How many presents have you got yet?

[lovinglongerdays]

I like to be super organised for Christmas - I actually hate shopping so like to get it all done early so I can enjoy December rather than stressing re presents and food. I live by my many lists to ensure I have no last minute panics.
So far I've bought:
DH - a shirt. Hopefully he'll like it but it's very ...different!
DS1 football shirt of his team, a northern light led lamp
DS2 football shirt (same team as DS1) and PJs.
DMiL - bracelet
Still got away to go. Aiming to be completed by early Nov.

I've not bought yet (we've got 3 kids birthdays to go yet) but have started on the bits I'm making. So theres 24 advent activity disks ready, Santa key, baubles, advent book cushion, and a few other bits. All the stuff I always say I want to make for my own kids and home at Christmas but then got stowed under with work/orders and don't normally get round to doing them!

rainbowzebra05
They sound amazing!
When the Poncetastic thread begins, please could we see some? (I really look forward to that fantastic thread!)
I will need to make a few more stockings (I like to have some in reserve - the stocking itself) just in case. They will be very simple, as I have the crafting abilities of an ape.
I have been gifted an old but perfect red velvet door curtain, which I am hoping will work for stockings. It will also be a child's cape for fancy dress. It's massive!

I've not seen that thread before! I'll have a look out for it. I run a personalisation business so can cheat using the equipment I work with, but my own family never end up getting anything because I'm normally so busy in the run up that the time isn't there! So I've started nice and early this year to know that they aren't being missed.

The stocking sounds brilliant! I can't sew curves so they're something I've never dared attempt. We'd all have square ones otherwise

An hour? Does that include kids?

Love this thread, i've found my people!! Not bought anything yet, but have been researching/looking over the weekend. DH thinks i'm crackers. Will check out the bargains thread shortly😆

@rainbowzebra05
You could do sacks.

Yes - although DT’s and their cousins are now all in their early 20’s. DH and I divide the list of who we need to buy for between us and get everything ordered and in most cases, delivered to us gift wrapped.

I’ve made a good start, so far I’ve bought

DD1 (25)-trainer cleaning kit, hoodie, hismile mystery box
DD2 (21)-pj’s, hoodie, cushion, hismile mystery box
DD3 (15)-hoodie, hismile mystery box, game
DGM-scarf, bodymist
DN1 (15)-hoodie
DN2 (15)-hoodie

But I still have DM and DF plus 4x DN (11/18/18/21) to buy for.
I also have 3xDD, 3xDN, SIL and DF birthdays between now and the end of December

Hello, I would love to hear about the advent activity disks if you don't mind @rainbowzebra05 !

I have made a pretty good start

DD1 - massive shien order
DD2 - make up mirror, back pack & matching lunch bag
DD3 - reborn doll, interactive monkey pet thing & puppy in a bag

For the youngest 2 we are also redoing thier toy room so have bought a large new shelving/desk ikea system plus a truck load of brand new stationery & desk accessories

Our eldest & youngest have birthdays toward the end of the year so I like to spread it out 😊

I'm nearly done, it'll be easier to list what is left.

One extra gift to go with husbands main gift.
Small budget left for three eldest kids, for last minute must haves.
Chocolate/sweets for stockings.

@Katandra9 What did you buy from Shein please? My eldest seems to have a bit of a love for it too.

Hi, this is them. Complete transparency in that they're on my Etsy now. I figured I might not be the only one racing round like a blue arsed fly on the last day of November every year!

Happy to send you the list of what's on them via message if you're wanting to make a version of your own :)

DDs stocking is done 👍

I’m the same I like to be organised but August is a bit too early even for me. I’ll start after dd birthday in oct

I bought a bunch of things in the sales for the first time ever. I was being heavily reliant on various nieces and nephews having babies this year though. Thankfully 2 of them will be. So i have a large range of soft toys and baby books ready to go.

everything else though... no idea.

Oooh thank you! I will look to invest in a set of these when my kids are old enough to read haha.

These look so good! Is there anyway you can give me your etsy name so I can order? Thanks 😊

Not been on my summer holiday yet! I'll start once I've finished my trips, in November. I can usually buy everything in a long session online then a trip to the mall, plus Lidl for chocolates.

And before you say you need to spread the cost, we all do, I simply save the money at the bank with my 4.45% interest rate.

Other than a sweatshirt for DGD i am done, present's cards crackers in fact everything bought in the sales. Can't wait to start making the Christmas cakes, chutney's etc.

That is great if you already have minimum £2k+ to invest into getting approved for most the high rate savings account.

Let's be honest the £89 someone would make off the minimum entry 2k over the year isn't whats paying for Xmas though, it would be the fact they already had thousands in savings in the first place.

@MrsClausMaybe I only did them to save the manic tat buying I always end up doing. I'm appalling at remembering to buy fillers, but they've gone down really well!

@Newmummy343 ah thank you, they're over at: purplerhinopersonal.etsy.com/listing/1772770963

I have always been super organised, often shopping from January, but my kids are getting older so I get lists off them now. I used to be done by end of September for the kids and wrapped. Last couple of years I've still been shopping in December as they often come up with a last minute idea. My oldest child has a xmas eve birthday too which just adds to the madness. I wouldn't have it any other way.
We also changed things up in our family as there's so many of us so we now do secret santa. So many less to buy!

None

We barely buy any gifts, just for DD14 really; everyone else gets money or vouchers. I make some food gifts for friends and make hampers for them. I usually plan these in September. DD's gift is usually bought on Black Friday as she pretty much gets the same gift every year, a set of matching clothing/tack for herself abd her horse. She gets whatever they have on their Black Friday offering. This year she might get a lovely case for the new flute she's getting next week which would hold her piccolo as well. But we will see. She'd be devastated not to get her normal Le Mieux set 😂

I don't buy any of her other bits until December. I prefer to do Christmas shopping when it's festive in the shops. The only thing I get before that is the little gifts for her advent calendar which gets harder to fill every year.

I can't wait fir poncetastic to start 😂