Does anyone else buy gifts ahead of time and try to convince DC what they want

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I just bought the bulk of my Christmas gifts on Amazon for my two DC. I got a £400 COL bonus from work and was desperate for it not to get absorbed into life costs but pay for a lovely Christmas for two lovely DCs. It feels like a weight off I’ve got them the bulk of the gifts. Adults we are having a realistic chat with and doing secret Santa with a small budget.

It means you can now enjoy the festive period now the bulks done and the stress removed. I'm 80% done, further ahead this year than others and I never get the twitch. Once I'm done I'm done! As for trying to persuade them, I don't, just incase they get too many ideas and the suprise is out the bag. When buying early I look at what is needed for the bigger purchase (eg. New scooter, or art supplies) and leave a gift or two to buy until theyve crrated a santa letter has been done (usually November) so father christmas picks an item or two from the list.

I have one DC who is very predictable and suggestible, and I've bought stuff in March, correctly guessing it would be top of his list at Xmas.

I have another who could be obsessed with something on Xmas eve, and totally over it by boxing day. It's much harder to predict what he will ask for.

I always like to buy early so I can relax and enjoy the run up to Xmas. Looking forward to being in the same position!

Besides the stockings, I'm done for present shopping for the kids. I've given the kids the opportunity to tell me what they want and it's 'I don't know' for the eldest three, my four year old is autistic and has severe speech delays and shows no interest in wanting anything even in a toy shop, so I have chosen things I think will benefit her or she will enjoy. My 1 year old was easy to choose for.

I'd like to think I know the older ones well enough to get it right, but if it's not then the North Poll was all out of "I don't knows'!

Yes, every year.

It’s one of the reasons i limit their Christmas lists to 2 items, just in case they do put something I’m not prepared for. Mine always do their lists early anyway so I usually know in plenty of time. There have been plenty of times I’ve convinced them they want what I’ve already bought.

No, I don't. I found DD too unpredicatable, tastes change too fast.

She has a July birthday and I amy look how she interacts with the presents she got and may earmark something to supplement it. But she is free to write her wish list in November and that's where I go from.

I tell my DC that letters take a long time to get to the North Pole, plus they had clearly been told similar at school as they came home toward the end of November insisting they needed to write their list!

I had also bought the bulk of their presents by the 1st December. We do a mix or surprised and things off of their list. I also budget in money in my December pay in case a DC wanted something really particular and I agree it would be a great gift.

I don't hint at any stuff I've already bought, if they haven't asked for it it's simply a nice surprise! But as said I do ensure there is money in the budget in case there's something they really want that I haven't got

mix of surprises and things off their list*

My oldest has everything he needs/wants thats affordable so anything now is extras.

My middle child I know what he loves, I dont need to convince him of anything.

My youngest doesn't understand.

I used to when DS was younger and it always worked 😂.

Oh god no way. That's too long to know what they're into.

Me too, I did it every year and they were always happy with their gifts!