Is it too early to mention the 'C' word

[Plantaholic]

We have 3 birthdays in December so only thinking about birthday presents at the moment

[Mimi]

Th'is the season to be jolly tralalalalala lalala

[Clover]

I admit to spending some time yesterday ordering a few things on-line after hunting down some discount codes. I do love a bargain!
However I'm generally in the Bah Humbug club. Of course I don't begrudge others throwing themselves into the whole C "thing" . I just wish I could be a bit more excited,or indeed excited at all.Sorry.

[Daisy]

Clover - I would love it if Christmas could be a much simpler celebration, whether with religious elements or not. It makes me feel quite sad for the human race when I go into shops or supermarkets and see absolute tat being sold at exorbitant prices, and people who probably can't afford it are buying this horrible plastic rubbish, highly-processed foods, gallons of alcohol etc in the hope of having a 'good' Christmas. If they then spend the next 3 months paying for it, it's even worse!

I'm going to have a think about what would be my perfect Christmas.

[Gemini]

Daisy, although I love Christmas and am far from the Bah Humbug club, I do dislike a lot of the hype and overspending.

I take from it what makes me happy. I buy nice presents but not terribly expensive ones, and would never ever get myself into debt for Christmas! I love the trees and the lights, getting Christmas cards, and spending time with friends and family. I love the special foods, the pantomime, and I love Christmas carols.
I have always seen it as a warm, bright colourful period in winter, my most hated season.

[Libra Gran]

I for once am totally on the ball with presents, have almost all of the childrens. E and N being older want book tokens, games etc. M anything equestrian and T anything Frozen +T has a birthday 2 days after Christmas day, although she has chosen build a bear again whereas M wasn't bothered this year. My lot are easy 2 for vouchers (their choice) 1 perfume or pandora. Now the husband is another problem altogether, still hasn't given me 1 clue as to what he would like. Sadly no big Christmas tree for us this year, not risking chasing the pup to retrieve my baubles, bought a pre lit twiggy one for this year.

[Plantaholic]

We are very modest as a family with our Christmas gift buying. I buy for DD SIL, DS, DIL and 6 Grandchildren. The GC are quite easy they usually send me links with a list of what they would like with a maximum cost of £40 but never know what to buy for the others. I have bought my SIL a jumper for the last 3 years but he has recently bought some himself. My DD I know would like a voucher for her favourite shop. Hopefully DIL will give me some ideas for DS. Must start soon. Oh, I forgot I think my youngest GS (14) wants a wheel for a bike he is building.

[Nanto2girls]

Just done quite a bit of Christmas shopping on the net this afternoon. Also ordered a birthday present for youngest granddaughter who will be 13 on the 26th of this month, plus giving her cash and Next vouchers.
Bought some some toiletries last week for Christmas presents.

[Elisi]

Got both GD's presents on-line, last week in fact, all delivered now., quite a few of them but only 1 big one each and the rest stocking fillers. I give them catalogues and ask them to mark which ones are most important to them and then go searching online.

Shirt for SIL from Ebay BNWT's from Fat Face which he loves, cost half price, free postage so he's done. DD loves gardening so have voucher for her from local very nice garden centre. Money for two step granddaughters (and that is OH's department). Gave one stepdaughter money whilst in Menorca this September so she's done and the other one is also OH's.

Job done

[Pearl5]

wow so organised Elisi, I have now got my Christmas note book out, everything has to be written down, I thought maybe £50 each for the GC, but just worked G's out and he has had £70 already without his stocking, I said I wasn't going to spend as much this year, but by the time you add bits and pieces it soon adds up and I like to keep them all the same....

Need a rethink, Argos have 3 for 2 on toys if anyone is interested, typical I can only find 2 things I want....

[Pearl5]

does anyone do stockings for your family....I am thinking of stopping it, but I said that last year too....

[Elisi]

No, they have stockings in their house, we just put everything into a very old but strong Xmas sack and take it all round on the day

[Gemini]

Pearl I did stockings for my 3DDs each year, whether they lived with me or not. Once they stopped coming for Christmas Day, the stockings stopped. I always said, there will aways be a stocking here if you are here on Christmas Day. I haven't done one for any of them for years now. I would get a shock if any of them said they were coming on Christmas Day, and I had to do a stocking again!!

I do one for OH however. One year mine remained hanging ttotally empty, as she 'forgot we did stockings'

[Grauntie Mag]

A sucker here....I have to do stockings for the DDs and so for S-i-Ls and a friend of DD1 s who always spends Christmas with them/ us, otherwise he would be alone....besides, we all like him.😀 All orders of hobby horses/unicorns etc. will now be completed by next weekend and then I can get on with family stuff. 2 big parties to organise, and an alternative Christmas tree to create as my sitting room is too small for a normal tree and people too.
Looking forward to Christmas here for once.

[Pearl5]

Sucker here too GM, I have 2 DD's at home although adults they still say they need a stocking... so cant leave the others out, have to get them all one, when my lot were younger they always went to there Grandmas who done a stocking it was full of silly things, if you were good you got a orange if you were bad you got an onion, there faces waiting too see what they got and always found it amusing when dad and granddad got onions, I suppose that's what Christmas is all about a bit of fun....

Gem you owed too stockings now....