Christmas bargain thread one - the one where it officially starts!

[Reastie]

Thanks so much to @Sideorderofchips for keeping things going. I can barely believe it's September and (for me at least!) that only means one thing - Christmas can start!!!!

Hope you've all had a great year and have missed you all. Last couple of years I've had various health things going on so have been a bit distant from the threads. Not quite there yet but feeling stronger than this time last year and I can't wait until I see more festive items in the shops! I've already bought my advent calendar - I've got the taskmaster one (which I'm quite excited about!).

I'll post various links etc in the next thread first post but essentailly you guys know the drill - share and be nice or leave.

<waves to everyone>

I used ulster weavers tea towels for this last year in lovely designs, went down particularly well with uni age recipients who liked the sustainability credentials and took them back to uni

Can I ask what age they are? I was considering for my 7 year old but I've no idea if I'm way off!

Christmas planing starts after Halloween, Bonfire Night and my daughter's bday (in November) is over!!!!!! FGS!!!

Goodness. What on earth is wrong with you @EvieBB? I think you are lost.

AIBU is over there, if you want to be rude to people —>

Have you considered an Instant print camera? I got one for GDD two years ago and she loves it. Two years on and she is taking pictures, printing her favourites and then sometimes colouring them in before adding to an album or gifting hem. The possibilities are endless - and there are various models at reasonable prices.

Then don't come on a Christmas thread, it's not rocket science 🤣

What are you doing on a Christmas thread?

This section is for those of us who love Christmas preparations and/or need to spread the cost over several months

If that isn’t your thing - you really don’t need to tell us, we don’t care!

Your comment just comes across as judgemental. You do you xx

I celebrate autumn, Halloween, fireworks night, and my son's birthday (also in November). That has never taken from me fully embracing and enjoying this thread. It's for like-minded people who LOVE the autumn/winter period and the build-up to Christmas. Part of the appeal is taking some pressure off, where possible, by nabbing bargain gifts where we can (there's been some gems over the years). But also, I've always found it to be an amazing spot for gift ideas. Not to mention how people on these threads have gone above and beyond in the spirit of kindness.

If talking about Christmas in September isn't your thing, then please don't purposely click on a Christmas thread. You've taken a wrong turn on Mumsnet.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Easter. ❤️

P. S. I leave my tree up until mid-January.

Oh here's me thinking that @EvieBB was upset that she couldn't plan Christmas until after her daughter's birthday 🤣🤣

I think what you meant to say is that your Xmas planning starts after all those things. I’m sure you didn’t mean to suggest that the rest of MN should wait until your dd’s birthday is out of the way before they are allowed to start thinking about Christmas?

As other pps have pointed out, there are many different reasons why people might want to start planning early. You don’t have to read back far on today’s posts alone to find references to really careful budgeting. For some people, Halloween and Bonfire Night may not figure at all. For others, they just really like Christmas. Some of us love these threads and don’t even celebrate the same festivals.

The joy of MN: plenty of space for everyone. And plenty of other threads to hang out on if you don’t like a particular topic.

Word to the wise: you might want to give the Nigel and Beauty Advent threads a wide birth too.

Aw brilliant thanks @Chillyegg cant see a website but I’ve messaged them on their Facebook page 🤞

Wow...so why come on this thread?? Also, awkward, but the 12 days of xmas are not the ones leading up to xmas day...

Some great bargains on here but sale only on for one more day!! https://www.studio.co.uk/shop/christmas

John Lewis have a deal where you can receive the “Benefit Lash Brow & Skincare 4-Piece Premium Set Gift with Purchase for free when you purchase 2 or more Benefit products (Apply promo code BENEFITSEPT”

Yeah I know what you're saying - BUT I clicked on the thread in curiosity thinking it must be an old thread from last December...only to realiset that omg, yes, people are actually mentioning the C word the week after the summer holidays have ended in 2026! 😂

I thinking planning pressies is fine - I do that too quite early on as good to get organised and get some good bargains....although to be fair I can't get into the real spirit of it until 1st December and the elves come out for my DC (they are teenagers but stilll love it lol as do I as it's nostalgia for them). It's the folk that put up their decs in blooming October and then take everything down on Boxing Day - when Christmas has literally only just started (12 days of Christmas and all that) that riles me. I'm not surprised - by the time Christmas actually comes round, they must be fed up with it and take down all their decs - but they don't actually celebrate Christmas! They celebrate the run up to Christmas. We've lost the real essence of what Christmas is/was. I'm a traditionalist I guess. It's just become the Annual National Spending Festival and is all over by Boxing Day. It didn't used to be like that. It's sad.

If this thread isn’t for you just pop off to another thread and leave us in peace

Whoa! The 1st poster was excited to get prepared present wise. If you don't want part of it leave the thread. No one is asking you to participate or your views on it. Also, getting your presents sorted early and paid for allows people to actually enjoy the season when it rolls around.

Can I just say that some of us need to start buying presents early to spread the cost over a few paydays rather than being in debt come January. I personally cannot cover the cost of Christmas only out of December's salary. Well done you if you can afford to sort Christmas within one month but I personally can't wait until your daughter's birthday has passed to start planning my Christmas or what I'll buy people.

I have been on these threads for about a decade under various names and they are one of the kindest and most joyful parts of Mumsnet. It's a shame that the posters wandering onto the Christmas board to berate us all for "doing Christmas wrong" have started so early this year.

Anyway, in the spirit of sharing bargains the Schleich Eldrador Harry Potter Animagus vs Werewolf set is currently on offer for £25 on Amazon.