Christmas shopping: Get it done early - mad rush on Christmas eve?

[Shaun]

When I was a young single lad I used to head into town on Christmas eve (with my cash "christmas box" from my employer) and do all of my Christmas shopping that day. You got whatever was available in the shops - not that I wasn't generous, but I didn't worry about what I couldn't get.

Nowadays me and Mrs. Admin book a day off together in late November and do it early. We just found the push and shove pre-Christmas run-up weekends were getting too much like hard work, and as we usually manage to get it all done in a day it saves spreading out the chore of shopping over a few weeks.

What's your "system" for Christmas shopping?

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[ianrauk]

I leave it all to Mrs Ian....including her pressie

 

[potsy]

I always leave it to the last minute, and always say 'never again' until next year

This year I have the week before Christmas booked off, hopefully can then 'chill' a little.

I really don't like all the carp that goes with it though, just enjoy the time off work tbh

 

[Paulus]

If I can't get in the local high road, I don't get it.

 

[coffeejo]

Potsy, it's not even November! What's with the avatar?!

 

[Mozzy]

I try to ignore the whole hype and hope it goes away. Bah bloody humbug.

Mozzy

 

[vernon]

Mine's done and dusted and has been since the end of August.

There's great bargains to be had throughout the year and they have to be taken advantage of.

Mind you the wrapping gets done at the last minute. I haven't mastered getting that done well in advance.

 

[Fnaar]

I get what I can online, and the rest in the high street as and when, from about 2nd week in Dec onwards. I hate the packed shops and all the consumerism that goes with it; I refuse to get hassled or stressed by it, though Mrs F tries her best

 

[numbnuts]

M&S gift vouchers job done

 

[MissTillyFlop]

It's all done online or people get their own and I give them the money for it - I am not allowed to go Christmas shopping in shops - that's how the demise of Lloyd's Bank happened! (not really!)

 

[carolonabike]

I've done some shopping already and the rest will be done by the end of Nov beginning of Dec, Christmas pud and cake both get made in November and the goose is ordered from our local butcher.

I have no choice but to be organised, the firm I work for (in accounts) has it's year end as the 31st December. That means no time off in the last couple of weeks and working inbetween Christmas and New Year every year

 

[Night Train]

Christmas?

I doubt I will be buying any tat to exchange with other people for their tat.

If you like someone enough to get them a present then get it for them when they need it and when you can afford it. If you wouldn't do that then don't bother on that once a year consumer gold rush.

 

[Ludwig]

Don't do any Christmas shopping whatsoever even though for a few years I ran a stall on a Christmas market which went on for weeks and made thousands from selling Christmas nik-naks. I look at my empty shelves in my store and go to the synagogue and sing "what a friend I have in Jesus"

 

[ttcycle]

Potsy!!

It's too early for your avatar

I'll tend to do my shopping in Dec and spread it out over the whole month so it's not rushed. It doesn't have to be exclusively weekends which does help

 

[Christopher]

Great post Ludwig!

Personally I mostly get it on-line with the odd spontanteous purchase, for example a spoof 50s-style 'Men are rubbish' calender for the OH. However that's my only purchase this year. When I was a kid in the US the big fall occasions were Halloween, Thanksgivng and then Xmas, and it was Not Done to buy presents before December. Have often thought to celebrate Thanksgiving and forget Xmas altogether as the latter has turned insane in the last few years.