Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

I'm starting Christmas shopping now. A few items per month

79 replies

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 03/04/2022 08:34

Might sound ridiculous but with another fuel price hike due in October I think it's a good idea. I've just bought stocking fillers so far. In general we are cutting down presents but we'll still want a few things to open.

Toys tend to shoot up in price just before Christmas and I don't think there will be many good offers this year.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/04/2022 09:49

Not in the least bit ridiculous to start now .
I always find the little presents like stocking fillers are the hardest to buy because I don't want to be browsing with 2-3 bags already , trying to look for inspiration in boiling hot shops .
But if I see something , I'll buy it

And it helps you avoid The Twitch Xmas Grin

I don't have to buy toys (DC are adults) but their Must Haves will change up to Christmas ( and you've bought something they don't want /already been given/cannot find the 'new' toy that they are desperate to own)

My DS likes money so we do that and give him underwear/toiletries/loungewear in his Dec 1st Box (things he needs anyway)
DD gets a Dec 1st Box (same as DS)
I've already bought some pyjamas (Primark) half price , that I saw earlier .
She'll get a nice pair (maybe M&S) not Christmas PJs , winter
Branded underwear from TKMaxx for DS and some from Next

I;ve already bought some The Gruffalo wrapping paper .......Xmas Grin

YY to cutting down on tat though. You lool at all the paper and toys and wince at the cost and the waste .
We used to put some toys into the charity shops in about Nov (ones they 'd grown out of but still good condition)

Top Tip:
Before you hide it , take a photo on your phone , then you know what you've bought.

Fairislefandango · 03/04/2022 09:53

I can see this would be helpful for some people, but my extended family and I tend to work from wish lists. Nobody starts even thinking what they'd like until November, so I couldn't really do this! I don't really have toys to buy though, as my dc and nephews are teens.

Original poster
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 03/04/2022 10:33

Starting saving is also a good idea

OP posts:
BeanyBops · 03/04/2022 10:40

Right, joining in!! Really good idea. Just what the hell to buy now.

Last year I did hampers of lovely locally sourced treat items for pil and bil. Some food, some trinkets and hand creams etc. Seemed to go down well so I could start doing that again.

DD (2yo) is a bit trickier to guess what she will want by then but I suppose I could also start on husband, whose tastes don't tend to change much!

forlornlorna · 03/04/2022 10:40

I've done this for years. Every January/February I buy all my grandkids Christmas pjs in the sales (Asda mainly, this year I've paid 1.50 a pair for the younger ones and 2.00 for the others) plus their Christmas jumpers for any school Christmas jumper days. And I buy a couple of toys a month as and when I see a good offer. By November I'm done but have a wardrobe full of gifts that I forget I've bought. Keeping a list this year lol x

gaggiagirl · 03/04/2022 10:43

I've just bought an Adidas gift card from Tesco as they had 15% off and DD always asks for Adidas gear so I'll be ready with that. The offer is still on and available on line as well as in store if anyone is interested.

Nidan2Sandan · 03/04/2022 10:44

I have started a savings pot for xmas this year, usually I dont need to do this but with costs going up I felt I needed that buffer.

Whilst I would love to start shopping early, I just dont know what to get the kids. My son I could probably manage, it's just whatever is the must have video game of the year. But my daughters are tough. Husband even worse.

Comedycook · 03/04/2022 10:46

I might start doing this too... especially small stocking fillers as I find they always add up. I hate thinking about Christmas early but it's probably sensible

ipswichwitch · 03/04/2022 10:49

I’d recommend getting an app to keep track of what you’ve bought. You can use it to record what you’ve spent, where you’ve hidden it, set budgets for people, and lists of gift ideas.

LadyCordeliaFitzgerald · 03/04/2022 10:57

I used to shop all year round, but it’s trickier now between the dc being older and less malleable, people having wish lists and people wanting to opt out of gift exchanges. (All fine but I wish they wouldn’t wait until late nov/early dec to have these discussions)

For now I’m just saving but it’s not as much fun. It also takes discipline not to dip into the pot.

Kirstos1 · 03/04/2022 11:06

I'm also saving any clubcard vouchers (and anything else I can get my hands on) across the year for Christmas food. I also start buying Christmas food as soon as it comes into the shops when it's on offer to spread the cost.

Original poster
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 03/04/2022 11:10

@Kirstos1 clubcard vouchers give you 3 x the value if you exchange for Denby or Goldsmiths vouchers

OP posts:
Original poster
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 03/04/2022 11:12

I always put a pack of pants in DCs stocking and got some half price in the next size up in the Sainsburys sale.

OP posts:
Fitterbyfifty · 03/04/2022 11:15

My dd12 has said she doesn't want a stocking anymore!! I think she might change her mind if her brother gets one though. Or maybe it's time to stop?

OurChristmasMiracle · 03/04/2022 11:19

Admits she’s already completed the Xmas Eve bags and bought a couple of presents.

Does not feel remorse!

NewYearEveryYear · 03/04/2022 11:22

The only thing that stops me doing this is lack of storage space.

Otherwise I'd happily fully embed myself in Christmas from approx. Jan. Love Christmas 🎄 and yes, the price hikes we will see this year are even more reason to get better at personal finance management.

YouMadeABear · 03/04/2022 11:24

I've got a separate savings account and its named "Christmas" on my online banking to stop me dipping into it. I put £50-100 a month into it so by November I've got enough for gifts/stocking for 2 x DC, big food shop and a couple of trips (grotto, lights) as well as the following year's panto tickets as they go on sale early. We don't tend to buy much for anyone else so as long as the DC are sorted we're happy. I do pick a few bits up throughout the year but will wait until November for most of it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/04/2022 12:03

@Fitterbyfifty

My dd12 has said she doesn't want a stocking anymore!! I think she might change her mind if her brother gets one though. Or maybe it's time to stop?
Doesn't want a Stocking Xmas Shock That's just fighting talk there !

My DS keeps saying "I'd rather have money than things" which is fine by me . He saves his money (very commendable) and No Plastic Tat .
But if I spend maybe £70-£100 buying his years supply of loungewear , socks, trunks then I know he has them.
He'd just pocket the cash and not buy new clothes .
He's not a spender but everyone needs new clothes even once a year Xmas Wink

Mine go along with The Traditions to keep me happy (they love them really )

0ats · 03/04/2022 13:38

Mine don't want stuff now either. They are very environmentally conscious and last Christmas I was asked not to get all the crap and I'm not even an excessive present buyer. I'm very proud that they are like this, I thought all young people got this. Maybe one day they will and all this consuming nonsense will stop.

Fitterbyfifty · 03/04/2022 13:42

Yes, my dd doesn't want stuff for environmental reasons either but I never really got tat anyway! It was mostly underwear, soap, stationery for school etc

Youcansaythatagainandagain · 03/04/2022 13:43

plus their Christmas jumpers for any school Christmas jumper days

This is a great idea and one I meant to do myself this year. Christmas jumpers are so expensive and I usually just buy a tshirt and put a long sleeved top underneath it.
If anyone sees any cheap Xmas jumpers pls let me know!

ENoeuf · 03/04/2022 13:45

Mine would be out of date if I did this. I worked out a budget divided it by 12 and am putting that away each month. All the dc have been told to write down stuff they want as they see it and then review in December.

Original poster
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 03/04/2022 13:51

Christmas jumpers are ten a penny on my local Facebook marketplace. They're usually worn once or twice only.

Nieces and nephews get £20 cash each from us so every time I go to the cashpoint (not often) I put a note in a jar.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/04/2022 17:00

I used to save my coins in a tin (one I could only open with a tin opener ) loved the Great Count-Up of the £2 Jat every year .
We used to try and guess the amount and DS collects any unusual £2 coins so he rifled through them.
But of course the past couple of years Ive handled barely any cash .

Cherryrainbow · 03/04/2022 22:50

I've started putting ideas on my gift list app and have put a few things aside already. I'm planning to spread the purchasing over the year so it may mean I get 1 item a month or a few during the sales throughout the year. I'm planning on being mindful - less stuff, and more thought into do they need/want/like this stuff. I also have a xmas savings account that I put into each month and take out for purchases of gifts.