtoo.much for DS13 and ended up leaving until.his birthday in March.

Last year I used an app called Christmas Gift List by medialoha. The free version is fine, not sure what extra toy get for the full one (£3) The look is a bit naff but it's functionally is fab. You add everyone, put how much you want to spend, add gifts and prices in as you go and even mark if it is 'bought' or 'wrapped'. It was a game changer for me and I'll be using it this year.

@thelegohooverer numbering the wrapped gifts is a genius idea! As is storing in a similar-sized sack to Christmas one.

I’ve kept a list on Evernote for years so can look back at previous years - quite cute to see what now dd13 asked for when 7 - and also add ideas for people throughout the year.

Never thought wrapping early would work for me but I may try your method.