Has anyone bought any Christmas presents yet?

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

I like to buy Christmas (or birthday) presents as and when I come across something that I know the recipient would like. This way I get presents that are likely to be appreciated, and I don't have to stress closer to the time because I don't have a gift to give.

So far however I have a few birthday presents ready to wrap, but nothing for Christmas. In previous years I'd have a couple at least by now.

Has anyone bought any Christmas presents yet? If so, what?

Yes, I've been collecting bits and pieces for Xmas stockings throughout the year from charity shops and car boots. Grown up DC get money for Xmas, but I still like to make up stockings for them!

I've done quite a bit, I'll probably start wrapping
them up in the next few weeks am thinking about my theme at the moment

I also need to think about a theme and I might start wrapping pretty early, too - only because I always get so tired late on Christmas Eve when I suddenly have to wrap stuff for DD. Last year I wrapped the sticking presents two days early and it really made such a difference to my Christmas Eve! Thankfully I have a quiet office at work where I can store stuff out of DD’s sight, so I think I might get things ready there this year and then just take it all home in the boot a day or so beforehand ready to come out when she’s gone to bed.

For years we’ve done some very tasteful Christmas decorations and themes - rustic white and wood, or Scandi red and white, with tasteful white lights and rustic stars and so on, all very White Company. Then last year DD (8) rebelled and demanded coloured lights and as much multicoloured tat as possible. I had some really colourful Bollywood-style baubles and decs I hadn’t put up since my twenties, so I bought some multi lights and got them out and it looked amazing, frankly. And much more cheerful than my other super-tasteful stuff

This year I think we’ll go multicoloured again and go all out a bit. I’m hoping we will actually be able to have people round! Poor DD deserves a fun Christmas after all the misery of last year and homeschooling.

Stocking not sticking! I should learn to preview my posts

Yes I have bought a few main presents for DS who's 2 and a few stocking fillers for him and DSD who will be 10 at Christmas.
Stocking fillers like - notebooks and pens, little wooden toys, pencils.

I've got 7 gifts so far for my daughters, I started in the Disney store January sale. I've seen loads of bargains but finding it harder this year as dd1 is now 5 so I see lots of things I know she would love now, but am well aware how quickly her tastes change. Dd will be 3 at Xmas so much easier to buy early for to spread the cost

I highly recommend the Aldi app - it allows you to see the “special buys” a week in advance and nab the good things (they also deliver).

I got dd1 a Harry Potter invisibility cloak - it comes with a photo app to download which picks up the green-screen of the cloak and genuinely makes you invisible in photos. It’s genius and she’ll love it. totally haven’t taken loads of photos of myself with just my head bobbing about

Dd2 has a balance bike for £25 in a tasteful leather colour, for once avoiding the boy-blue girl-pink nonsense.

Yes I am about 1/4 done for each of my children. :)
Plus about half way with stockings.

Have a few bits got for Dd and ds (19 and 15) and my mum.
I know what I’m getting ds (stuff relating to his hobbies so easy enough but Dd is much harder.
She’s a chocolate lover - I normally buy some nice stuff from Hotel Chocolat but was thinking about a subscription. Has anyone done that before? I saw the one that was an assortment of chocolate each month for £25 but would like to hear from someone who had actually tried it!

Years ago I signed up for the hotel choc tasting club when it was about £12.99 a month, and forgot to cancel it when the free trial box ended. But I really enjoyed the chocolates and they were a lovely treat each month when I had a small baby and it was winter and difficult to get out a lot. I cancelled it after about a year as I couldn't quite justify the expense any more.

However I'm not sure I'd pay £25 for it, really depends on what it contains! That's a lot when you think about it across a year. At 19 I might prefer £300 in cash rather than in monthly chocolates!

I for the first time ever am waiting till December I spend way to much each year and normally buy all year . It ends up stuff they don’t want or play with in the end. So wish me luck .

100% no. I love Christmas and I love Christmas shopping but I don’t start thinking about it until October at the earliest.

I get that people have to budget, but I would rather put some money aside every month than actually buy things.

Any time I have bought things early I have either forgotten about them only to find them months later, or have ended up being too soft and give them to the DD’s for no reason!!

Christmas shopping helps me to get into the Christmas spirit but not months in advance!!

I know that I will be totally jealous of you all come December when I am panic buying!!!

Yes. It's my most effective form of stress control at the minute, I find it helps to have something I'm in control of when the rest of the world is uncertain!
I've got all the side bits for dc, waiting to see what they're enjoying nearer Christmas for main gift & bigger stocking gift. Family Christmas Eve Box mainly done, advent activities mainly planned & bought for, probably about halfway through non-family presents. I'm determined to be organised this year, and spend the run up doing fun festive things with dc rather than stressing about what I've still got to arrange.

(Also really helps financially as we don't have bags of cash for extras, and realistically any savings would be used elsewhere before then! I don't go overboard anyway - or try not to! - but it's lovely to be able to get craft bits & small but luxury gifts when there's discounts available.)

I've finished dd (will be 15m old at xmas) just need to do stocking near the time.

Ds (will be 8) I'm about 90% done I reckon for main stuff. Stocking closer to time.

Ds (stepson age 7) I am starting soon, I have a list to tick off.

Boots points and 3 for 2 will cover my mum, stepdad and sister.

I have a list of ideas for my OH as well will start on soon, his birthday is literally days after Xmas so for a joint list thing going on.

Not yet but the last family birthday is in August, so once that's done I'll start on the Christmas shopping! Were due a baby in January and I've told DH I want everything done and ready by Christmas so looks like we have a few busy months coming up lol!

For once I haven't even thought about it, I'm normally halfway done by now but decided to put £60 a month away and think more about what I'm buying as mine are 8 and 15 so past the any old shite will do stage 🤣

Last year they both got less and said they preferred it so I'm happy to wait and see what they actually want.

Other than the kids we only buy for siblings (all like vouchers/cash/tickets) and parents who we've made arrangements with for event/trip based gifts (e.g. my mum and I don't exchange a gift but we book a joint weekend break for us once a year instead).

I bought some slipper socks for next Christmas, in a sale last Christmas ! I normally start I. About September, although our birthdays are September , Oct, Nov!

Mostly done for everyone, plus extras for January birthdays.. I don't have many to buy for though and they are mostly happy with Gin!

Thanks. But what have you guys bought for adults? That's who I usually find it hard to buy for....

Just two absolutely beautiful pure silk scarves I found on the NT online shop.. Was ordering one for myself when I changed it to 3 - for a DSis and SiL.

I still haven’t found the mega bag of nuts I bought for nut-addict dh’s stocking back in late October 2020! He swears blind he hasn’t found and scoffed them.

No. I normally would have by now but finances are rather stretched! I do, however, have several hand made gifts at the ready (soaps, shower bombs, etched personalised glass bowls and glasses) so I suppose that's a start of sorts.

Yes I've got quite a few tbh not sure how I'm so organised this year

Finished 'normal people'. Just parents and partner to go, but about half way with those, and dd, who I don't have much for.

I have just started this week!
So far I bought some earrings for my mum, a few silly bits and a couple of tshirts from qwertee for DH. Some stocking gifts from shein, toys for a pound and heritage of Scotland (thank you bargain thread!). Ordered dd1 some plushies and posters.

I'm just looking at matching pjs now...