What can be bought just before?

[TheCrow]

Having a look at the budget and things are going to be a bit tight this year. I get paid on the 20th of every month so if there's anything I can get on 20th December that would help spread the cost but it's a lot more last minute than I'm used to, I'm usually well done by then! General things on my list-

Gifts
Food-snacks, biscuits, treats etc
Food for dinner advance- packet stuffing, frozen pigs in blankets etc
Christmas duvet cover for DD- they have nice ones in b&m
Matching dresses for me and DD for Christmas day or matching pyjamas. Again, probably a b&m job

I'm just worried that it's all going to be sold out that late and won't be able to get online deliveries. What's everyone's experience?

Duvet cover not needed, by pjs on credit card

I don't have a credit card. Duvet cover not a necessity no but that wasn't the question 😂

If things are that tight I wouldn’t be wasting money on matching outfits. Prioritise!

It's not so tight that I can't afford those things, it would just help if I could get them on my December pay instead. Was mainly wondering if people have bought them from shops that close to Christmas before or if they'll be long sold out by then

I think you'd be cutting it a bit fine especially for deliveries. Unless you have Amazon Prime.

But I do think that all the best stuff in places like B&M might be sold out by then unfortunately.

Things like duvet covers , pjs , Christmas dresses I would buy much earlier . Look on eBay , some great bargains and you still have time to factor in delivery time .
One year (when my DS was Yr7) he refused a Chrismas Jumper until just before end of term ( school had a Christmas Jumper Day) . I was searching all over . Primark only had huge men's sizes or the vulgar ones . Eventually tracked one down on the market ( wool mix , polar bear ) just by luck.

Food I'd buy nearer the time if you can get in the shops early enough in the dy so its not Hell on Earth

Clothing and duvets will be sold out by then
I'd just book a supermarket delivery slot for 20th/21st as soon as they come out and get all your food/alcohol and food and sweetie type gifts on that delivery.

@mrsdavegrohl do they charge you on the day it's delivered? I thought it was the day you put the order in?

It's highly likely that the duvet covers and matching clothing will be sold out by 20th dec.

Food - should be able to get what you need, but you may not exactly what you need eg particular brands or flavours.

I'd have said leave the food until last, unless there is anything you cannot live without, in which case get that particular thing sooner. Christmas PJs sell out early and there's no point waiting until late December for a Christmas duvet cover (why not get a more generic winter one, rather than specifically Christmas? same with PJs).

If you have family that buy for the kids (and you know well so don't mind asking) you could ask them if they could buy the duvet sets as an early present and just something very small to open on Christmas Day?

Apart from food I would not trust anything to be in stock that's important by the 20th December. A far better option is to make you other pay go further by buying in charity shops or secondhand - eg duvet cover (just wash before use). Depending on your DD's age, you could get most things secondhand or cheaply and she'll still prefer playing with the packaging anyway!