I've bought 2 Christmas presents already

[BercowsFestiveFlamingo]

It's not my record, I once bought something in February but I don't think I've bought 2 presents this early before. In my experience you have to get things when they are available as otherwise nearer the time I won't be able to find them. One is a brand new with tags vinted special for Dd that I otherwise couldn't afford and the other is a bag for my mum that matches her winter gloves.

The problem with buying early is everyone ends up with more presents than I intended and being rather spoilt but although I don't like receiving presents myself I love giving them.

Posted before I'd finished.
Does anyone else start early and end up with too many presents? I have dc birthdays either side of Christmas and swap things about between the two to help spread things out but still I end up with too much. I find Christmas present shopping addictive but being on a very low income doesn't help this problem 😩 The low income is why I start early . Usually September.

I'm very impressed! I used to put Christmas off till the very last minute but I'm older and wiser now, and aim to have everything done (very simply) by October so I can forget about it till Christmas Eve!

The earliest I've started buying is September, last year I seemed to have left it and started panicking in late November.

I think prime Xmas shopping time for me starts in October half term and goes all the way through to panic buying on amazon on the 23rd

Funnily enough I bought a couple of things to put away from John Lewis sale last night. I’ve usually stated around October but trying to spread the cost this year

I actually have most of my DD presents already- she will be nearly 2 at Xmas.
I have set a budget and a number of presents max to avoid ending up just buying more.
I also have 1 small thing for my mum and the dogs present!
A couple of DD's and the dogs were brought in January. The rest brought either in sales or 2nd hand.
I have actually just brought a lovely 2nd hand farm for her 2nd birthday in Feb.

If you buy presents so early, what do you do if the recipient has different interests by Christmas, eg you two year old goes right off Peppa Pig and prefers Frozen?

At not quite 2 I can't imagine her having that specific interests that she wouldn't like other things. It's not like she is going to be writing a Father Christmas list.
However none of the things I have are characters so that's not as big an issue.
She has some puzzles- general animal ones and a sound one, some wooden animals, paint sticks, a book (again not character), playmobil 123, bath toys, cookie cutter, cake mix, sticker book, play food and Noah's ark. All fairly generic. I will hold back a couple of spaces on the list in case she develops a specific interest.
Her 2nd birthday I have: more playmobil 123, a latches board, mr potato head and the farm. Again all things a child isn't likely to dislike suddenly.

I have bought most of the santa gifts, a few stocking fillers and a few small gifts already.

I don't think you can buy to much, thats what xmas is for... I don't get the mumsnet competitive minimalism when it comes to xmas.

Healthy well adjusted people dont suddenly about turn on their likes and personalities... its just not a thing that actually happens.

Your 2 year old might LOVE Peppa Pig for a few months and then get super into Bing for a few months but they dont suddenly hate and reject Peppa forever.

I’ve bought three Christmas presents already as well. One for a good neighbour (saw at a fair and knew she would love it). A t-shirt for DB. And one for DD1 today. I buy early partly for financial reasons but also because I see things I know they will really like, so the gifts match the recipient, IYSWIM. I have an app on my phone that I keep updated so I don’t forget what I have bought.

I always start early as I've a good few to buy for. I have 15 nieces and nephews I do €20 for the older ones and €50 for godchildren the smaller ones I've bought presents for. I buy money wallets and put money in them every month I've finished all them.
My family think I'm mad but its easier when I spread the cost over the months. I also have 10 birthdays leading up to Christmas 4 of which are in December.

I've two DC 12 and 7 DD will be 8 at Christmas. I've finished both of them just a few small bits left life wash sets. For their stockings I just do sweets which I've got.

My Ds I've got him
A lifetime coding subscription
Xbox controller and headset
Headset stand
A canvas of a picture he took and loves
He collects pins so bought him 3
Gaming chair
Funko pop figure
A mouse for his laptop
Will get him a wash set and new wallet
Starting early I've saved a lot

My DD
Nintendo switch that I was very lucky to get for free brand new she will love it
6 Nintendo switch games
Switch cover, grips
Case,bag,headphones
Gaming chair
Disco ball
Lego dots
Scruff a luv
Markers
Plushy toys

Nothing wrong with spreading the cost of Christmas as long as you keep tabs what you have bought for whom. I've just completed saving for this years Christmas club so have that to come nearer the time but have already been picking up odd bits - often see things and if I don't get it there and then- will either forget or it won't be there when I go back. But as we have a few grandchildren to buy we set a limit for each one although this is flexible as you might spend less on one but slightly more on another - but it evens out. As all our ACs now have children we only buy for the grandchildren as otherwise it all becomes ridiculously expensive.

I’ve started, this is the second year that I’ve been buying all year and stashing (dropped hours at work so wages dropped). I use the Giftlist app to track what I’ve spent and put ideas for presents on. I really get started in August/September though as all family birthdays are done by then!

My kids are adults so I’m on safe ground!

I've bought 2 presents for my DD11, will be 12 by Christmas. Elf (the movie) monopoly. She has a few different monopoly sets and loves to play. Also we're going to see Elf the Musical between Xmas and New Year as it's her fave Xmas film.

Also ordered her a magnifying light up make up mirror from Boots that was on offer for £10. I doubt it sells for the RRP but it will be a nice gift as she's just getting into make up.

I have one so far for DS1 lol But only because it's gig tickets 😆

I normally start coming onto the Christmas boards from June as we move into the second half of the year. I like picking stuff up when there are bargains to be had and stashing them away, and also giving myself lots of time to think about ideas for gifts. I always have all of my Christmas shopping done by November so I can spend December just enjoying the festivities knowing I've got everyone's presents sorted.

I think the key to not overspending is to have a set budget and also to note down what you've bought so you don't forget. I've got a spreadsheet (very uncool) that I log what I've bought, who for and it tracks what I've spent and how much I have left in the budget. I must have had it going for about 10 years now.

The only issue I find is keeping everything stashed away but somewhere that a. You remember and b. The children won't find. Luckily we have a garage with a loft so it all gets hidden there.

I’ve/we’ve (partners family gifts on the app I use) spent £31 on 9 gifts so far. 6 of those were bought in the Boxing Day sales and the other 3 are things I’ve found in charity shops. I need to start looking in charity shops more often really as I have no idea how I’m going to be able to afford all the gifts I need to get 😩

I just bought a large (size wise) gift today... it was £2 in a charity shop and is a toddlers vanity table with mirror, lights and music.

I saw it the other day and was sure it would be gone by now but it wasn't and for £2 I wasn't going to wait any longer. I checked market place and they are selling for £15 on there secondhand so being on a budget its a great find.

I garantee it wouldn't still be there if I waited until December to buy it. Now I just have to find somewhere to keep it until Xmas lol.

Oh wow - what a bargain @JusthereforXmas 😍

That's a fab find!

Always buy thought the year. Last summer i got a set of books for ds. But last xmas he was still in the ripping books stage so kept for this year. So in theory i got 18m in advance lol.

But this year i have only got a couple of stocking fillers so far

Over the years I’ve found that what works for me is to get all the little bits like stocking fillers, bits of clothing, books etc early (tend to get these things in the sales) and then wait until the end of Nov to get DC’s big gifts each. That way they’re unlikely to change their mind before the big day.

DD’s birthday is before Christmas and DS’s is right after, so there’s always a bit of moving things around.

Any extra bits I’ve bought and forgotten about (it’s happened a couple of times!) I can use for kids parties.

I’ve bought my first 2 presents today, plus a gold sparkly dress from Vinted for DD that will be lovely for Christmas parties. I’m suddenly and inexplicably in the festive mood!!

I bought a set of Christmas gin glasses for my sister in the January sales.

I’m going to start buying for my DC from now on. I’ve a large cardboard box in my bedroom, ready to be filled (they don’t go in there, I’ll keep it closed anyway).
I keep a record of everything I’ve bought in Notes on my phone.

I've got a fair few presents already. Had an Amazon wish list and I picked up some bargains on prime day. I always plan ahead and then start buying a couple per month to spread the cost out.

I am strict on how many I buy though, I definitely don't go overboard. Been there and done that and the kids were much happier when they got fewer presents as not overwhelming for them.