Who's started their shopping?!

[ELCSPlease]

I've done zero as yet

BUT got a new baby due about 6 weeks before Christmas and I'm thinking any shopping I can get done between now and then would be a massive help.

I started this years list on Boxing Day, just need to keep an eye out for some bargains for things I can get early!

Come and inspire me

But how do you know what to buy so far in advance?
Anything I bought now, might not be 'right' in 6 plus months time.
I am impressed with the forethought though.

@1starwars2 in my case DS is only 1 year old so has no idea of what he wants, so I'm just getting bits that I think will be developmentally appropriate for a 2 year old. I know that I won't be able to do this every year, but in future I'll probably get smaller presents in the summer and his "main" presents nearer the time.

With adults I'll wait until 10 trillion family birthdays are out of the way and then start, probably in August time

I've got afew bits! Was inspired by the other thread on here (Christmas bargains!) So I've got some stocking fillers, and will get the main gifts nearer the time!

Not even thought about it. Our kids are all adults so they usually just get some money to put towards whatever they want to spend it on. The little ones in this house are on loan as we are foster parents so I have no idea who we'll have at Christmas so I tend to wait until closer to the time to buy things.

not yet, but I did suggest to DH to get Lego advent calendars this year.
that's my most thinking ahead in years 😁

There's a page on Facebook I follow called playpennies I've just ordered about six things from Amazon on their recommendation- really good prices

No. Its June.

My DS list is - Money/Chocolate/Underwear/Loungewear
( He lists 'money' , I buy the others for his Dec 1st Box otherwise hed happily run about with holes in his clothes , little swine )

DD gives me a list , and I buy her random things (her words) for her Beauty Advent Calendar

I'm going to see how the 2nd cake is (I made two) and if it's ok, I;ll marzipan it and ice it for my birthday .

So ground almonds and apricot jam on the list !

Awww it made me happy seeing this.
I started extremely early last year and December was so enjoyable as all I had to do was wrapping.
This reminded me. Thank you!

No. I don't buy for many people. 1 DC of my own, 2 others to buy for as well. And then we do secret Santa amongst us adults. I do put together a stocking for household members, but it's really not much. And I have Summer birthdays to get out of the way first.

Yup, I have started and have got amazing bargains from the bargain thread. I love christmas and I love nothing more then getting bargain presents that i know others will love. I also do some of my mothers shopping for her aswell. It just brings me so much joy. And I love being smug watching people running around like looneys christmas week. Can never understand why people wait till then to start shopping. So happy shoppping people

Haven't started yet but might get advent calendar if I see a bargain on them. Normally first start in October because we get child tax credit then and that goes towards Christmas gift shopping
But I dont have that many to buy for so it's no stress to wait till October

I usually start in June/July, DS1s birthday is end of November so I like to have everything bought by about October and then just pick up extra bits as I come across them.

I was really pleased I'd done this last year as we lost DS2 in mid November and I couldn't settle my head round shopping at all.

Planning on getting a playmobil calendar this year which I think will go down well. And need to remember to buy fewer stocking gifts as there's not much space!
Another thing I did was buy a sack, put his name on there and print DSs handprint on it. I plan to do his handprint on it on Christmas eve each year. Then he gets his requested santa gift in there.

I haven't bought anything yet but I have started planning. So I'm noting down things that I know people will love, and if I see something in a sale I will buy it. I was so organised last year that I had a lovely relaxing December. It was bliss. Hoping to do the same this year.
Not gonna buy for the kids till Nov time as at 3 and 6 they change their minds constantly but adults are usually pretty easy to buy for.
I tried last year to make some presents and buy less tat but it wasn't appreciated by my family so I think I won't bother this year.

@Charliebradbury

I haven't bought anything yet but I have started planning. So I'm noting down things that I know people will love, and if I see something in a sale I will buy it. I was so organised last year that I had a lovely relaxing December. It was bliss. Hoping to do the same this year. Not gonna buy for the kids till Nov time as at 3 and 6 they change their minds constantly but adults are usually pretty easy to buy for. I tried last year to make some presents and buy less tat but it wasn't appreciated by my family so I think I won't bother this year.

Charliebradbury I’m sorry your family didn’t appreciate it! It’s upsetting when you spent thought and effort trying to get or make nice things and they’re not appreciated!

I’ve decided that from now on I’m going to minimise making an effort for family members who don’t appreciate it. First of all: I’m going on strike from buying MIL’s presents. D “no mental load” H will just have to do it, and if he doesn’t, she won’t get anything. (MIL is horrible to me, so this last birthday I finally gave up and say to DH hat he was going to have to buy his own mother a birthday present this year. He forgot! Hah 😆 And she couldn’t say a thing about it as she always claims he can do no wrong 😂 FREEDOM!!!!)

Also, I my niece and nephew their belated (lockdown birthday) presents this week, and niece in particular is now 13 and I was already assuming I’d soon switch to just getting her vouchers. I had put a lot of thought into getting her some really nice bits and pieces from Neon Sheep, Sass & Belle and Lisa Angel - honestly nice stuff, some delicate earrings and bracelets, some sparkling fairy lights, and some stationery (notebooks, sticky notes, pens, etc.) that I would have loved myself (and I do have good taste, honest!!)

She received them with such teenage disdain, bad grace and disinterest that I was quite shocked and a little offended to be honest. She’s always been a bit full of herself, but clearly her teenage mode is going to be pretty rude and supercilious. It’s the last time I put in that effort, and my sister would be pissed off if I didn’t get her anything, but it’ll be £20 in a card from now on I think. (She then went on to make fun of my 8 year old DD’s favourite backpack which DD loves and was upset by; so all in all niece is clearly not going through a gracious teenagerhood to say the least 😡)

Still, it saves me from the effort of putting any more thought and care into getting her nice stuff!

(Sorry for typos - phone fingers 😂)

I normally start my Christmas shopping boxing day and buy all throughout the year if I see something they'd like. I have 7 nieces/nephews plus my 2 dc and inlaws we have to buy for so have to plan ahead to spread the cost. I have a spreadsheet on my phone to keep track on what I've got/spent. Most recent present I bought was a Tommy hilfiger aftershave set and a Ghost perfume set for £10 each for ds/dd

I usually start in October but last year started in August and it was brilliant as December was so relaxing, I was all wrapped and finished shopping by the time December rolled around and I could avoid all the busy shops which I hate anyway around Christmas time but I especially wanted to avoid during Covid times.

This year I've started even earlier and bought my first present, a Playmobil set for DS from the bargain thread..... I had some good ideas of there last year too so plan to keep an eye on it.

I've Santa done for my boys and dh's big present sorted, I've joined loads of fb pages that show bargains etc so have picked up loads of fab bits,
Have supermarket Xmas savings cards filled £390 in Asda and 400 in Morrison's so bar few family bits and pieces I've Xmas nearly sorted!

@1starwars2

But how do you know what to buy so far in advance? Anything I bought now, might not be 'right' in 6 plus months time. I am impressed with the forethought though.

But if they wouldnt be interested in it by xmas which is only 5 months time then its not worth spending a lot of money regardless of it being now or December.

I dont waste money on 'weekly fads' and instead buy things that are genuinely enjoyed by children (games, outdoor toys, instruments etc...) and not 'gone off' items or only things they have remained into for a long period of time.

My oldest likes football and minecraft and has for over 5 years, the younger one like paw patrol, fireman sam and bing and has for nearly 2 years (they rotate with a current favorite but the others always come back around so wont 'go off' them) and the baby dooesnt really care about characters/brands or anything lol.

In answer to OP question, I'm nearly finished shopping for the kids, just the DH and parents left really and then one or two things I cant buy yet for the kids (like my oldest likes experiance days but they have to booked within x amount of months so buy them closer to xmas so we have longer to book them).

Not yet but will do soon!

I always worry especially with toys! If I buy them now and something was missing or broken could I return or?!

No presents as yet but i do have pigs in blankets and yorkshires in the freezer. Stuffing mix, pringles, chilli peanuts, a flat of pepsi max (24 cans), a litre bottles of Jack Daniels, vodka and gin. Plus 2 bottles of Asti. One for xmas day and one for New Years day. Im on my way and i cant bloody wait!

I'd guess I've bought for about 1/3 of the people we exchange gifts with, I buy as I see things they'd like. The bargain thread is great but it takes effort to not get things just because they're a good saving, my willpower is getting tested!

Just the one thing, DS 13 has been requesting a gaming laptop for several years, the one he wanted was on a very good sale so we purchased it early as to secure the price. I usually don’t start buying any others until after DDs birthday in September.