Christmas Shopping - have you started?

[Sum1Ls]

You must be joking! Remembrance Sunday not even happened yet,

[Daisy]

I think December is plenty of time to start thinking about Christmas, although I do realise that this wouldn't work for many people, for lots of reasons.

I'm the same with holidays - I find it hard to plan too far ahead.

[Gemini]

I'd be very stressed if I waited until December Daisy

[Daisy]

If everybody was like me, December would be even more stressful, so all you well-organised, "think ahead" people do us "last minute shoppers" a favour!

But I am trying to de-commercialise our Christmases as much as I can. A lovely family celebration on the Day or close to it is great, but seeing all the tv adverts and shops pushing people to spend, spend spend makes me sad.

[Gemini]

Daisy, I agree about the overload of adverts pushing spending, which began in October.

I have to say, these days the majority of my Christmas shopping is done online, in the comfort of my own home, which helps to get it done and delivered in good time!

[Lizzie48]

I must say I agree with you Daisy, it is all about spending, I don't mind spending but I will do it when I want to and not when the "adverts" think I should!

I have just been to a neighbours for coffee, they have their Christmas display out, already! I can be very awkward at the moment with my way of thinking so I didn't say anything.

[Daisy]

Lizzie - For years we put our Christmas decorations and the tree up during the week-end before Christmas. We always had our GSs to stay and they enjoyed doing that. I think I'd be fed up with them, though, if I put them up in November! As you say, you can't really say anything about it being too early! Least said ...

[Gemini]

Daisy, when DD1 and 2 were little I used to put them up about 5 days before Christmas, for many years.
When DD1 started Edinburgh uni, I tried to have at least the tree up for her homecoming around December 9th. With a real tree that was as early as it would last through to twelfth night!

In recent years it has been roughly 10 to 14 days before Christmas.
Last year, a miserable one as we all know, we decided that as we have have an artificial tree, and we were locked down, to give us a bit of joy and colour, the tree and decorations could go up in November! I'm not sure what date, but it was definitely pre December.
We will go with December this year. As for when in December, we will do it when the mood takes us

[Daisy]

Gem - I think sometimes families can get themselves into a routine over Christmas, which almost becomes a sacred cow rather than a joyous tradition. It's good to adapt with changing situations!

I've no idea when we will do our decorations this year - possibly if we have the GDs at the beginning of their Christmas holidays. They are young enough to still enjoy making and putting up decorations.

[WeeGranny]

DD's birthday is 11th December and one of her birthday treats was to go with her Dad on the nearest weekend to her birthday and choose a tree! It always seemed to be the biggest one they could find!

Over the years Christmas has become a moveable feast in our household. DD and DS worked in hospitality and were more often than not working on Christmas Day. We often celebrated with the in-laws and the went to Scotland for New Year. We lived abroad for some time so that meant we celebrated on our own and no one minded if it was on the beach or a boat or in the back garden. We've had quite a few on our own and done our own thing with food, I remember one year we had an M&S seafood platter after a very long walk. Some years we've been at DD's, but they try and have MiL on alternate years! I have no idea what will be happening this year, though I've got some food ordered for a Waitrose delivery just before Christmas! It can go in the freezer if it's not needed!

I popped into Asda yesterday and they had real Christmas trees for sale........I didn't buy one!!

[Plantaholic]

My small, artificial white twiggy tree will go up the week before /Christmas. Not sure what is happening this year with regards to Christmas Day, sometimes I go to DS and DIL but that means staying the night or having a taxi home.

[Oma]

Well we have all decided this year will be a secret Santa year ,
We never know what to buy each other and its getting harder each year ,
This way its one present only at £20 , that suites us all fine .

The 3 CG will get there usual gifts ,
we know now GS1 wants Golf Clubs ,
GS2 wants some kind of 3D head set gaming thing
GD wants a iPad

We always put the tree up on B's Birthday 26 November when the children were young but im leaning more towards December now . last year I think it was first weekend in December
I get sick of the decorations very quickly so they come down New years day