How do you do your Christmas shopping?

[HeadFairy]

do you have a list, know what to buy for each person before you start?

Or

Do you wander the shops and see something and think that'll be perfect for x?

or

Do you wander the shops and see something you really like, buy it and then try and work out who to give it to?

I'm too much like the last option, have just meandered round the shops in my lunch break and bought three presents with no idea who I'm going to give them to.

Unfortunately I do all three of the above, which is why I have no money at all!

I've made a list (I'm checking it twice) and will do it all online-really cannot stand shopping!
Still have no money mind you.

Hmm I'm going wrong somewhere... I've bought some really cute salad servers, the handles are in the shape of a man and a woman in 50s swim suits diving, they're very sweet and kitsch, can't for the life of me think who to give them to. I want them

I want them too! Where did you get them?

there you go, give em to parachutes!

Give them too me, now, sorry

There's a really cool shop in the new Westfield shopping centre in Shepherds Bush called Octopus, I got them in there. There's so much lovely stuff in there, cheese graters in the shape of dancing girls (the grater bit is their skirt) cooker timers like little ootsy cutsey penguins. I could have bought the whole shop, but not sure who to give them to. Gah!

A mixture, but mostly (a) and (b). When I do (c) it doesn't work as well.

97% A and 3% B

Mine is finished!

HeadFairy - I am sure we have got an Octupus shop in York, I liked what I saw when I had a wander in.

Make a rough list i.e. perfume for MIL agree a budget with DP for it all
Have a look through catalogues wander round shops
Order it online or shop for it if it's cheaper

They're cool aren't they bellavita, really good for someone who's a bit difficult to buy for, I mean, who can't find space in their life for salad servers in the shape of divers?

They do some lovely childrens' stuff too, really nice umbrella's my nieces would love (sadly I was organised enough to plan and buy their presents already)

If you order online, do the savings you make outweigh the postal charges you pay?

I wanted to get my aunt a groovy Alessi corkscrew, but the delivery charge from the website was £6 so I went to the shop and bought it and saved myself the delivery charge.

HeadFairy - at least you know though for up and coming birthdays etc you will be able to buy from there.

Whatever you do don't buy before Monday or unless they gave dropped the VAT on the items already.

I think it's always a saving not to have to drag kids and DH round with you.

true bellavita...

The vat thing... hm it's 2.5%, at the Disney store this afternoon, where i bought a HSM dance mat for my niece, I would only have saved 50p if I had waited til Monday, but at least I have bought at least one present. Feels a bit of a relief to finally get started.