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 😅

Dh booked John Rutter’s Christmas concert at the Albert Hall quite a while ago. Always fabulous!

@Cherryblossom6754 enjoy Lapland UK, it's one of my top 5 best family memories ever that day. We loved it so much.

Just purchased 2 more things.. was looking on Debenhams for something totally unrelated to Christmas and ended up- buying ds18 merch of his favourite anime… jujutsu kaisen tshirt and badges for his stocking

I've dried a number of flowers to make gifts. No matter what I give people, I don't think they would appreciate it, so I might as well make some small things.

I think I’ve finished dd6 after getting a bargain in the playmobil store. She has the entire Victorian house collection. Also some random
Barbie and Lego’s I’ve picked up here and there.

finally made a start on dd12 with some clothes from brands she likes.

picked up ds9 a micro scooter for a bargain £60 on eBay brand new. And I was preparing to pay £100 in the sale. picked him up a few vtec transformer things he likes on Vinted.

did get both of them PJs, dressing gown and slippers in the Disney store sale a while ago actually.

made a start on ds1 with a few bits I’ve seen on Vinted.

we booked panto back in December but I’m stalking Chessington pass holder page to book Santa. But it’s not open for us yet.

We had gifts on sturdy plastic boxes in the loft for a couple of years, which was a pita but just about manageable. Last year we replaced our bed with an ottoman bed mainly to store Christmas gifts!

I’ve started! Yesterday actually I bought a personalised hair brush for a friends daughter, some mini perfumes for family members and a dressing gown, cars, and colouring yet for another family members son (Xmas and birthday) I was desperate to start! I’ve also made lists of who and what to buy. Will do a bit each month from now. 🎅🏼

I havent started yet but have my eye on a leapfrog globe for dd

Yes! Smiggle had a sale on a few weeks ago so I ordered some stocking bits from there & have picked up some bits for DD advent calendar as and when I see things 🎅🏼

I'm well and truly under way now! Helps spread the cost. The bargain thread has been helping me.

Link??

@ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer I hide in random places, under beds, in draws, in wardrobes, I also leave out in the open, I will put stuff in a big delivery bag and just leave it under my vanity. Once I start building up a good supply most things get put away in suitcases I store on high wardrobes. Towards the end of November I will take the suitcase I keep all Christmas clothing and start filling it with everything that’s wrapped. Eventually I usually have 2 cases full of wrapped gifts and any overflow will be hidden usually under beds and in wardrobes. I keep plain boxs to hide things in and label them with random labels like “old frames to put in attic”, I always seal the box after gifts wrapped.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5556491-christmas-bargain-prequel-thread-2-summer-holidays-loom?page=11&reply=154005733

Thank you!

Yes, I start with cards and wrapping in the post Christmas sales, then just pick things up as I find them.

I have so many people to buy for that I need to spread it out. I'm especially pleased with what I've got for my DH already (he also has a -ber birthday) - Havaianas, a gym towel, Aubin shirt and jumper, Barbour hoodie, Molton Brown shower gel, swimming trunks - all bought in the sales/at reduced prices.

I've bought Hollister/Calvin Klein/Victoria's Secret in the sales and I save items on Amazon so I can regularly check the price and then buy when they are low.

I love Christmas shopping and take great joy in finding things I know people will love!

Have bought tickets for ballet/concerts/musicals/Christmas lights and am looking at a pre Christmas night away with DH and the DC.

Bring it on!!

Love reading though to see what people have got.

I went to home bargains and got a couple of those sol de Janeiro sprays for my DD. She isn't really into brands but I know they are quite popular plus all that might change as she gets older! I have also already got her a couple of squishmallows off vinted that she wanted. I have also promised her a mobile phone 😬

My son is harder to buy for as he generally doesn't know what he wants, so definitely following this thread for ideas! He has suggested a gaming computer 🙄 it is also his birthday before Christmas so if we do go down this avenue it would be a joint present for both and with his own money towards it.
He also has a Jellycat carrot he thought looked funny when we saw it in the shop, not sure whether this will be birthday or Christmas though.

I have also stashed some board games when I have seen then. I got another version of monopoly as son loves it (though I hate playing) and I also spotted a version of who wants to be a millionaire brands while at home bargains so grabbed that too. Also checking my list I see I have a few others too 🙈

Ignoring the fact I have put phone and gaming computer, I do have quite a low budget this year. Luckily we don't have a big family to buy for and our parents are usually grateful just to receive a framed photo of the grandchildren and a token present.

Yes I have started. We don’t give gifts between adults at Christmas (we spend a LOT on nice food/drink) but we do give to the DC and DN. All are teens or 20s now and we gave everything 2nd hand or Vinted or reconditioned tech from Backmarket last year. This year I’ve posh grooming stuff from the sales too.
So that means starting now!

Yes i have started too. Only 6 close family members to buy for and i can almost cross 3 off as completed. I have booked Harry Potter & London coach trip for adult dd, son in law and dgd (10). And something hp related each to open on christmas day. Just need to get something for son in law and they are completed. They are big on hp, their tree is hogwarts themed and i know they will appretiate it, although i did have to check dates first so its only a suprise for dgd.
I wish the other 3 on the list were as fun/ easy to buy for (DM, DH and DB).

I bought a couple of things from Next for DD

Gingerbread Man pattern-
A Christmas Flannel (festive and practical)
A tiny Christmas mug - it's a decoration so not for drinking but she likes these for putting cotton buds and things in on her desk .
Last year I got her a gingerbread man shot glass

This morning I picked up a football jersey/kit for each DC.
That's the first thing I have bought.

Im planning to split the cost across the next few months so:
August - jerseys
September - board games and books. There looks to be lots of new board games out!
October - (nike) socks, boxers, toiletries etc
November - tracksuits
December - main presents

Not really, though, as someone who is obsessed with Christmas I am finding myself counting down the days and thinking longingly of the festive season as a way of coping with this interminable heatwave, I always hate summer and this year has just been intolerable for me. I am at my most content in mid-winter!
I did buy our toddler a cute Christmas unicorn dress from the charity shop last week, which I couldn't resist as it is so her! I'll be putting that on her before Christmas though so not really a Christmas present! Sure I'll start stock-piling actual presents soon. I know I am weird about Christmas, the proper countdown starts here in September and our decorations go up on November 1st, I am aware that is not normal and that I may be deranged. I really need a 365 day advent calendar as I do think about it all year round!
Glad to find this thread and discover that at least I am not the only one thinking about Christmas in August!

That all sounds lovely, I bet they'll love that! We also have a Harry Potter themed tree (one of four trees in all!) and friends and family buy us new decorations for it each year. Our selection is now so extensive that the HP bits have started to creep onto other trees as they won't all fit on one any more! Some amazing HP Christmas decorations out there!
My husband and I went to the HP experience before Christmas three years ago and it was, quite appropriately, just magical! We spent hours there and, as a HP obsessive, I was completely enchanted, your family will have the most amazing time! We last went before our daughter was born so I am looking forward to going again in a few years when she has hopefully caught the HP bug from me!

@Everlore so many nice bits to pick up. Pottery barn in the US (uk site not so good)have some lovely HP christmas bits, sometimes there are some good finds on ebay. They are a bit pricey though. We gifted dgd tickets for the hp drone show for her 10th birthday this summer which she is excited for. Another on my list for possible future is tickets for the jacobite steam (hogwarts express) from fort william to maileg.

Ordered my Advent book- (Winter Fire -Christmas with GK Chesterton: Ryan Smith) which Ive been after for a while. Also logged into York Minster, their Advent and Christmas events not up yet but will be coming soon- you have to book early to be in with a chance. Messiah at Ripon Catherdral is on 12 th Dec , but this is after the week we usually spend in Ripon so not sure if we'll go back for this night.

Does anyone have ideas of a non food advent calendar for a teen boy? I had a look at the thread but its quite long and overwhelming.