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

[Invasionofthegutsnatchers]

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.

There's always always the posters who leap into the Christmas Threads to declare IS THIS A THING whenever the subject of Dec 1st Boxes / Christmas Eve Hampers /Christmas Pyjamas/Christmas Jumpers comes up

I imagine their arched eyebrows disappearing into their hair lines and their gawping open fishlike mouths .

No they are not A THING .
They are something that some people like to do to make Christmas a bit more fun .
My DC have a Dec 1st Box (not a Christmas Eve Hamper but we did that when they were little)
I buy a years worth of underwear and pyjamas/ loungwear for my adult DC (branded and non branded)
They get toiletries , big bar chocolate and a selection box .

We have winter/Christmas bedding that goes on Dec 1st (Nov 1st for my DD , she insists) It gets put away once its warmer ( washed throughout winter , obvs )
Ours is Nordic, Dd is winter animals , DS is reversible so goes plain side after Christmas .
So not a waste of money as it is brought out every year and we need winter bedding .

Maybe the IS THIS A THING brigade should be told
"Yes it IS and you have been missing out" or
"No its not and as no-one is holding a gun to your head to do it you can Feck Right Off with your fake aghast fish mouthed horror. Just because I choose to buy the Christmas treats you find such an abhorrant waste of time and money does not make you superior to me "

And A THING is different t THE THING which is the as yet unidentified item that know what it is when I see it , and I will plan my Christmas table round .
Might be a plate , some crackers or a table cloth .

I buy my kids new PJs every year because they grow out their old ones? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Just because I give them to the kids on xmas eve as part of a fun tradition doesnt make it a bad thing for goodness sake. And believe it or not, there is no law that says Christmas themed PJs cant be worn on any of the other 365 days of the year.

Do you not clothe your children?

Social Services might be interested to know you think buying the most basic necessities that your legally obligated to supply for growing children on an annual basis is not something you deem important.

Of course people buy their children new winter clothing and sleepwear every 12 months, I mean is your 10 year old still wearing newborn summer clothes?.

There’s a few Christmassy bits in the JoJo sale, if that helps @Youcansaythatagainandagain