How are you planning to buy gifts this year?

[Cherryrainbow]

Do you have a budget in mind? Do you focus on quantity instead of budget? Are you going minimal or splurging? Buying throughout the year or later on? How are you thinking of doing it? Just curious :)

I often find they don't have the same range of stock in November. I would definitely want to buy throughout the year however I am moving house so it's a no go until then!

I start buying in around September. Got some great bargains this year by starting early, but I don't want to start now as my kids are only little so I don't know what they will be interested in in 9 months time.

I have already started buying gifts for nieces and nephews birthdays which are mostly in May/June time.

I'm an absolute sucker for The Twitch and drive my DW mad!

I do all of my shopping (preferably all online) in November, I want to enjoy December without shopping. I save £100 a month and try to do quality over quantity, I only have the one DS but he's older now so not into piles of crap, just money and gadgets!

Definitely want to propose a Secret Santa for the people we spend Christmas with though, I hate buying presents for them all.

This year will be different as I'll have a new baby to provide for and I'm on statutory maternity allowance only.
I have five neices and nephews they will get £20 each, I have an envelope already for each of them and have filled one a month since January.
Baby will get upto £100 - we will get her a children's tablet, she will be slightly too young but will be something she could do with maybe before her birthday for a flight, other than that a couple of pairs of PJS and a few cheap books from world of books, needed stuff wrapped.
Other than that limited adult gifts this year, parents will get a token gift.
If people are funny that they're gifts aren't as good as normal - that's fine, it'll just save me money every other year going forward.

Budget, I dont get how anyone lives without one (my friends who dont live by one all have debt because its either stupidity or your rich and we arent lucky enough to be that latter).

I am cutting down on QUANTITY and increasing QUALITY this year... Im OCD and focus on the numbers a lot but what I have realised is

1. we have too many toys and
2. the more items we buy = the cheaper as it has to fit in budget then that is a lot of small cheap things that dont get played with

There for this year I have totally cut back the physical number of indervidual gift but they will be bigger/better gifts so will look more impressive (50 small £1 items like stationary, random toys and cheap balls doesnt look as good in reality as 7 bargain hunted toys priced £15, £10, £7, 3x £5, £3 that they actually like etc...)

I already started buying, if you want to streach your money/get bargains/make sure stuff hasnt sold out then you need to start early.

Quality on a budget. My kids are 5 and 2 so are happy with pretty much anything. I'm keeping an eye on special offers and things now, Amazon Prime day is coming up, the Aldi middle aisle etc to get them really great stuff at better prices :)

I also have a few bits left from last years John Lewis glitch on the Christmas bargains thread that I've kept for them this year.

Are you getting a tablet for the baby who hasn't even been born yet? Or do you mean an older child who is your current baby?

My total festive season/Christmas budget is about £1200. Its a lot, especially as I don’t have children, but right now its within budget. I appreciate this is a privilege.

Presents are at £840, the rest is activities, any outfits for parties, and food and drink for pretty much the whole of december and into new year (not including the usual food shop!)

I buy for a lot of people due to a lot of parents and children in the immediate family, so thats 20 people.

Last year I started a one present per person rule - this worked so well! It saved me so much time and effort in thinking up things and wrapping. I try to buy better quality too and if I can, something to do or consume.

The only exception for me is my mum
and stepdad, who do a lot for me, I will spend half the budget on a thing to do, the rest on a couple of nice bits each.

I will be starting to buy some of the children’s presents (10 kids!) this month onwards.

This year I will try quality over quantity but I’m fairly certain I will still get too much. I have no problem buying from cheap shops or charity shops and done lots of Xmas shopping in charity shops, but as my DDs are getting older they are more aware, especially as they know I love a good charity shop bargin. They can fully tell now if I’ve bought something new or 2nd hand now. I managed 3 huge hits for £3 2 days before Xmas last year though so I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for some bargains.

Im having to be very restrained at the moment because we will be moving soon so have to hold back. However, saying that I have still managed to filled a suitcase with gifts already. I’ve picked up a few things in clearance sales, some Overwatch plush toys, 2 sports jackets from sports direct clearance, my DDs have never been into brands but I noticed my 10yo becoming more aware, so I’ve got them branded coasts for Xmas, one was £20 & the other only £18 in the clearance. Hoodies & leggings sets in tescos clearance, perfect for winter. Disney Belle play set, Star Wars droids and a few other bits.

We don’t have a budget, but we do have a max of 2 items on the Santa list and 2 backup gifts in case Santa can’t get the first 2. I already know what my DDs want and it’s all a lot cheaper than last years list, main present only £85 vs £300 switch last year. Santa lists are done no later than September when they go back to school, my DDs think if they get them in early Santa has a better chance of getting what they want. I’ve done this to give myself a chance to get what they want and spread the cost out. My older 2 are more aware we buy stuff now, they still get their 2 from Santa and if they are lucky some extras, but now understand that the rest of the stuff they get Xmas day is from us.

im done no later than November, so December is about relaxing and doing Xmas themed activities etc.. I will still buy bits but they will be extras, if I see a bargin.

So most of DS’ gifts from last year are ignored, the main hit has been the Yoto player. This year I am not buying random stuff for his stocking it just isn’t wanted. For his main gift we are thinking a switch (will ask family to buy a couple of games). Stocking will be chocolate, Yoto cards, hot chocolate, socks and kitchen utensils (odd I know but he loves them). Will also get him new pjs.

Family wise I am determined to shop locally and just get each person one quality gift.

I buy year round for adults and kids but ramp it up Sept time. I just keep an eye on deals and and love the magazine style lists closer to Dec for ideas.

Clothing/bedroom stuff for kids or long standing hobbies/interests so nothing that is going to sit unused hopefully. For teen DD I’m thinking fudge making kit, stage makeup and cotton ball lights. For DS I’m thinking Hive strategy game, Beast Quest box set and cotton ball lights. All fairly generic so I’ll just keep my eye open for deals.

Lists to Santa go in 1st Dec and we’ve always only done a list of three items and the other things are a bonus. DS often comes up with the most random things (one year we could only buy one of the items second hand and it cost under £5 and another I had to import from the US) so it gives me chance to track anything down I need too!

For my parents I’m thinking meal voucher this year. PIL we did Netflix last year - not got any ideas this year yet. DH I’m saving for Aventus aftershave so I’ll wait until a GWP or similar event and a leather case for his EarPods. So specific gifts to suit their interests but I don’t need to wait until the last minute to buy (apart from vouchers so they have a good date on them) so I can spread the cost and feel happy that I can tick them off as done!

Not sure how this thread appeared for me, maybe you popped up in active?!
Anyway, I’ll answer since I’m here 😂
I have a long list of people we buy for, around 45-50. Big families, lots of nieces/nephews/great nieces and nephews/godchildren/siblings without dc etc etc
one evening in December I’ll spend about an hour writing down my list and what I’m getting each person. The Saturday after this I dedicate to going out with a friend and blitzing as much of the list as possible. The Sunday evening I will sit and order anything that needs ordering online if I couldn’t get it in real shops or too heavy to carry.
Mostly people get one substantial present, I’ve got too many people to keep track of as it is so I really don’t want to have to buy multiple things for each person!

I always buy throughout the year. It's just easier for me that way. I decide who's getting what, make a list, tick it as I've bought it and highlight it once I've wrapped it. That way I know where I'm up to with it all.

I've already bought and wrapped for 1/2 of the people we buy for (8 adults & 10 children) the rest are planned and buying a few bits each month and wrapping straight away. I'm sure baby #3 at the beginning of December so want everything bought and wrapped before baby arrives.

I don’t start till around November. My sisters and their families (grown up kids), I just make up a nice hamper of food and booze. They like posh cheeses/ crackers/chutneys and a nice bottle of wine.
Dh and I will get a few cheapish gifts for each other, but treat ourselves to a night away in a spa hotel at some point in January when we need cheering up!

Ds will turn 14 at Christmas (birthday 23rd December!) He will let me know nearer the time what he would like - but he never asks for much.

Tkmaxx

I start thinking about it in Summer and popping onto the bargain prequel threads on here in June. I have a set budget and prefer to spread the cost rather than getting into any debt so I buy things as and when I see them on offer. Although my budget is set it's a limit and not a target so I don't necessarily spend up to it. So for example my budget for my DSis is £30 but this year I've already sorted her presents and only spent £20 as I've bought on sale. So I save the extra £10 rather than buying her more if you see what I mean.

Like a poster upthread I refuse to shop in December and just love enjoying advent knowing all presents are bought and paid for and I can focus on the nice, festive things like cooking nice food, curling up on the sofa with hot chocolate, decorating the house etc. No panic buying or rushing round the shops.