So… have you started yet?

[redballerina]

I kind of started today 🫣 but only because I went into Home Bargains and they had some things that would make great stocking fillers, so I bought them to put away for stockings. I’ve also bought one bargain off Vinted. Has anyone else started yet? I’d love to feel less crazy for getting bits now 😅

Slightly off topic but can’t help but post because I really want to get involved 😅 I am absolutely desperate to start my Christmas shopping as I always do at this time of year but since January the spare room (and also the room which has held Christmas stuff for as long as I have been in this house), is now my youngest child’s bedroom so I have no where, LITERALLY no where to store my presents! What am I going to do I am raring to get started 😭

DH mentioned something he wanted to see, they’re playing about 2 hours from us, so….

Dog kennel booked ✅
Tickets booked ✅
Airbnb booked ✅

All done in last 24 hours, he’s normally so difficult to buy for, I’m thrilled!

Loft?
Garage?
Top of wardrobe?

Loft is absolutely rammed
No garage
Main bedroom wardrobes are the floor to ceiling built in ones and each of my children’s wardrobes are the slimline kids ones

Problem is when I bought this house I was single and had all three bedrooms for myself, there are now five of us including the dog so space wise we’re maxed out! We’ll be buying somewhere bigger when I return from mat leave in January but this year I’m just gutted to not have the space to store anything 😕 I’ve always been an early bird Christmas shopper

Picked up a few bits that are arriving this week, some lovely sale bits from postscript books and a stained glass flower bouquet from Etsy. Planning a little September trip to Cheshire oaks too so hopefully can stock up on things then!

I’ve not physically purchased anything yet but I started my spreadsheet a couple of months back and purchases will start next month.

@ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer do you have suitcases? You could stash smaller items in there. I have an ottoman bed that is a great hiding spot. Just make sure you keep a note of where you've hidden stuff.

@ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer do you have any good neighbours close by? I don't have children and live alone.

I've stored Christmas presents for about 10 years for one of my neighbours. Hers are all grown now and 2 of them have their own children but they were always searching for presents and never found them. The mother came in one night and we had a few drinks while watching Christmas films and wrapping everything.. Then pick up on Christmas eve.

I now store for 2 other different neighbours, one has 6 children and the other has 4, same arrangement and they pick up on Christmas eve. We all live within 100m of each other so it's easy. They got the idea from original neighbour. No child has ever discovered any presents.

No innocence is lost and we get a good catch up at the same time. As they drop bits off, I just stick it in cardboard boxes so it's all ready for wrapping night.

I did start then my kids decided they didnt want lego any more, I had got them more lego so now going to sell them on and get something else for them

I wanted a few things from The White Company, I’d put them in my basket this morning but hadn’t checked out. This afternoon I received a 15% discount code from them via text.

Decided to add some more things to my order, a candle, shower gel and fragrance oils for my step daughter. I bought her their rechargeable waterless diffuser last year and she loves it, I know she’s bought some more oils since then so I’ve got her four plus she loves the Seychelles candle so got one of those for her too.

Inadvertently started. I bought a 3 for deal on 2 separate p Louise products, so dd got 3 for her birthday at the start of September and 3 for Xmas, also a jellycat I’d bought for her birthday way back in February as it was a limited edition winter Olympic one, I found a separate one I knew she’d love so now the winter one has been pushed back to Christmas. I found some AirPods on prime day for only £70 so I’ve got those too. - but that’s depending on whether her ones actually last until then …. Also 2 funko pops - Hermione and crookshanks/ eleven in a wetsuit (all from her birthday list but now sold out everywhere) as the ones I’d originally ordered said they weren’t sure when the release date was and they’ve since arrived. As she talked about them again the other day I figured I’d give the newer ones to her for her birthday.
nothing else though. I don’t officially start until after DD’s birthday, after she’s been shopping to spend her birthday money. Then it’s all hands on deck

I really want to start but I don’t want to get stuff too early. I like buying my DM perfume and nice hair stuff she wouldn’t normally buy herself but I feel like you can get good deals later in the year. Have nieces/nephews to buy for but don’t want to get stuff in case their tastes change!

So for now I’m content with adding ideas to my spread sheet and waiting patiently to start shopping. I have a box in a cupboard I put everything in when I do start.

@ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer have you got a cupboard you can re-purpose or disguise a box of stuff somewhere (shoe cupboard?) a high up shelf in one of the kids wardrobes if they are young enough? The suitcase or neighbours house ideas seem the best unless you can store stuff at your workplace if you have a locker?

Yep, I’ve bought a couple of stocking fillers. The trouble with starting early is wanting to give the things straight away.

Absolutely no, I haven't started preparing for Xmas. That's what december is for. Specifically the 6th to the 24th. Unless my son who's birthday is on the 5th December has a party the weekend after his birthday. In which case, I can't even think about Christmas until that's behind me.

Every. Single. Year.

Even though I know better.
Even though it stresses me out each year. 🤣
Yet, still I insist on playing this game 🫣🙈🙉🙊

I haven't bought anything but have started planning and saving screenshots of items DC would like.

I find planning takes the most time and I usually just spend an afternoon in November ordering everything online.

I also do a spreadsheet to keep track of everything.

I need to book a panto or show for in between Xmas and new years, I have started looking to see what will be on.

Just cards, because I saw these in an RNLI shop on the Northumberland coast, and loved them so much, I bought 4 packs.

I read this thread on the weekend and it reminded me to book panto, so that's done now!

I haven't started shopping yet because DSs birthday is in July, so all shopping the first half of the year is birthday shopping. NOW I can begin Christmas shopping!

Money is tighter than I'd like this year so I'm watching the bargain threads carefully on here.

I have started - I bought the Cosmopolitan beauty box for my DD and a Muc-Off (biking) bag for my DS. Plus some mini puzzles for their advent calendar. Oh and I booked Hogwarts in the Snow (Warner Bros Studio) for December.

Yes I’ve got a few bits of makeup and a Pandora charm each for 2 of my DDs. And just bought a couple of bits in the Hollister sale for older DD.

Must admit I bought some mince pies and custard, for "Christmas in July" which some people celebrate here in Australia in order to have a winter Xmas (and which the supermarkets of course encourage).

Love this thread! Haven’t started yet but planning- no ideas on what to get my DD this year as she has everything but I’m sure she will think of lots more things! I’m going to start saving this month and book a panto too!

Country cottage booked and paid for (that will spread the cost of Christmas considerably!)
Received notification from Rydale Festival that their Christmas candlelight concerts will be posted soon- so on 'watch alert' for tickets-
Diary entries set up to prompt action where needed (National Trust you rotter- missed tickets last year as all sold out by 09.00)
Tickets for The Nutcracker (1st Dec) bought.
Tickets for Bach's Christmas Oratorio bought (23rd Jan)

family have made life really easy this year as they all want cash, so no internet trawling necessary lol

I buy all year round as I see things. DD is 19 but still likes a homemade advent calendar so when I spot stationery or jewellery or similar she'd like, I buy it and put it to one side.

I keep thinking about starting and have started my spreadsheet!

But this year, I am determined to not do everything in advance, plan and choose everything and buy most things online.

I want to go actual face to face shopping with my partner, get a coffee, mooch around and have fun choosing together. I get a lot of the joy and excitement of Christmas through planning and making it magical for other people, but I've taken over and my partner doesn't get to experience that as much so will make sure I include him!

I actually love planning so will be following the thread as I love hearing other people being organised and getting things they wanted to!

I have a list on my phone of present ideas for people and stocking ideas for DD. Things pop in to my head throughout the year!
I got a couple of winter White Company candles in the sale at the beginning of the year and some bits for my nieces.
I'm hoping to have a festive shopping trip November/ December.

I have booked the panto as we always book this early on, we go every year.
This year we are going to Lapland UK :)