Who has started Christmas Shopping Yet

Strawberry1

Bless you @66Mustang , it can be really difficult to know what to get people. Plus the costs are even higher this year . As the saying goes   its the thought that counts. 

66Mustang

I agree @Strawberry1

When I receive presents I'd rather people put thought in than spend a lot of money (that they probably need for more important things at the moment)

Strawberry1

I agree with you too @66Mustang . Great minds think alike 😊

Hannah_Alumni

I've started! Hoping to finish by mid November. Have everything wrapped by the end of November.

Watch me be wrapping Christmas presents on Christmas Eve  

Strawberry1

Bless you @Hannah_Scope , Good luck .

Strawberry1

You always make me chuckle @Hannah_Scope ,  very good sense of humour.  Bless you. 

Jimm_Scope

We're visiting my partners family in the states, so might get a few souvenirs for people. Or things they can't normally get in the UK.

For instance my sister, who is deathly allergic to peanuts, loves the peanut-free alternative that Trader Joe's (an american food store that is almost entirely local or own-brand) sells. It's made with sunflower seeds but looks and tastes quite like peanut butter. So we always bring her back a lot of it, enough that we usually get a few questions from the person at the till heh.

66Mustang

Before the internet was a big thing and everyone had it I used to be like some sort of "fixer" ... whenever someone in the family wanted something I'd find it online and get them it ... they'd always be impressed at how I managed to source it (especially when I can't get out!!). Sadly those days are gone now  

Sandy_123

Got my eye on a in the  night garden set for my grandaughter

Strawberry1

Sounds lovely @Sandy_123 .

Hannah_Alumni

@Strawberry1 One to make you chuckle. My brother always asks for me to do his Christmas wrapping as he isn't the best at it. 

Years ago, he came home from University and decided to go out for a few drinks Christmas Eve with his friends. Came home gone 2am, and was very hungover the next morning.

Realised he'd forgotten to wrap a pair of slippers he bought our mum. I had popped out to deliver some gifts so he had to wrap them himself.

He wrapped each one individually as he was too hungover to wrap them together 😂😂😂

As he presented them to our mum he said you've not got one but two gifts! 😂

Strawberry1

Oh @Hannah_Scope , that's so funny 😆😅🤣😂

Ada

I completely cancelled it last year for us but still bought small gifts for my neighbors been doing it for eight years. But can’t this year. Have to cancel it again and buy zero gifts. Every penny must be rent.

it really doesn’t matter about us. I gave the cooker away since I had to give up cooking so now buy ready meals.
but I so love buying gifts. I will feel guilty. 

Strawberry1

Bless you @Ada . Christmas is so over dramatised I think . I could live without it if I'm honest. 

woodbine

A few years ago we told everyone (except the kids Aho were still teens at the time) that we weren't buying a single xmas present but donating the money to charity and if they wanted to do the same i.e not buy us presents but donate to charity we wouldn't be offended IIRC over £1000 was raised in total and donated to a charity for the homeless.

Strawberry1

Lovely gesture @woodbine .

Steve_in_The_City

@Ada Don't feel guilty. If you can't afford to buy gifts, then that is that. I've had more than a few broke Xmas's myself, and haven't been able to buy gifts. But I didn't feel guilty as most people had more than me and were going to have a good time anyway. As @Strawberry1 said, Xmas is over-dramatised and we are all under undue pressure to provide this, that and the other. But if you can't do it, you can't do it, so don't worry.