Where are you with your Christmas planning?

[BatFinksWings]

Figured I can ask this in here without being lynched 😀

I've started buying the kids gifts - they're 23 and 14 so hopefully their tastes won't change too much in the next couple of months.

I've made a start on food. I predict issues come December so I've already got my joint of beef, chicken and turkey crown in the freezer along with sausage rolls, vegetarian mains and other bits and pieces

I've bought most of my chocolates/ Percy pig goodies / tins of sweets/ cheese biscuits tin. I've also bought wax wrapped cheeses as they're dated so well

Soooo .... am I the only nutter who does this?

Ooh, and pigs, home made stuffing and emergency sprouts in case I can’t find fresh ones are all in the freezer.

I've commissioned gifts to be made for great nieces who live in Canada. I've asked certain loved ones if they want to come and stay with me over Christmas. I've bought the dog a replacement purple squeaky fluffy octopus to the almost dead one that's his favourite toy. I've had a brief thought about buying books for my other great Bruce and nephew who live in London. That's it.

Niece not Bruce

Oh and I've had a bit of a think about what to cook and think a slow cooked lamb shank for my meat eating son, and a veggie feast for the rest of us that has to include gluten free goats cheese cauliflower cheese, and steamed sprouts.

I hadn't even thought about it until this thread popped up in Active. I think I'm on the wrong board... taxi!

I need to buy a bottle of sherry.

I've almost sorted DD1 and DD2s main presents and their stockings, just a couple of things to get but I could give them their Christmas presents tomorrow if I needed to and they'd be happy.

Other presents I've bought some bits and bobs, sorted my mum and my sister, one present for DH, two of my nieces so far but more to get.

I've been buying snacks for about a month on the weekly shop so have a stock of nuts, crisps, chocolate etc in the garage. I'm going to think about some bits for the freezer soon.

I've just booked Breakfast with Father Christmas at a local pub for December which was great last year and I've booked tickets for a Christmas show in late December. I really missed taking DDs to the theatre last year.

I'm usually so organised and my shopping would have begun in about August but this year I've done nothing, apart from a list of names with no gifts next to them. We're doing dinner this year too but I just can't get into planning mode yet which is not like me!

Not a sausage. If I see a Turkey crown I might put it in the freezer but I won’t think about it until after Halloween and sorting out five amazing Advent parcels Calendars.

I've got most of the dc's presents ordered, have made a start on dp and I have lists for other gifts.

Have got wrapping paper, preordered some pre christmas books.

Have invited dm and dmil for christmas lunch.

Am looking for outdoor christmas decorations.

Started clearing out the freezer
Started buying presents (but still a long way to go)
I've been adding a few Christmas bits to each food shop since the end of august so have a decent stash of non perishables now - I'm also predicting supply issues but I'm not fussed about what we actually have for Christmas dinner. As long as I've got wine and chocolate I'm happy!

Also have got all Christmas plans in the diary with family etc - this is mine and DP's first real Christmas living together (I'm not counting last year because tier 4) so we have no traditions yet and needed to start a yearly rotation with our parents - both sets are divorced so we have 4 lots of people to please! This is the thing that has really taken the pressure off, before it was sorted I was feeling so stressed about it

Present28- if , for you it's just a day that's fine, but for many of us it's about a festive season, (for many there's a lot of religious relevance to that period) not just a day. I personally very much enjoy the whole of the advent period and celebrate through to twelfth night. It's certainly about more than a single day for my family.

Although yes, the consumerism can often be rampant, unnecessary and particularly gaudy- that behaviour isn't evidenced here, where people are described events booked, days out planned, cards and crafts made, yes presents; but no huge lists of needless crap described?

I've done absolutely nothing! Won't really start to think about it until after Halloween.

@Holothane

Nothing everything has gone wrong this year dh smoke 70 quid a week away, home iscoming on a treat though but Christmas is a wash out at the moment🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Over 3.5k a year. Is that on cigarettes or something more herbal. I would be getting him a vape for Christmas.

@Perfect28

It's one day, just one day. The planet cannot sustain this consumerism. Make a nice meal and enjoy the company of loved ones.

Well it's not just one day for everyone. Our family are spread around the world so when they come to us it's not just for one nice meal, it's for several days. So I'm currently trying to work out how to fit 4 extra people (MIL, BIL, SIL & partner) into our house, and thinking about feeding 9 people for 21 meals. I want to do it because my lovely MIL is 85 and it really annoys me that DHs siblings think it's fine to go to her house and expect her to do all the work and it's far better that DH and I do it (more money, more energy and there are two of us) but it is not just one nice meal and is a lot of work still for 2 adults.

So I'm currently thinking about making my Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding, have not thought about presents at all, and am thinking about how to fit everyone round the dinner table. Before the pandemic I was thinking about a bigger dining table but that got forgotten about last year so now I have to decide if I should go for it now, we have an 8 seater but have big family meals often enough to really need a 12 seater.

I’m trying and failing to follow TOMM Christmas plan.

Christmas Day I'm going to be at Mum's and have already done the M&S order. Boxing day I've booked at a hotel for an all-the-trimmings lunch.

I've got the crackers and a couple of new decorations (I get a couple every year to add to the existing ones).

Not started on presents, only DD to do really and she now just presents me with a list. I like a PP's suggestion of money in a puzzle box, it might mean she'll actually engage with her stocking gifts for once! Mum and I will argue about not giving each other gifts and then come up with something terribly practical. I might buy myself a 'to me from me' gift or two. Probably something Aesop, I love their handwash.

Not much to do really as we're away for Christmas (staying with family).

I've bought most of the kids presents.

I've made a list of who we need to buy for (not many people really - small families, no other kids apart from our own) .

I need to buy cards and the last few presents and some drinks and goodies to take away with us. That's about it!

Which money puzzle please? Great idea for teens.

Food is ordered from M&S
We don't really need to buy anything for each other as we don't want or need anything.
We plan on having a shopping city break in January.
We will eat lovely food, drink champagne and go for a walk.
Perfect

@LostforWords2021 this one AGREATLIFE (Money Maze Puzzle Box | Unique Money Storage - with a Well Crafted Package for Gift Giving | A Box Full of Surprises and Fun! Brain Teasers for Kids and Adults - Gift Card Holder https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012AQB2EY/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcRFPEKMBJFFFWDXKPREPW

[quote BatFinksWings]@LostforWords2021 this one AGREATLIFE (Money Maze Puzzle Box | Unique Money Storage - with a Well Crafted Package for Gift Giving | A Box Full of Surprises and Fun! Brain Teasers for Kids and Adults - Gift Card Holder [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012AQB2EY/ref=cm]]swwrcppapiglttfabcRFPEKMBJFFFWDXKPREPW[/quote]
Thank you.

Google took me down the Etsy rabbit hole where I’ve spent ages looking at plantable Christmas cards.

And possibly a spider costume for our small Ddog - Halloween sorted

-Theatre booking made (A Christmas Carol)
-Pre -Christmas break at NT place booked- will include candlelight carol concert, will buy my Christmas cards there and send the following week
-Christmas presents ordered/bought - wrapping planned during 5 days off in November
-M&S food order done-collect 23rd Dec
-Wine and flowers subscriptions will deliver just at the right time

to do

• book restaurants for meals

-set aside nice new 20 notes for nephew and neice who prefer cash -choose and buy the advent reading -deep clean and declutter before the decs are brought down, hopefully this will happen on the 5 days off in November!

-most important! think of believable excuses not to go on the work's night out , rather than admit I hate socialising (to be honest, I think they know already)

Mostly planned, then there will most defo be some extra purchases which I hadn’t planned, so I basically plan to not plan 😂😂

We have brought kids presents and have a fair idea of what to get for everyone else

M and s food order is in, ordered a turkey.