When do you start Christmas shopping?

Kent Brockman

Unbelievably we started getting orders for Christmas presents at the end of August!!!
Now that':Ds some organised people

When do the rest of ye start? My wife is a bit more organised than me (around the end of October/ start of November) I'm more of a Christmas eve man myself lol!

Howjoe1

I'm finish.

Markcheese

About lunch time christmas eve... Well most stuff anyway ...

TommieBoy

I used to start as early as... well, whenever I saw something I thought my friends might like (and it was affordable for my budget). Except for a few last minute foodie items, I was usually done by the beginning of December.

toastedpickles

Christmas eve :pac:

No really

Toast4532

Usually the last minute, but this year I am planning to start around the end of Oct. I want it out of the way by mid Dec if I can.

Going to Dublin with the mammy next week, so might pick up a few bits then if I see anything.

Love2love

I like to be finished by the end of October. Well that's all the main stuff. I like to leave little bits for Christmas Eve. In November / December I tend to do my brothers (plural) shopping.... They always get me the nicest gifts!

murria

I usually plan to buy a couple of things a week starting in September and usually end up buying one item in September and everything else in December. So far this year I have bought one Disney Princess tiara, so that's probably it now till December.

Alicat

murria wrote: »

I usually plan to buy a couple of things a week starting in September and usually end up buying one item in September and everything else in December. So far this year I have bought one Disney Princess tiara, so that's probably it now till December.

This.

All great intentions, but I still end up running around like a lunatic for the few weeks beforehand.

murria

Alicat wrote: »

This.

All great intentions, but I still end up running around like a lunatic for the few weeks beforehand.

Ah well, it still gets done and the wreck-your-head music helps.

boobar

Going to start this year in November...have to save up first

TommiesTank

I'll start thinking about presents for nephew and nieces in October probably, the rest in mid December.

bbam

We bought some stuff already and have a few more on the list for the next few weeks.

danceash

have started just this week, i like to have presents got early for everybody else, and then buy for myself if i see something.

starlit

End of october or november usually. No earlier than that but often be december. Usually have xmas shopping done then but often be last minute be a week or two before xmas.

Pang

Usually end of October/November but this year I decided to be more organised, so I have my OH half bought for already. It's nice picking up bits here and there.

paddy147

Kent Brockman wrote: »

Unbelievably we started getting orders for Christmas presents at the end of August!!!
Now that':Ds some organised people

When do the rest of ye start? My wife is a bit more organised than me (around the end of October/ start of November) I'm more of a Christmas eve man myself lol!

24th December.......last second dash to the shops and cash tills.:pac::D

Yawns

Started last December for this year. Grab all the bargains in the sales and stick em away for the following year if it's feasible. Have a baby who will be one this xmas, so last year got a few Vtech baby stuff for 1 year + while it was half price.

Got other bits n bob presents in during the year if I had spare cash aside and a bargain was to be had. Son got a 3dsxl from Amazon.de when it was on special. All nieces n nephews are bought and put away over last few months as well. Only have to get 1 or 2 presents for herself and that's everyone sorted this year.

Moonbeam

Usually Sept but if I see something on offer I know that they want I buy it and put it away.
This year I think it was August:)

Toast4532

Moonbeam wrote: »

Usually Sept but if I see something on offer I know that they want I buy it and put it away.
This year I think it was August:)

That's what I've started doing this year too. All going well I'll have mine done by end of Nov. Only have one to get in Dec, that's my grannies, I get her a voucher for Dunnes as its the only thing she'll use so I get it about a week before Xmas usually.

Zwillinge

Have started picking up bits and pieces and ordering things online as I see them ... it begins!!!

Lucena

Do the whole ‘Kris Kindle’ bullocks in our family, but the draw usually ends up getting done at the last minute, which is a pain in the hole. Also a pain in the hole is the fact that some of us are living abroad, meaning hassle if we buy stuff in our home countries having to drag it over, and hassle figuring out what to buy for people I haven’t seen in a year, and having to keep the size of presents down in case the person receiving the gift has a small baggage allowance.
So very often on the 23rd or 24th of December.

JJudy

Started in August this year!

RumTumTiger

Started making the presents last week. Will supplement the handmade items with a token bought item in the next few weeks. Last year I started making them in nov and was a bit rushed. :-)

touts

I ordered stuff on line last week. But in my defence I have to wait for stuff to be delivered then combine them into a couple of boxes that have to go to Canada and Australia for family members who have moved there in the last two years. I suppose I could use Canadian and Australian websites but a few of the things I'm ordering that isn't possible. Cheapest way to order stuff is on line. Cheapest way to send stuff overseas is well in advance.

OU812

Probably gonna order most of it end of October through amazon

I'm finished for ages. But I also have enough stuff bought for next year. I have a horrible fear that something will happen to me and DH wouldn't really know what to buy*.


*I'm also a shopaholic who has a Dad that worries about my spending habits and threatens to take my cards

Scortho

I bought all my Christmas decorations in jan and feb when they were on offer!:D

Generally pick up bits and bobs for the gf from end if October onwards, depends what I see though.
Parents are handy to buy for so that can be done whenever.

Scortho, I find my parents hardest to buy for. My mother hates perfume, makeup, holidays all those things I love to get. Dad bought her a new ipad for her birthday and she loves it, but thats been done now.........

Scortho

Mayo Gurl wrote: »

Scortho, I find my parents hardest to buy for. My mother hates perfume, makeup, holidays all those things I love to get. Dad bought her a new ipad for her birthday and she loves it, but thats been done now.........

My parents love to go out for meals to nice restaurants but with work commitments and the recession it's hard to justify taking the time off and spending the money on a fancy meal.
A voucher for 100 euro makes a night out for them to say chapter ones etc. Justifiable.

I absolutely hate getting vouchers myself as I'm forced to spend it on something I mightn't particularly want, but they really like them for fancy restaurants thankfully.

eskimocat

Started!! phew delighted now. Must say this forum is a good encouragement to get out there early! Thanks

Moonbeam

Mayo Gurl wrote: »

Scortho, I find my parents hardest to buy for. My mother hates perfume, makeup, holidays all those things I love to get. Dad bought her a new ipad for her birthday and she loves it, but thats been done now.........

itunes vouchers? nice head phones?netflix?

okiss

Hi Moonbeam,

Your mother sounds like mine.

One time I got her an O2 money card with a decent sum of money on it. You can get this card for €5 in the O2 shop. Give them your mother name and put on it c/o your name and your address. Give them your mobile phone number also.
They will send you a pin number for this card. Once you get this information go to the O2 website and set up the account on line. You can then change the address and when you give her the card change the mobile phone number on account to her mobile.
She can use the card on the internet to buy what she wants, can see the balance on the internet, can top it up in the O2 shop or get a top up in a payzone shop by asking for an O2 money top up and she does this like a mobile top up.
The advantage of this is that most older adults don't like using debit/credit card on the internet in case of fruad.
This card can be used with amazon ect. Also if she has the i-pad you could get her a nice cover for this or buy a keyboard she can plug into this.

Great ideas folks! Thanks a mil

I don't think she would enjoy a Sylvanian playset....

touts

Mayo Gurl wrote: »

Scortho, I find my parents hardest to buy for. My mother hates perfume, makeup, holidays all those things I love to get. Dad bought her a new ipad for her birthday and she loves it, but thats been done now.........

Well if she loved the iPad and if they have wifi in the house I've another tech suggestion. Do they have a TV with a hdmi port? If so what about a 4ife android TV stick (~€90) with the RTE Player app installed? You will have set it up for her BUT my bet is she'll love it. The 50+ generation seem to LOVE RTE and RTE on demand on their TV is like crack cocaine once they get the hang of it.

touts

touts wrote: »

Well if she loved the iPad and if they have wifi in the house I've another tech suggestion. Do they have a TV with a hdmi port? If so what about a 4ife android TV stick (~€90) with the RTE Player app installed? You will have set it up for her BUT my bet is she'll love it. The 50+ generation seem to LOVE RTE and RTE on demand on their TV is like crack cocaine once they get the hang of it.

Another great idea. I'm not in the slightest bit technical, but my sister will know re the tv, its only about a year old, so I'm sure it would be compatible.....WIFI is in the house though. We haven't seen much of her since she got her new ipad :rolleyes:

Abigayle

Kent Brockman wrote: »

Unbelievably we started getting orders for Christmas presents at the end of August!!!
Now that':Ds some organised people

When do the rest of ye start? My wife is a bit more organised than me (around the end of October/ start of November) I'm more of a Christmas eve man myself lol!

I think I started around the end of August myself. It wasn't something I did intentionally to start out with, I just saw some offers on toys in Tesco and thought they'd be great for the nieces and nephews.

In hindsight, I think it's been in my head for a while and I've been worried about getting everything sorted on time. I need to add to the collection soon, can't believe it's so close =/

JJudy

Boots didn't have any Christmas brochures today:(

JJudy

Pennys has Christmas stock in!!

JJudy

As does Next

JJudy

would love to go to Brown Thomas, heard their Christmas stock is lovely

Scortho

JJudy wrote: »

would love to go to Brown Thomas, heard their Christmas stock is lovely

It is but it's pricy.

JJudy

rathwood also has Christmas stock

ChewChew

I have half my shopping done and most of my pudding ingredients, so starting them at the weekend.

Actually, has anyone seen any nice pudding bowls around?

MrBizzles

Usually start early November & then spend about 8 weeks hoping the girlfriend and that dont find them!!

Question - why do women go rooting around the house trying to find their present?

Posy

I think the question should be why does your girlfriend go rooting around the house trying to find her present? :pac:
Myself, and most women I know don't try and ruin the surprise for themselves. Even as a child I could be trusted in the same room as the presents and not be tempted to sneak a peek!

Could you leave her gifts in a friend/family member's house if she's so keen to look for them?

MrBizzles

Posy wrote: »

I think the question should be why does your girlfriend go rooting around the house trying to find her present? :pac:
Myself, and most women I know don't try and ruin the surprise for themselves. Even as a child I could be trusted in the same room as the presents and not be tempted to sneak a peek!

Could you leave her gifts in a friend/family member's house if she's so keen to look for them?

She does be asking for clues and everything, i came home from work one day & my wardrobe was turned upside down! So last year i left a fake present hidden away in a place i knew she would look & it worked a treat. She was very suprizrd on christmas morning

Posy

"Now she'll really be surprised when she gets that ironing board cover." :pac:

Signature Styler

Posy wrote: »

"Now she'll really be surprised when she gets that ironing board cover." :pac:

haha!!! If my boyfriend got me this, I would kill him!!!!!

Signature Styler

MrBizzles wrote: »

She does be asking for clues and everything, i came home from work one day & my wardrobe was turned upside down! So last year i left a fake present hidden away in a place i knew she would look & it worked a treat. She was very suprizrd on christmas morning

hmm this sounds like me!!

Hate surprises some women are weird like that!

shazbaz 100

started xmas shopping july straight away after school stuff was sorted nearly finished just few odds and ends to pick up