Mid years Christmas lists

[D20]

Does anyone else start making lists mid year so they can research or wait for price reductions? If I don’t write them down as I think of them I’ll forget them!

Ted Baker pjs
French soap
Bath powder
Uno cards
‘Well Read’ book purse/bag
Wrendale rabbit
Cool Tokyo Guide book
Pocket microscope

My dd will be 9 at Christmas I have bought

Simbans picassotab drawing tablet
Posca pens
Meemeows
How to manga
Squishmallow sticker art set
Squishmallow teddy
Cool maker pop bracelet
Lite brite the oval one
Connect 4
Axolotl facts metal sign she loves axolotls
Misfittens plushy cat
I also do a stocking but that is just sweets and crisps.
Everything I've bought I didn't pay full price for. I know it's very early but I know she will love it. I have so many to buy for with family that I start early other wise I couldn't afford Christmas.

I've finished my niece's and nephews. The older ones get €20 in a money wallet except for godchildren they get €50 the smaller ones I buy toys for. I've 15 to buy for. I have 4 birthdays in December too.

I have a ds he wants a pc for Christmas so will get that closer to the time along with a stocking and some small bits to open.

I try to start early as I have five kids to buy for so it gets very stressful time and money wise starting late and by starting early it means getting really good prices. I have picked up quite a few bits already.

For DD15: Air jordan 1s, bath and bodyworks bits, sol de janiero sets, nails in giftset, AirUp pods, Beauty Bay skincare box, A book, Costa coffee set - which I will put a costa gift card in.

For DD13: Air Jordan 1s, 2x Big minecraft lego sets, minecraft merch, aphmau plushies, tshirts and doll, AirUp pods and a book.

For DD12: Air Jordan 1s, minecraft merch, alot of pokemon card sets, boosters, boxes etc and a book.

For DD6: Big my little pony set, polly pocket set, disney princess smartwatch, bookeez scrapbook set, unicorn books.

For DS3: Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Stretch And Strike Thrash Mobile Playset, Sonic the hedgehog smartwatch.

Mostly on the look out for anything and everything unicorn for DD6, minecraft lego, a helicopter lego technic set, minecraft merch, aphmau merch, craft type science kits if I see anything with good reductions now.

Unfortunately they wont know 'what they want' until the adverts start later in the year or the new playground trend hits.

Two sets of designer boxers in tk max yesterday. Came out feeling very smug with myself that I am more than half way through teenage boy stockings

I have been making a list for my 2yr old (nearly 3 by Christmas):

Magnatiles
Yoto cards (and maybe headphones)
Fuzzy felt
Leapfrog leapstart books
Balance bike?

To have the Christmas that I want for myself, and want to give to family and friends, I start very early, not just the gifts, but planning the decor.
I will need to replace the chocolates, probably more than once.

I keep running lists in my notes app - ideas for the kids, DH, parents, things I’ve already bought, and things I’d like, so I don’t go blank when DH or my mum ask me what I want! I just continually update it through the year.

I use the Gift List app all year round to log things I pick up throughout the year. I also log ideas on there too - it’s so handy on my phone as I can get it in there quickly before I forget!

I also have running lists all year round for birthdays/Xmas. I note them on my phone as I think of them or hear people mention things. I also keep a list of ideas for me as I think of them as I can never come up with ideas when people ask.
I have just had a birthday so nothing much on my 'want' list at the moment except new towels and a couple of items of clothing.
My daughter will be nearly 3 at Xmas and I already have for her: kinetic sand, a book and a see and spell puzzle. Planning her main present to be magnetic tiles. Will add 2 more things from: name plaque for her door, dressing up clothes, kids knives, apron, sunglasses, a case for her Yoto cards or anything else I come up with.
My partner is tricky to buy for but I have a couple of subscription/gift card type ideas plus a desk cooling unit for work.
My sister I have a couple of voucher ideas for.
My mum I have the possibility of a bat detector which I got from a thread on here. Ok

No but I have started general christmas planning already and I'm glad I'm not the only one!!😂

I start shopping in January as I just buy things as I see them so no need for lists. But it's nothing big. I've bought lots of 2nd hand books, quirky clothes from charity shops for 17yr old DD (bow ties, cravats, braces) and some vintage jewellery from a flea market.

The DC don't really make lists or ask for things.

Main presents are usually theatre or gig tickets. I'm getting them Hamilton tickets in July.

My lists are food and craft related.

Bs0u416d, Glad to be in your company.
I pretend that I am doing it to be efficient and organised, but in truth, I just love it.

I tend to buy things when I see them on offer throughout the year, I've already got quite a lot of presents. We have seven birthdays in November and December and then five in January, so I like to be prepared.

I have already decided that it will be a turkey crown this year!

I have a Christmas NoteBook that I write in as I think of things.
Presents for DH/DS/DD

DS/DD adults still at home , I do a Dec 1st Box with underwear, pyjamas/loungewear, toiletries, a bathrobe if they need a new one , socks .

TKMaxx is a good searching start for DS , sports socks from Costcu , black socks from Next

I write any food items I want

I ignore anyone who says No, it's MAY they get a side eye when they're flapping in December .

Another vote for the Christmas notebook!

I have a page for Christmas Films/ TV - might be old favourites I rewatch or something new to me

And what I;ll do again/ what I;ll do diffferently/what I won't bother with again.

On the Not This Year is Christmas Cake , I don't like bought cake but if I make one inly I eat it so it hangs about for weeks . Stollen will give me the fruit and marzipan , I have a breadmaker so the dough is easy enough to start off .
I love home-made marzipan.

We're going away for a week in Dec ( DH DD and me- DS is cat sitting ) so we;ll do all our sight seeing and eating , then Christmas Day itself will be lower key . DH and DS are less bothered by Christmas (roast dinner and TV)

If you need to send 'special' Christmas cards, or even for other occasions, keep an eye on Whistlefish. There are often special deals, and they are all different deals.
I recently signed up, and bought 20 cards for £20, post free.
I know you can buy for much less than £1 a card, but I selected cards that are beautiful, almost like a watercolour.

I keep running lists on my phone. I’m very jealous of the Christmas notebook people because scrolling through old lists on my phone has none of the romance of years of hand written notes. I start one every year, and then mislay it.

Emma Bridgewater sale has started.

@Theothername I have a mix of approaches which may work for you.
I have a few lists on my phone (present ideas, films, if I need to buy anything like cards/wrapping paper and I tend to create a to do list nearer the time).

I then have 2 books. A planner that lists what I bought, card list, recipes that I never use and notes for what worked/what to change for next year. I fill it in when I've decided what I'm buying - it helps me make sure I'm not buying the same things year after year.

Then I have a red notebook (have had it since before I was gifted the planner). It used to have everything but since the planner I now I just use it as a journal type thing that focuses solely on how Christmas went.
I try and include what we did, who we saw, anything big that's changed this year etc. I
started in 2016 and it's nice to read back through them every now and again

I worry about kids stumbling across a nice planner. I don’t think they’d look (but I would have done as a kid 😝).

Just added champagne and cognac to my list for a few people and not just list but we pounced on an artist discount for a picture for my MIL.

I have decided on a big pavlova this year for those of us who do not like Christmas pud.
It is one of the few things I can make, so I make it a lot!
Trying to think of how to make it a bit different for Christmas.

I love pavlova - can I come to yours? None of us like Christmas pie so we normally have something like Treacle tart and icecream.

I have to do mince pies and christmas pud, too, or their would be a rebellion! (M and S, they are way beyond my slender cooking skills)
I am thinking of maybe raspberry and white chocolate pav - will that do you?
Maybe with a little raspberry liquer, too?

I have usually stated a list for the kids around this time as I also like looking around for price reductions but I have 0 ideas so far this year 🤣