Tell me, has anyone bought any presents, how prepared is everyone for crimbo!!? :)

**splutters**
Surely it's not that time of year again already! :-D
Every year I say I'm going to be organised - but I never am. Maybe this year will be the year. I haven't done anything yet, other than make my Christmas puds (because they have to be done early). I might get cracking soon :-)

Me, me, me!!!!  :)  (Feeling very proud of myself!)

I've just received some things I bought from Boots on line - a Pooh trike, tickle me Elmo and Fisher Price zoo.  I've also bought my, as yet, unborn neice a furry snow suit and jack in the box toy.

Boots have loads of great 3 for 2 toys on line (much bigger selection than in the stores round by me) and they're doing free postage at the mo and extra advantage cards points if anyone's interested.

Simone

LOL i have said from August "ill start shopping now then i have the last months free and no money worries" has it happened... has it heck! haha

Its only 11 weeks on thursday until christmas, pretty near isnt it lol!!

xx

Ohhh thanks simone for that one!!! Might take a look online in a bit then!! hehe!!

Your very organised!! Show off :-p  !! Only joking!!! hahahaha :-D

I've bought some :) and also waiting in for a delivery of pressies from M&S as I write.  I'm intending to be very organised this year and not leave things to the last minute, I'm aiming at having all pressies bought and wrapped before 1st December, that way I can relax instead of running around like a headless chicken which is my usual mode in December.  Or should that be headless turkey?

... which equates to 79 days!!!

Ducks to avoid being slapped.

> Its only 11 weeks on thursday until christmas, pretty near isnt it lol!!
>

Is it really? I suppose it is. That certainly doesn't sound very far off! Eeek....now going into panic mode! :-D

>  ... which equates to 79 days!!!

I love wrapping pressies, I make such a big deal about wrapping paper and stuff.  Last year I got my own tags made to match the Christmas cards (had photo of baby and dog on it - took me hours to get the right photo!) and got a shiny red paper to match.  Oooh I love Christmas!!! :)

I love Christmas too :)

So do I :-)

Last year I told my youngest two they weren't to mention the word Christmas until at least November. I instantly regretted it when my youngest told everyone "I'm not allowed to say the 'C' word yet, am I Mummy?"

I was a very red faced Mummy trying to explain what exactly I had meant!

Its amazing christmas, unfortunatly i am not very neat or good at wrapping presents haha, so i have to get my dad to help me :-O

Although, at work we have to wrap parcels in brown paper, so i have been practising my wrapping skills!! They have improved so i might try doing it myself this year ha ha!!

> Last year I told my youngest two they weren't to mention the word Christmas until at least November. I instantly regretted it when my youngest told everyone "I'm not allowed to say the 'C' word yet, am I Mummy?"

HAHAHA that made me laugh!!! Typical! They are so funny children arent they!! I would of been tomato colour i think as well!!

Keep this among yourselves! i brought my first Crimbo present from Argos in their sale in March.

I know I know!!!!! but it was bargain.

MARCH!!!!!  Wow, you've put me to shame now Jack.  I'll need to be more organised next year to keep up! :)

> Keep this among yourselves! i brought my first Crimbo present from Argos in their sale in March.
>
> I know I know!!!!! but it was bargain.

WOWWEEE!!!

Thats amazingly great!!!! LOL :-D

I have been making my Christmas cards since June. LOL

Talking of Christmas , i am on the look-out for a silver tree , about 6 ft tall , one that looks like it is made of silver tinsel . ( i know it sounds tacky but i want one like i had as a child in the '70's ) I've looked in Argos and Dobbies but no luck yet .

Come on CDers - i know you can help !!!

Saddo has found one :-)
http://homeshopping.24studio.co.uk/christmas-2008/christmas-time/trees/5/tinseltree/4

Awww such prettified trees!!

I want a pink one for my bedroom! lol

Going home now!!

x

nearly finished.
i have two more gifts to buy.
got all the wrapping paper, cards etc in the Jan sales.( saves lots of money this way ).
working in catering if im not ready by this time of year i dont have enough time to do it as Xmas is so busy.
By the time the big day comes im so knacked i cant even pull a cracker.
lol.
xxx

Cava14Una
Oh THANK-YOU  !!!!

That is perfect !
   It's a retro Xmas for me !

As I was made redundant last year I really looked forward to having christmas holidays off for the first time in 20 odd years and it was FAB...loved every minute of it.....
This year however,different story,a year of surviving on sick pay and paying bills has kind of taken the edge off it cos my favourite time at christmas is going out and buying pressies for my friends and family, I love writing all their names down in a list then writing what im going to but them next to it.Then comes the shopping for said pressies and the wrapping up and delivering of them...especially to my neice and nephews....Shoppping on a budget will spoil some of that for me but needs must i suppose

> I love wrapping pressies, I make such a big deal about wrapping paper and stuff.

Oh I'm like that :) , i like nice a paper which i have bought already and bows and all the trimmings...it has to be just so :)
I am gonna tighten my belt this year though, as i spend far too much and will have new pup so will have to cut back a little :-p , but i do LOVE Christmas i also have 11 coming for lunch.

My house looks like the Blackpool illuminations with all the lights!! LOL

Oh Philly, I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad year.  Christmas isn't about the presents (although they're a nice bonus), I'm sure you're neices and nephews will completely understand that you've had a tough year and will love whatever you give them, especially you're time!  It's so easy to get caught up with the 'giving' at Christmas (and I'm especially guilty of that), but, as we all know, that's not the true meaning of Christmas.

I agree earl Christmas is not just about presents! We certainly don't buy expensive things, family often get something homemade and a recent photo of the kids! And according to most people I am very mean in my spending on the kids too!! But really they are happy with small things, it's often the little things that are the most fun and we don't have to spend the earth to enjoy our time together. This year I am already looking forward to spraying the windows with fake snow, making decorations and making Christmassy food with the kids. Not done any shopping yet though!

Philly - shopping for presents on a tight budget can be great. It means you have to put a lot of thought into what you are going to buy because you can't just buy whatever takes your fancy. You have to really think about the present you are getting and I can honestly say that I far prefer to receive a present that has a lot of  thought behind it - it makes it far more special. When my son was small he bought me a present which everyone else thought was really odd but I loved it ( although it wasn't in the best of conditions when I actually received it :) ). It was half a cucumber - he knew I love cucumber but rarely eat it as it gives me terrible indigestion. He decided to treat me with something I love but didn't get very often, and bought a half cucumber so I wasn't tempted to eat too much and feel rough. Now that was a very thoughtful present given with a lot of love and good intentions - what more could you want from a present :)

I am sure that the recipients of your presents will be very grateful that you have managed to buy them a present at all when you are existing on a very tight budget :)

Harley I love your story about the half cucumber, that is so thoughtful.
I loved giving presents when I was a child, I remember buying a model bull with one horn for 5p at a jumble sale and I was sure it was perfect for my Grandpa. He certainly acted as if it was the best thing he had ever been given - but I think it was the love it was given with that he appreciated. My children give me funny gifts sometimes but they are given with so much love they become the most precious gifts ever.

> >Oh THANK-YOU  !!!!

That is perfect !
   It's a retro Xmas for me !

Don't mention it, that site is pretty good. Last year I found a black Christmas tree on it for someone :-)

Its coming and a lil way to fast for me I must say- but as soon as we get over this hump then its riding weather again wooohoooo and I can go get my bike- oya can't wait- I'll make that another topic heheh

I have started buying some gifts- think Iam pretty much doing gift cards this year this way my children can get what they want and my daughter loves shopping she never has enough clothes lol she's a spend aholic (got her one for Stitches & Garage)- my son loves West 49 so gonna get him a gift card for that place.

Still have to buy my dogs theirs to- jeese I still have loads to get- try to buy one every week hopefully by then I will be done 'cross fingers"

NOOOOO no mentioning Christmas before December first.

Bah humbug.  I can't hear you la la la dee dum dee dum.

HAHA I'm Joining you Brainless this year, I'm either getting old or I'm turning into the Grinch, I'm really not in the Christmas mood at the mo :-(
i haven't done anything either!! i only know one present i am going to get for someone and thats it! i don't know how people write lists of what they are going to get people, i saw this item and said yes that so for her, i have to walk around the shops and go oh i think so and so will like that, i try to give quirky presents that come from my heart and mean something :-) maybe its my age? LOL
Lets hope this Christmas is a happier one :-D.

> Last year I told my youngest two they weren't to mention the word Christmas until at least November. I instantly regretted it when my youngest told everyone "I'm not allowed to say the 'C' word yet, am I Mummy?"

LMAO that made me laugh sooooo much :-D Kids hey! bet you wont be telling them that again!!!

Fee x

not going to think about untill christmas eve

I started asking my girls what they want for Christmas back in June - you should have seen their faces! Trouble with them, they often buy the thing themselves waaaay before Christmas, so usually I just listen to what they are talking about getting, haven't got, want etc

I have already half filled all the stockings and bought aftershave and perfumes.

I have been making Christmas dinner for the family since I was 17. Last yeear for the very first time, we had Christmas at my daughter's as they had moved to a bigger house. I was still supposed to be making the dinner though, but ended up rather tipsy ( the fault of my daughter's boyfriend keep topping up my glass!) so my youngest daughter had to do it :-D

Christmas there again this year - but I will show more restraint! :-D :-D

I just hate Christmas, we have no family, just my fur babies, so we spend the whole revolving around them!!
My OH and I spend the day eating, and watching tv, and walking dogs!!!

that sound good to me

I've started in the past week or so, mainly rare finds on e-bay e.g. discontinued hard to find denby pieces but I have just e-mailed my friend with suggested dates for our annual xmas shopping trip to Meadowhall or Meadowhell as it ususally is!  I'm going to try & be a bit more creative this year, think I might even make my own cards for immediate family & friends!  I've stopped buying things for myself & have started a list so as soon as people ask me I can give them a few options!! It's killing me not to go out & buy SATC dvd though!!!  It comes around so quick...as soon as Halloween & Bonfire night is done with that will be it full blown Xmas in all the shops!!!

Whispers....I did see some great, cheap xmas gift bags in Primark ystdy I was tempted by.......you didn't hear that from me.....

> Oh Philly, I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad year.  Christmas isn't about the presents (although they're a nice bonus), I'm sure you're neices and nephews will completely understand that you've had a tough year and will love whatever you give them, especially you're time!  It's so easy to get caught up with the 'giving' at Christmas (and I'm especially guilty of that), but, as we all know, that's not the true meaning of Christmas.

Hi earl, I have decided to set myself a budget for each person I need to buy a pressie for(About 30 people in all...Big family plus a couple of very dear close friends who I couldnt be without)and I will have to stick to it....with all the useful tips on this thread and helpful advice im sure itll work out ok in the end ,Ive even found a spare box of Christmas cards I bought last year unopened so thats my first bonus ...good start eh. Thanks for your kind words

> Philly - shopping for presents on a tight budget can be great. It means you have to put a lot of thought into what you are going to buy because you can't just buy whatever takes your fancy. You have to really think about the present you are getting and I can honestly say that I far prefer to receive a present that has a lot of  thought behind it - it makes it far more special. When my son was small he bought me a present which everyone else thought was really odd but I loved it ( although it wasn't in the best of conditions when I actually received it :-) ). It was half a cucumber - he knew I love cucumber but rarely eat it as it gives me terrible indigestion. He decided to treat me with something I love but didn't get very often, and bought a half cucumber so I wasn't tempted to eat too much and feel rough. Now that was a very thoughtful present given with a lot of love and good intentions - what more could you want from a present :-)

Harley thats one of the nicest stories Ive ever read and I see what you mean about it being all the more special as there was a lot of thought and love went into it,your son sounds a very caring special boy.

gembo.....point me in the direction of those bags...I love Primark and they sound like they might be worth a look :)

and finally tripie....sounds like your Christmas is the perfect Christmas to me...I would love to do the same..just me o/h in our own home with our dogs....Bliss

It is very expensive at christmas time, not just for presents, but the food and preperation that goes into it...

I havent done anything yet, not even written out a card or sorted a list out, i have asked ppl what they would fancy to help me out, as i would rather get ppl things they want rather than things they will shove in a cupboard ha ha... only had 1 reply so far!! So going to be stumped as the time comes ha ha

Oh and btw, i loved that cucumber story!!! Was lovely!!! MAde me smile!! :-D, such thoughtfulness!!

I'm afraid I'm a bah humbug type of person.  Really dislike the hard sell of Christmas although I'm not adverse to a few carols and I always have a turkey on Christmas Day but that's it.  Remortgaging the house in Dec too which reduces the Christmas budget a bit, not to mention the fees we have to pay.  Reduced for a quick sale turkeys on Christmas Eve for us this year - but I may not be the first in the queue - lol.

Awww huskypup i am sorry to hear that!!

How come you dislike it as much as that then??

I hate turkey though!!! Would much prefer some sort of other meat, its mank haha

xx

I'm with you there Huskypup... bbbaahhhhh humbug. My entire family on the other side of the world, enjoying my Mum's turkey and ham and the beautiful Australian summer, while I am stuck in stinking London with my OH's family who don't even drink! Plus I hate having to buy presents for people.. I would far prefer to give gifts when it's going to be a surprise or when someone actually needs something. However... this will be my pup's first Xmas, so going to get her lots of presents to open which should cheer me up a bit :-)

I am one of those terrible people who leave their Christmas shopping until the week before Christmas, or in some cases, Christmas eve

I'm not the hugest fan - a bit of a scrooge really - its so expensive! I do love the excuse to eat lots of food though, OH & I have to have 2 Christmas dinners (well, a lunch and a dinner) as our families both want to see us. Our work booked the Christmas lunch yesterday and I even saw a Christmas advert on TV on Sunday night...where on earth has the year gone....

I have got a few bits, we are of up to Suffolk to see my Mum and co! in a couple of weeks so will take them instead of posting. I will be working Xmas day as per usuall 1-5 I think this year...not too bad, will have time to give the girlies a great walk first thing then a nice cooked breakky before work, then about six of us for dinner..no kids just us nutty adults and about four dogs, we usually have table gifts, real silly bits for a laugh...like hopping wind up wi**ies, norty nickers, and silly mugs etc you know the sort of thing? I try to do a full three courses then cheese and bic's and a good bottle of port!!!! then the coffee and mints bit, We will sit down about 8pm, and get up again from the table about midnite LOL...just in time to crawl upstairs for sleepy time.
Aileen

> where on earth has the year gone....

I have no idea!!! It has gone so quickly this year compared to others!! Just be glad when its a new year a new era!! LOL!!!

Mad isn't it how quickly time flies.

We are in the process of planning a holiday for just after Christmas...they won't let us book Christmas week as its so busy...I have spent Christmas abroad before and its quite nice, but of course I will miss my girls like anything.

>I am one of those terrible people who leave their Christmas shopping until the week before Christmas, or in some cases, Christmas eve 

Me too.

> gembo.....point me in the direction of those bags...I love Primark and they sound like they might be worth a look :-)

There's tons in our branch in Nottingham I don't know how long they will last though so am in 2 minds as to whether to go & buy them now or wait a few weeks!! I know last year Poundland did a few nice ones too!  We all recycle gift bags so the same ones seem to go round & round until they are worn out, saves a fortune!!

Yes sad me I have already its the only way to afford all the grandkids, great neices ect...