How early is too early?

[Hop27]

The past few years I've felt really disorganised in the run up to Christmas and not been able to enjoy the fun bits. It's felt a bit transactional!!!
It's DH and DSS's birthday in November so I just feel like I haemorrhage money for around 8 weeks. To make matters worse we've done a big holiday in November so I'm just constantly behind.
How do people get organised early? What's the best plan, we live overseas I sometimes just find I'm panic buying online at the latest possible dates for postage.
I buy advent calendar's as gifts but I obviously can't get those until they come out in October!

Plan your savings and such much earlier, get ahead with birthdays and Christmas, I have two family birthdays in December ( used to be 3).
I’m getting my two close friends an experience ( prob theatre or cinema), and buy few presents.
Being treated to Christmas lunch out, will buy a small Turkey crown as want the meat afterwards

Who are you buying for overseas? Are they necessary purchases?

I think it's reasonable to start putting things away now for Dss and your DH if needed. How much do you usually spend?

I usually start buying things in October. But my son’s 16 now and never really wants anything and my extended family don’t often do gifts for adults. I will still buy for a few nieces and nephews but other than that I might just make the season nicer this year by going to theatre and things in December

Planning and implementing. Maybe you could start by putting some money aside for Christmas now? I’ve started already, I have an app also and I put everyone in with ideas and cost. I keep an eye on the Christmas bargain thread on here as some useful tips. Ive started stocking fillers for DC as I like to fill them with useful things rather than tat because my DC1 is getting older and it’s aftershave and designer underwear. If your DC don’t believe anymore you can also ask them what they roughly think they’d like this year. Dc1 does think I’m slightly mad but knows I love Christmas and like to be organised.

I have a notes section in my phone, although if I could be bothered I’d make a spreadsheet. I keep track of what I bought for people previous Christmases, what I’ve bought this year, and how much I’ve spent. It prevents me getting tempted in December if I know who is definitely done.
I also note down where I’ve stored the things I’ve bought, because one Christmas I couldn’t find some presents and was still hunting for them on Christmas Eve!

We’re similar in that we have a lot of family birthdays in the winter so it feels like we’re constantly shelling out!

I just have to start early. Use the sales, use Vinted, add an extra bottle of wine or non-perishable item to the weekly shop. DD’s birthday is Nov and I’ve already got her 2 presents this week in the summer sales.
Two other adult birthdays in Nov and I’ve suggested we do something together rather than buying things they don’t need. I know they’d prefer time together anyway.

I hate Christmas planning in December, it's too busy, so the past couple years I've done most in October and November. January I replace decorations and buy anything that I feel were missing to pack up with the Christmas decorations. See is there are any Christmas jumpers in the sale etc. Summer I book the activities, lights trail etc. September I do stuff that really low priority stuff eg stocking for the dog.

The online Tesco delivery slots come out in November, that's generally the last thing. I write a time plan for my husband to follow because I don't do anything Christmas day, except eat, drink, open presents and play with my daughter's.

I save £80 per month to cover gifts and food. I’ve just bought some stuff in the sales that I know DH and DD will like. I aim to get everything bought by mid December and do most online, as I don’t enjoy shopping any more.
I bought our frozen turkey in October last year at M and S and it was much cheaper than the Christmas frozen turkeys. Having said that, M and S couldn’t give turkeys away last Christmas Eve as they had so many fresh ones left.

Never too early here on the Christmas board 🤶

I've minimised actual present giving outside my household in recent years, for example Nieces and nephews get a gift card or cash.

I have a spreadsheet on my phone which i updated as I buy things, including the price so I don't get carried away.

I wrap as I buy, or whenever I've got a few things to wrap. Nothing worse than having to do a massive wrapping session at the last minute, I know some people like it, I don't. This also means presents can be delivered early to people we won't see close to Christmas.

The biggest thing for me in terms of enjoying Christmas, is cleaning, in the past I've done a big clean before Christmas and now I have a system for keeping on top of it so I don't need a big clean. This applies equally to getting ready to go on holiday and just life in general.

I do quite a bit of cooking and baking, which I enjoy, I find I have more time and it's more enjoyable if I'm not deep cleaning and wrapping presents in December.

Just wondering what is the app. Thanks

@Ladymama12 it’s called the Christmas Gift List tracker it was free on the App Store.

I always buy advent calendars in the Summer. There are normally fab deals on non-edible ones from the previous year- last year when it's as 40c, I got a Baby Anabell one for more than 80% off (this year I got my nearly 4 year old a Polly Pocket one)

Everything is necessary, Parents, Sis etc so can't really get away from that.
I don't really have a budget but just hate the disorganisation. Was thinking of buying on overseas gift per month. Then it's just asking other family members to keep them aside for now. Is that a pain?

I save money throughout the year, used to be £50 a month, now it's £175, but basically save a flat rate throughout the year and there is enough cash there to start shopping properly in October/November. We have a lot of birthdays and celebrations over winter so this way enables me to not have to think about it until I'm ready to.

I start thinking about Xmas properly late October though my eldest DD starts talking about it when she goes back to school lol. I start my shopping at the end of October normally before it's too busy. I try to prepare and get organised but will normally end up rushing in December trying to find last minute food and gifts. And in December girls will sit with "Santa", though the cost of this is a lot more now.

This sounds my idea of heaven....love the spreadsheets. This year will be much easier for me(allegedly )as I will have retired so won't be working up until 6pm on Christmas Eve.

I treat Christmas as a project and everything is planned out. The first year of doing it is the hardest, but every year after that you just build on the previous year.

Use a book, notes on a phone or a spreadsheet and start with lists. They can be everything from gifts, food, experiences, decorations etc.

Gifts, I note ideas as soon as I have them for everyone I will be buying for. I will then look as to where I can get them from and when is the best time to buy. Somethings can be bought anytime and I pick those up as I go along, but other things may be discounted nearer Christmas or Black Friday etc. or are a consumable, so I will note as to where I can get them from and buy at the appropriate time. Gifts that need posting or delivered early than Christmas are prioritised. Children’s gifts tend to be left until last as they can chop and change their minds. Like a previous poster I note where I have put things. I have found knowing what I want to buy early saves a lot of time a uses less energy as it does when you are getting closer to Christmas and feel more pressured.

Food, again have a record of what you are going to eat for at least Christmas week and preferably meal plan. Your can then pull together a shopping list quite quickly. I also have a list of edible treats we may want. Break the list down into non perishables, things with a longer shelf life, frozen and fresh things. Once you have your lists you can then start picking things up and storing them. I end up only having to buy fresh things for Christmas week which can be done quite quickly as I am not looking for other things needed for that week as they have already been purchased. If like us, you tend to eat the same at Christmas, you don’t even have to write a whole shopping list as you already have it from the previous year, which you can update if necessary. I have a hosting and non hosting shopping list.

Experiences, it’s a case of having some idea of what you want to do, when they are on and when you need to book. Some things need to be booked as early as March, others are much later. I don’t overload ourselves with too many events otherwise it is not only expensive, but also exhausting. I stick to no more than one event a weekend. All events are in a shared diary with reminders to avoid double booking and no one can say that they had forgotten.

Decorations and decorating the house. I note after the previous Christmas if anything needs replacing, or if I want any additional decorations and then buy them as early as possible during the season. I add anything for gift wrapping to this list.

All lists need to be updated as soon as either you think of something, or have bought or ordered it. Using a phone is really helpful for this, or as an alternative you update the list as soon as you get home. If you have ordered anything, make a note that is has been ordered and then update when it is delivered.

I aim to have the bulk of everything bought or ordered by the third weekend in November. That then leaves plenty of time to participate in events or chill out and enjoy the atmosphere.

It may sound a bit of a faff, but once you have done it all once, every year thereafter is much easier.

I’ve just checked my app and I’ve got 11 gifts so far. Some I bought in the Boxing Day sales, some I’ve found in charity shops and 2 I got for free!! I've also started an Amazon wish list of gift ideas for 2023. I have birthdays in November, December and January too!! Realistically though, I’m not going to be able to afford loads so I will buy what I can when I can but my top priorities will be my child, my partner and my parents and then everyone else will be left with what I can afford afterwards 🤔

My goal is to be done by the end of September or at least the bulk is done. We have a number of October, November and December birthdays including all DNs & DNphw’s and DH & Myself which is why I try and get Christmas presents done first. There will all ways be an extra “must have” thrown in by one or all of my DDs so I don’t feel as overwhelmed if I need to get one or 2 extras as I would if I was adding them to a long list of things to buy.

I have chronic health issues which are worse in winter so I can’t leave things until the last minute as I never know when I’m going to have a bad day/week or month. Even though I leave time for experiences and book more than one I’ve never actually taken my youngest to see Santa myself due to my health. I will sacrifice the Santa visit to make sure I’m able to spend Christmas Day or at least most of it with my DDs.

This year has been slightly odd as it’s taken me some time to get in the grove, but I’m getting there now. It’s also going to be different as I’m looking at experience gifts so I will have to wait till closer to Christmas to buy so we have plenty of time to use them, but I’m planning on having the money earmarked by the end of September. Summer are my good months so I like to get as much done as I can.

Ive already done 95% of DD 3’s presents, her main present bought in the Prime Day sale, I know she won’t change her mind, she’s 6 and Barbie mad so getting one of her dream gifts.

DD 1 has always done her lists in May, she’s as obsessed with Christmas as me. She also now knows the truth so this year has been very realistic and there is nothing expensive in her list. It is her first year at high school so I am expecting some changes as she develops new friendships and hobbies.

DD2 never knows what she wants other than makeup so anything we buy she’s happy with. I buy makeup through out the year for her, I’ve also just seen some clothes in a sale of her favourite tv show so going to grab those.

My idea of done isn’t the same as others. For me getting my DDs & DH sorted and Santa booked is done for me. DNs & DNphw’s tend to get cash unless they ask for anything specific so after a tip on the Christmas board I’ve been putting cash away in cards already for them. In-laws I don’t tend to stress over, they get what they are given, they have certain hobbies they like and are fairly easy to buy for. I’ve actually already got MILs in the prime sale.

I don’t prebook food, though I do look every year but I refuse to pay the prices. I do a shop Christmas week and we eat what ever I buy. As long as there are plenty of chocolate coins and a selection box each my DDs aren’t fussed about Christmas specific food.

I will still shop in the run up to Christmas but it’s not stressful shopping, it’s buying extras or treats, just because I can or want to.

I have a list on my phone, what DDs have asked for and what I’ve bought. I add things to my online baskets when I see stuff and at the end of each month filter through to see what I am going to buy or get rid of.

Keep and eye open in the bargain threads, they are great if your struggling for ideas or costs of things.

Lists are important, especially if you do buy through out the year and forget what you’ve bought or more importantly, like me can’t remember where you’ve put stuff 🤦‍♀️ Also set alarms and reminders for cut off days or deal days.

For extra people/presents, I no longer care. I use to stress about buying the perfect gift and keeping up with wealthier in-laws but now I buy what I want and what I can afford. If they don’t like they can happily regift which is what I tend to do with all my gifts from them. I’m also content with buying generic presents, wine, chocolates, biscuits these days. I know they will be consumed so they are easy.

Other than a food shop, nothing needs doing Christmas week, I wrap presents as I go, the house is clean, we usually have a Santa or Christmas experience that week and meet up with one set of relatives, but that’s it, the week is about enjoying and getting excited for Christmas. By Christmas Eve the house is perfect, sandwiches for lunch, Christmas Eve take away for dinner so no washing up.

Do you live in countries with Amazon? I found pre Amazon buying presents overseas a pain, even if I was organised and bought early, I’d forget to post in time. But since Amazon I just get everything gift wrapped and either sent direct to the recipient or other family members who will see the recipient Christmas Day. The last time we lived out of the UK I kept my UK Amazon prime as it was worth it to send birthday and Christmas presents direct to relatives here. It might not be the most personal gift exchange but if you have to buy them presents it’s definitely a lot less stressful doing it this way. One year DHs family decided to give him our BD at Xmas presents when he visited them, he ended up leaving clothes behind, paying xtra for weight and couldn’t even bring half the stuff with him. They sent things like Baylis and Harding gift sets, giant heavy art sets for the DDs, a box of beer, bottle of gin and Prosecco… Absolutely no thought to the size, weight or practicalities of getting home with the gifts.

As for decorating, it gets done when it gets done. Everything is out by early December but I put decs up as I go along. I don’t tend to throw decs away and I have multiple themes and trees so I’m never short and I buy a lot in the sales each year, or at least try to. Only a fraction of my decs go up but I rotate themes and as my DDs are getting older they get involved in the decorating more which takes the stress off and they love it. BUT my main lounge tree is off limits to them.

This thread is making me buy things for Christmas

Ok this has helped me get into the mindset!!
I have the Lego orchid, loved building it and keeping it built out.
My mum admired mine when she was here, is that on odd gift for a 70 year old?!

What app do you use please.

@Hop27 no way, both my mum and MIL have jumped on the Lego band wagon!

Honestly , soon as the children go back to school in September my mind turns to Christmas ! Picking up any bargains and stocking fillers I think the children would like . I also start with small gifts for family .

It does get so stressful !

It’s lovely to read everyone getting organised or thinking about Christmas. I’m currently away but can’t help Christmas shopping online and jotting ideas down. Nearly finished DC stockings and have few gifts sorted for family.