mince pies in shops already

As I get older, I’m becoming less and less enthusiastic about Christmas. After Martin Lewis’s campaign regarding cutting back on presents, that’s exactly what we did. Most of the family agreed - apart from my Mum and my sister.
I did used to buy presents during the year to spread the cost, especially during the sales, as someone else has mentioned. Play the retailers at their own game!!
We spent a weekend at Center Parcs in August - in the gift shop there were displays for Hallowe’en and Christmas side by side! 🙄 The amount of cheap plastic Hallowe’en and Christmas ‘stuff’ which will end up in landfill is ridiculous!
I do like M&S mince pies though. They’ll never end up in landfill…

Yes i noticed Iceland have them (did Iceland shop last week) BUT, despite being usually christmas obsessed, i resisted them! (i remember last year i got sick of seeing/eating them by time christmas rolled around) So no- its even too early for me.And yes i agree i think they are earlier this year- Theres christmas choc tubs out already but i resisted those too!(what is wrong with me?!) However i did indulge in a bit of buying on boots.com because last year everything i wanted from there got snapped up early 🤨Went in a huge home bargains thursday and theres halloween & christmas everywhere in it! Could not find any cushion covers or cushions as they probably removed the usual home goods for seasonal.😐

See, i knew i was right about Home bargains hiding the usual stuff😅

I did buy some special christmas cards about a month ago as on special offer when i got birthday cards online, and i do have a box with a few gifts in all year as i collect if i see something my brood would like so this year i thought if its not in the box already they're not getting it! The boots.com splurge was stuff for me, and my two youngest at home.(24&20) as they love the Lynx and ted baker gift sets with socks etc.

I think Lidl do the Nordic type of biscuits etc, but ive not been in a Lidl for about 18 months.However i need to go sunday so ill have a look.🤔

However i have been known to eat panettone any time of year! 😋

Not bothered at all, I just ignore them.

I'm just back from Morrisons and spotted chocolate advent calendars. I did wonder if they were last year's leftovers...

I saw an ad on line for preordering Christmas decoration due to come in in October. I like to be prepared in advance since last moment is too much for me though I don't do very much. The anticipation can be more pleasure for me than the day itself. But let's have Autumn first.

Greta

I find the 'Christmas is coming ' preparations in shops in August depressing. I don't think the idea behind it is to help people budget. I do think we are becoming more and more childlike. We can't wait.

I think this business of selling back-to-school items just as soon as the school holidays start, Hallowe'en and Christmas things from August, and ski-clothes from next week probably has only one reason or cause.

Namely to help the shops earn more money. It certainly may help people budget, if you happen to belong to the minority who try to budget, but so did putting a little money aside every fortnight or month for Christmas, birthdays and the January sales help my mother budget in my childhood.

Nowadays most people just spend money - budgetting is almost an unknown concept among the younger generations, and even our contempories don't seem to go in for it much any more.

What NO EASTER EGGS yet??

Time to test the different varieties in the local shops

Local garden centre has had its full Christmas display out for a couple of weeks already! Why do retailers think everyone is crazy about Christmas?!

Should be in shops all year, best things cake shops sell

I always used to make mince pies all year round DH loves them with custard on dont bother so much now if I see some in the shops I buy a box and still pour custard on he doesn’t seem to know the difference saves me hours of work ish I had known years ago 😅😅😅😅

I admit to loving the early start Christmas! It’s a season I love so the anticipation is a happy thing for me. I also start to buy a few bits, autumnal and Halloween as, like my grandchildren (and my elder daughter!) I do get quite excited about the last few months of the year! I am trying not to overspend this year, though, as times are tough for everyone.

I've not even ventured beyond my front door for about a fortnight except for a meal or with my son, so I've not seen anything in the shops yet.
I'm here to say though, that my son works for the company that produces the majority of the UK's mince pies, and he says that they actually start making them in January/ February! They're frozen and brought out in batches from August.
The reason we're seeing them in the shops already (and it's getting earlier and earlier every year) is because the store bosses know that the majority of people start buying bits and pieces for the nasty 'C' word once they're back from their summer hols/as the kids go back to school, so all the edibles come out early because they know we'll 'plan' to put things aside but invariably we'll have eaten them long before December comes, meaning we'll all be buying more and more.
Thankfully for me, I can't stand mince pies, so I'm safe from that particular enticement!

EEJit

Time to test the different varieties in the local shops

I will help you, if we start next week we can give our verdict on GN in two months.You up for it?😂

Amalegra

I admit to loving the early start Christmas! It’s a season I love so the anticipation is a happy thing for me. I also start to buy a few bits, autumnal and Halloween as, like my grandchildren (and my elder daughter!) I do get quite excited about the last few months of the year! I am trying not to overspend this year, though, as times are tough for everyone.

I love Christmas, but for me it is totally ruined by starting so early. Christmas begins first week-end of December.

More and more, I like foods in season and for special occasions- that is what makes them so special after all.

Pantos are starting Rehearsals. If you want to eat out anytime in December you have to book now. Even more so if you want Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Mince pies are very delicious 🤣🤣

Where can I escape to?

MrsKen33

Did they ever go away?

No, you can get them all year

Same as HotCross buns hallgreenmiss

Good. Adore them. I think mince pies are for life not just for Christmas. Yum.

Fleurpepper

Amalegra

I admit to loving the early start Christmas! It’s a season I love so the anticipation is a happy thing for me. I also start to buy a few bits, autumnal and Halloween as, like my grandchildren (and my elder daughter!) I do get quite excited about the last few months of the year! I am trying not to overspend this year, though, as times are tough for everyone.

I love Christmas, but for me it is totally ruined by starting so early. Christmas begins first week-end of December.

More and more, I like foods in season and for special occasions- that is what makes them so special after all.

Nobody’s forcing you to eat Christmassy foods before Advent, though, are they?

I don’t buy or eat mince pies etc. before December. It doesn’t bother me what other people do though, and seeing 🎄stuff in the shops well before I want to buy any such things, certainly doesn’t ruin it for me.