When do you start your Christmas shopping?

When do you start buying presents?

I will start mine once the kids have gone back to school. Jan - June I save up for our holidays, July and August is school uniform, September - November is Xmas presents and December is Xmas food shopping. I dont really have many presents to buy (only my children but they are all older now so I give them money but they do always get PJs, slippers, socks and gloves). Mum and dad get vouchers coz what do you get someone who doesnt need anything? and the dog gets a new coat and a bone and thats it my presents are done.

I've already started picking up bits and bobs that are cheap and good finds.

Food shopping this year will be less expensive pre made goodies to home made treats. I haven't saved for shopping this year. I normally save for those highstreet vouchers but decided against it because I want to craft some goodies.

I dont have many presents to buy only oh and start doing that end of November.

In the past i have had many more presents to buy but these days it really just the oh.

We do all of our shopping the last two weeks of November, quick and simple. Food wise we just shop as normal, we generally buy some biscotti or something (I know I could make my own but we only want one or two each not a whole stack of them!) but don't really buy any extra food or drink. We'll maybe get a bottle of Glayva and some beers but in terms of meals it's pretty much the same ingredients as usual so it doesn't cost any more than other months. Our socialising budget is the biggest as we spend cash meeting up with friends rather than sending them cards or buying gifts.

TP wrote:I dont have many presents to buy only oh and start doing that end of November.

In the past i have had many more presents to buy but these days it really just the oh.

meant to add we have some co-op vouchers that we use for food other than that its pretty normal.

Started in the January sales I'm about half way there now. Only do the adults though as the kids might have grown out of or got bored with whatever character something is although I did buy the kids sweetie buckets (christmas ones to put them in) and christmasy biscuit cutters in the lakeland sale (and DS was still a bump at that point )

my dd's birthday is 23rd september and i usually start xmas shopping after that but this year i have picked up one or two things in the summer sales so ive put those aside.

would like to make a few bits this year but knowing me it wont happen cos im so busy making stuff for me lol.

i will probably start properly shopping at the end of november as we are going to a christmas market nearby and it will get me in the mood.

i love christmas and particularly finding a perfect gift for someone xx

I will start mine soon.

I do bits and pieces thorugh the year generally, but had no money this year. started mine yesterday though!

we buy things throughout the year when they are on special offer, not so much kids toys as always worried they will get duplicates for birthdays or go onto a new fad but for adults if see things we think people will like and if they are on offer then we'll get them and put them away till Xmas. Otherwise works out expensive doing it all November/decemberish and I like to be organised/prepared so try and get as much as I can when I can if that makes sense.

we are off to Norwich this weekend so i will pick up a few bits and pieces on my pressie list.

have no idea for a few people so will have a look around too.

i love christmas shopping. i went into asda the other day for tags and it was full of halloween rubbish. get that out and get christmas stuff in please xx

anyone finished yet?

Got a couple of bits to get but I've broken the back of it now. Done all the kids pressies which is the main bit - got some super bargains again this year.

I'm done.

well done flibs.

I've ordered something from one of my friends, so just waiting for that to arrive then we're done. Everything is wrapped, cards are written and ready to go. We've given one gift out already and it's in use which is good. So yeah, we're all set I think.

ive looked the cards out not written them yet. Wont take long.