Christmas Shopping - When do you start?

[sydneybubhub]

Christmas! I know it happens every year and the date hasn't changed for a VERY long time, but every year it seems to sneak up on me! Not only that, but as the kids and the kids' friends get older, I have to head to a different section of the toy shop to get what's age appropriate and what they're into. A mother's nightmare! :dizzy:

When do you start doing your Christmas shopping? How organised are you and have you gotten better or worse as the years go by?

And where do you hide your secret stash? I used to hide my present stash on top of a cupboard, but the kids have grown and can see it (or reach it when I'm not around!!), so now I have to find another. Any suggestions of where works best for you? :detective:

[~BEXTER~]

I do my lay-bys in June.

Once they are out they get hidden in boxs and suitcases under my bed ;)

If I see things at the start of the year I will pick them up and put them away.

I love being organized

[mum2bubba]

Usually I get a few things and put laybys on throughout the year, I haven't done that this year though. I've gotten a few things but still have some laybys that need paying for...

[~CupCakes~]

this is the one thing that i am never super organised for, everyyear i say i will have it all done before dec1 but i never do:laughing:. It feels so christmasy to do it at the end of the year

[shadowangel0205]

Usually i start June/July with laybys if i know what i want to get. Lately its been Oct/Nov...Id say im getting worse :)

I dont have any of my own children, so cant answer that exactally.

My parents used to hide ours in the roof. (so they tell me now) or wait till places had those Xmas Eve laybys and one would go get them and stash them while we were doing xmas eve things (seeing santa in the fire truck etc)

[3boysnpregnant]

Cupcakes... It does feel so christmasy doing it In December. Especially in those last few weeks!

Unfortunatly can't do that this year..

Normally though (not this yeas as I lived In a different state and knew I wouldn't be there to pick it up in December) I put the toy laybuys on at he July toy sale.

Then do everything else late November early December.

This year cause I'm in freak out mode and trying to do it for a quarter of every other year iv already started and am buying lots of clearance things that I can put with other things.

[Benji]

Same time as I do everything else in life - at the absolute minute when panic sets in!

[Bellini]

For 'Giftmas' I start shopping about a fortnight prior. Sometimes I leave it even longer :o

[lemongrass]

2 or 3 days before chrismast.

[Leisa21]

I get them throughout the year. We don't buy much but I don't like shopping at Christmas time so it's easier to pick things up through the year.

[veve]

I do a fair bit of the shopping at the toys sales (although I am rather careful that it IS something discounted to a decent amount or I dont bother) .. then I just grab things when I see them on special throughout the rest of the year. I'm lagging behind a bit this year - I've probably only done half my shopping ... but then I think most of the ADULTS will be getting dining vouchers this year at restaurants that they like - its much more practical, they dont collect dust and they WILL be used :D

[trishalishous]

we get bits and pieces all year- I scored 10x boys pant/top/shirt sets from kmart for 50c per set!
I go to the sales and buy clothes/toys when heavily reduced, then save them for xmas/bdays.
we are really broke, but ill go into town a few times a week and do my laps around the stores, looking for bargains, as we never pay more than 30% of the original price for kids stuff.
I over-bought for my nieces in July, so save half their pressies till xmas.
DD has 2 nappy boxes of brand new clothes for xmas this year.

[mummaof4]

i start throughout the year around may.. we have a massive burst of birthdays in our family and it starts in august and finishes april.. dwindles a little and picks right up again a couple of months later! lol

i have quite a bit put away but still so many people to buy for.. i cant really think past my kidlets birthdays just yet though :)
one today, hubby thursday, one friday and one next sunday :D i also have one in feb..

we love birthdays & christmas :yes::flowerz:

[bunkx]

i start when the july toy sale are on then try to buy something each fortnight from then

but a week before christmas im still getting last minute things

[Nemmy]

I buy the majority of gifts for the children I need to buy for (ie my own children, nieces, nephew, etc) in the June/July toy sales.I find I slack off after that and don't get the rest until early December usually around the time I pick up my Christmas laybys. I love laybys because it means I don't need to store the toys at home for too long in the lead-up to Christmas. Besides that, we usually do Kris Kringle for all the adults in my family which cuts down the shopping a bit as I only need to buy a couple of gifts.

[Pinkzy]

I pick up stocking fillers throughout the year but do the main shopping during November.

[MagicalLeopluradon]

I start in the mid-year toy sales, just layby it all then it's done and you just have to make regular payments. I also pick little things up here and there that are on sale during the year.

[smog]

i make dh put them up in the roof;) and last yr he had to make a bigger manhole just to accommodate something large:laughing:

i usually start in oct and aim to be all done before dec hits

[Nellsy]

I used to be really good at 'collecting' gifts throughout the year but this year I haven't managed to do that. We moved house last year and my 'hoard' of pressies at the ready are still boxed away somewhere! :laughing:

I'm sure by the time I find them, my kids will be too old for them but at least they'll be put to good use under the KMart Wishing Tree where others can benefit.

My husband once forgot about my present until Christmas eve and by the time he headed off the to shops, the only thing open was the supermarket (that had a bottle-shop). Lucky for me I like Cointreau!!! But I've only just forgiven him for such as last-minute present. :thumbsdown:

[MummaBear03]

I'm not going all out. DD's things are mostly purchased, apart from one thing on layby that will be paid off in the next 3 weeks, and one thing that I haven't yet tracked down.

My mum got the first part of hers in the mail today and the other small present is still here, wrapped, and in the wardrobe.

My brother and his wife are getting a large gift voucher, I've transferred the money to my mother already and she'll arrange the voucher.

My father and his wife are sorted, other than posting theirs down.

Apart from that, my little brother is getting a gift voucher that I'll buy in December, my uncle is getting a number of gift vouchers and a $20 note that I'll get in December as well and post in the first week so he definately has it ready to open Christmas day, and I do baking for the other relatives.

There's a special friend on the other side of the country, I've bought her DD a little something from my DD, and will slip something in there for her too :p just because I can. The ones that need posting will be posted in the first week of December.

I will then have our groceries delivered so that from December 1 the only shops I have to go to are the post office and the couple of shops (not very busy shops and not in shopping centres) where the gift vouchers will be bought because it gets too hectic in the few weeks before Christmas.

[LittleMissSunshine]

The little ones i try and get in early like sep/oct but everyone else i Leave it to the last minute, which is odd considering i love shopping!! I just hate not knowing what to buy which further makes me procrastinate.

[RmumR]

usually i am crappola at being organised fir xmas and am often seen at the shops in the fortnight before xmas countless times cause i always forget something and have to go back!

this year is different, with bubby coming ive been organised and have brought DD presents over the last few months, a few stocking fillers and she's all done.
bubby will get a couple token presents cause shell be a month old.

[Nellsy]

I hit the shops on Saturday and so glad I picked that day to go! Myers had a big one day sale on and I'm proud to say I actually saved over $150 on stuff for the kids. Only bummer was I tried on 2 pairs of shoes and the ones that I liked the most weren't actually on sale! Oh well.... I love my shoes! It was my little gift to me for saving so much money! hahaha :xmastree:

[Boobycino]

'the ONLY problem with buying midyear onwards was I bought my mum a really nice handbag less than half price about 5 months ago and no idea where I put it away for Christmas!!!!

But I've done jaspers birthday and Christmas gifts, in July.

I just have to get something for dp and mil and my dad. I'm cutting back this year. No more spending heaps of money on everyone and getting nothing in return. And no appreciation. (the latter more to the point)

[krystallxx]

I start to pick up the occassional things for my little boys about november but dont really do any xmas shopping till about the 20ish of dec . whenever we have 24hr shopping .. thats when i start and finished :laughing:

[Seedofhope]

I usually leave it for mid December :santa:. I would love to be more organised but every year me and my dh :valentine: have so much fun with our last minute shopping. I agree, it feels like Crhistmas. We always buy some extra gifts in case someone unexpected comes over, :yelclap:xoxo.

[A Party of Five]

I gradually do it through the year, especially when the sales are on :santa: