Bought too much?

[lightisnotwhite]

After reading the bargain thread on here and lots of Black Friday deals I now have everything bought and sorted.
Unfortunately I seem to have got way too many bits.
So cross with myself as I was really trying to save money this year. I still have Hygge head bands from a few years ago ( on a multi buy deal) and a novelty salt and pepper set as part of a 3 for 2 .
In my 20’s I never shopped until a couple of weeks before. Was always able to get nice stuff and usually a good price or offer.
I think this early shopping is a really bad idea financially however good the discount.

How does everyone else manage?

If you don't want to give them everything you've bought you can always save things for birthdays :) I have definitely bought too much for my little one and my boyfriend but it's all stuff I want to give them 🤷‍♀️🤣

Write a list and stick to it

I haven’t actually bought anything yet so definitely not bought too much!
just save some of what you’ve bought or return if you can. I agree, the earlier I would start the more I would buy, and it’s so unnecessary, my dc are never short of presents on Christmas Day a mixture of useful and wanted things.

I have a plan of what I'm going to buy and stick to it and ignore the bargain threads when I'm done. I started as always at the start of the year and try to keep it simple, this year I've gone with a theme of keep warm, something to eat, something luxury and a gift card for the recipients. All really close family and adults apart from one dgd, who I find the hardest not to twitch with and buy a bargain if I see one. The only thing I've twitched and bought extra was a pixobits studio set (was £35 now £8.74 at the entertainer but still full price most places and has good reviews)and a refill pack (was £9.99 bought for just under £3 amazon). I've bought two sets to put away for dgd birthday and a friends daughter birthday. I try to give less but better quality gifts so the recipient isn't overwhelmed, and we're a family who dislikes clutter.

Just save them for birthdays/next Christmas.

I lost presents last year (stressful time for me) and found them in March so they are ready to give this year.

I used to shop early and shop for bargains but tbh they are not bargains unless they are things people want (have asked for). I now write a list and try and stick too it, and I stay off the bargain threads as much as I can.

I've bought way too much for dds, dreading getting it all out as I feel guilty and a bit cross about the money spent 😬

Really need to learn starting early means I buy and spend more. Dds are 14 and 10 still not learnt that lesson!!

You could just send stuff back?

Save things back for birthdays throughout the year
I do a list and pretty much stick to it

Well I did.
But it ‘s the extra thing to get it up to free delivery. I get suckered by this every year because it makes sense. I think.

Finding something that’s better than the thing you got already.

The thing that I ordered online that wasn’t what I expected but returning it is half the price of the item.

Hampers. Ends up costing a fortune in time, money and effort. I’ve got halfway through and it still looks less exciting than a glossy box from somewhere posh.

I didn’t even try for the cheap Dairy Milk this year because last year we were swimming in the stuff. We got as a many back as we gave away. But at a literally only a few quid it is a bargain. But that’s a lesson learnt.

I buy too much every year...mainly small things like stocking fillers though, not big things. I just hold stuff back for birthdays or the following year. I had about half of my DCs stockings sorted this year before I even started because I overbought last year! It also means I have a nice little supply of gifts for kids parties, nieces' birthdays, school fair donations, charity things. It gets used eventually!

I have done the same in previous years, got tempted by extra things and starting earlier made it worse.

So now I do a list and only buy something from
the bargain thread if it is on the list. I have been trying to reduce the amount of presents I buy DC each year, trying to find the perfect number. I’m trying to find the right balance between it feeling indulgent but not over the top. Hopefully this year I have managed it.

Carry a few over for birthdays! It's a lifesaver for any birthdays that come up quickly after Christmas.

I shop from boxing day. It not only does Christmas but also birthdays etc through the year

I stick to a list and think to myself Christmas is really just a very nice Sunday so do I need to buy all the extra random stuff? The answer is no. Then I imagine myself in January when Christmas is over and would I be pleased with myself if I’d gone mad? No I wouldn’t.
This works for me.

I’ve learned to avoid the “bargains” and lists of Black Friday discounts. Though I do shop when places are offering discounts - I just try and make sure I’m buying because it’s wanted and needed, not because it’s a bargain. Otherwise all those tempting deals end up being in addition to the things I know people actually want, so I just spend more and buy more stuff (...the endless STUFF!!!).

Clever marketing making us buy more.

Earlier shopping makes some people less inclined to overbuy because they aren’t panic buying. Others like you find spreading it out is more problematic.

A lot of it will keep but bear in mind electronic equipment may need to have batteries removed if they are being stored and if something doesn’t work it will be trickier to get an easy no quibble replacement the longer you wait.

For kids maybe just pull something out on one of those long school holiday days where there are cries of “I’m bored.” Or as a special well done for a great effort or achievement.

Check your food dates it might work well for a birthday gift, a nice posh grown ups picnic or to cheer up a unhappy or exhausted friend. A friendly shoulder, some nice nibbles and chocolates could be welcome. Don’t leave it til next year at the back of a cupboard you’ll just forget about it.

Don’t beat yourself up. What’s done is done and advertisers are good at what they do.
Next year maybe keep a record and get someone you trust but isn’t a push over to help keep you in check.

Make a list and stick to it. Don't get suckered in to adding so much for free delivery. If you add to basket but don't check out quite often you'll get a discount code anyway. You can often do click and collect for free so do so on a day when you know you are passing through the shops anyway.