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?

@Vebrithien that is a thing of beauty

I do that Rainbow put their stocking fillers in bags in the wardrobe with their initial on, until it is time to wrap [santa] Bought some nice wrapping and tags a few weeks back from Amazon.

That is my planner too Vebrithien

I have an app on my phone. I check it every single time before I purchase gifts for Christmas otherwise I will forget what is what and who's is who. It's called gift list. Even has an option for you to highlight if the gift you've purchased it wrapped or not which is handy!

@onlytowin I've bought them from Hawkins bizarre before. Full of tat but my ds's love them. And for £12.50 in the sales isn't too bad. Though last year I was eyeing up to stockings from Liberty's. I'm sure other places do them as well.

@legohooverer Numbering the presents is such a brilliant idea. I wrapped up last year for the first time and had a bit of a mix up. Eighty-five year old Uncle got a present intended for my teenage niece. Luckily everyone saw the funny side

Last year in advance I meant.

Haha Tuesday that sounds like me, really want to wrap in advance this year for a change

Have bought some drawstring bags to use for wrapping presents instead of wrapping paper as the bags can be reused.

Oh, I forgot - one year we had a massive cardboard box leftover from something and we just left it in the corner of the dining room with crap left on top of it, and stashed the presents in there as they arrived. It was like it was invisible because it looked so boring.

A few years ago I made a load of gingham gift bags in red and green.... Not drawstring though. I just sellotaped them shut.

Have used fabric wrapping a few years now... Watch Japanese fabric wrapping videos on YouTube to get ideas.

I use a planner app

I am going to aim to be finished for all but the youngest main presents before dec this year ( in case they see something they really want)

I always end up wrapping until 4am Christmas eve. I am not doing that this year!

@TenCornMaidens did you buy fabric wrappers or just a large amount of fabric and cut up? I think it's a great idea. I guess expensive outlay but then reusable.

Gingham is incredibly cheap. I just bought metres of the stuff and cut it up.

I also buy remnants sometimes.

Slight issue in that several recipients kept the fabric....

Ah yes, I'd not thought of that. I guess in Japan is it's wide dread everyone probably keeps them and then passes on again a bit like gift bags.

Maybe I'll start with just gifts for our household this year. Luckily no ones getting a bike Did you hem edges or use pinking shears?

I love the idea of fabric drawstring bags. I might have to pinch that idea. I don’t buy for many people and I know I can take that bags straight back from my parents and husband! I think I’ll wrap the children’s in paper as they’re quite young and still enjoy the frenzied tearing!

I used to use an app called Wanderlist but it got bought by Microsoft and is now called To Do. It’s free on the AppStore and I absolutely love it. I was all ready to delete it but you can add so many different lists, URLs and notes and also photos from your camera roll etc. Also unlike my spreadsheet on the computer I can actually reference it when I’m out shipping.

I love the massive cardboard box hidden in plain sight. How long did you have presents hiding in it?!

I jot everything I buy down in a notepad with the price, each person has their own page so i know how much I've spent as I go along as well. I have been starting early for a couple of years now but I want to be finished by beginning of December this year as I'm due my second baby in 22nd December. I like doing my wrapping close to christmas tho, i make an evening of it once dd has gone to bed i put a Christmas's film on and do the wrapping in front of the TV with a glass of bubbles (when non pregnant obviously lol) last year I did it when dp was out on his work do so was even better because I got to do it in complete peace lol

I've got a spreadsheet for everyone where I list what the budget is, then what I've bought and spent and it calculates how much I've got left to spend....but I am a geek like that .

I also use it to list present ideas so if I see or think of something throughout the year I jot it down there.

I cant't work with lists - things written down are literally meaningless to me. The only thing that works for me (and it's easy for me as I live alone) is to have all the things I've bought in separate piles in a spare room. I have to be able to see everything!

But I'm only buying for adults, which means things tend to be smaller and easier to hide!

@TenCornMaidens

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!

In my spreadsheet I have a column for the wrapping paper used. Partly so can identify if labels fall off, but also so I can coordinate which paper I have used!

@Vebrithien, or @MarshmallowManiac - where is your planner from, please? I already have a 5-year Christmas planner and can't justify buying another one, but yours is so, so pretty...

www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Organiser-by-Rachel-Ellen/dp/B0732Z1N92/ref=pd_lpo_196_img_0/257-2176046-0914536?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0732Z1N92&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&pd_rd_r=bfa1d4f0-9247-4143

Just for you Everything

I just wrap and then write on the present who it's for and from.

DC name
From Santa

@MarshmallowManiac - thank you!

I use an app and list each person, I put down gift/stocking ideas as they come to me and also helps with budgeting. It tells me exactly how much I have spent..........that bit is less fun . I've used it for a few years now and its wonderful.

As for storage, was a cupboard in the hallway, but now have an ottoman bed that will be used as the kids are all big enough and nosey enough now to go in the hallway cupboard.