Hi to all

I am thankful I only have to buy for the grandchildren now, two little girls 2 and 4, so not really difficult. We all decided that buying for the 'grown ups' was just too much hard work and worry for everyone.

My husband has two grandchildren (boys) but just sends money, they are a long way away so saves having to post stuff.

We have officially given up on buying presents for each other too, but usually get a little 'surprise' nothing expensive or huge.

Christmas is no longer such hard work and now much more enjoyable.

I'm all sorted because I shop throughout the year. At my age 83 and widowed I treat myself and the family all the time, not huge spends but I can't take it with me, no pockets in shrouds.

A fellow volunteer that I work with has been asking me for the last few weeks "How is your Christmas shopping going?". It hasn't started yet...... Should I be worried????

We have quite a large family , I have three children plus their partners and five grandchildren and my husband has two children and their partners and four grandchildren we decided three years ago to do a secret Santa for the adults and only buy presents for the grandchildren, it has worked really well and makes Christmas so much less stressful.
We still buy our children and grandchildren birthday presents .

Presents nearly all bought apart from secret Santa one for work ( can't do that we till we draw the names), chocolates for best friend's husband (I would eat them if I bought them now !) and a gift for a friend who is easy to buy for. Wrapping paper and gift tags already bought as are wreath oasis rings for the cemetery which I will do next week. Don't have many to buy for - son, dil, 3 grand children, couple of friends and their pets, secret Santa. Only niggling problem is the presents are stored in the spare bedroom at my house ( where my son and his family are currently living) and that room is absolutely packed with my belongings (as I am moving to the new build when it is finished next summer) so I may have to tie a rope around my waist and climb over the boxes and furniture to find the presents!!! The best laid plans of mice and men...

I would have everything bought and wrapped if I only knew what to buy! Sparklebright, it's never too early to treat yourself, go on, you deserve it

I have two young friends coming fro Christmas, and the only relations I give presents to, I shall probably send their parcel next week, so I can get a clear run at the baking.

The joint is in the freezer, still have a duck or two to buy.

And I shall put up a tree this year, missed out on it last year for the only time in my life, but could not face it six weeks after DH's death.

I thought I would make life easier gor myself after my husband died and just give them all money. However I still like them to have a little fun/joke thing to open so it's not any easier at all. 😂 Now the grandchildren are starting to get partners and I feel obliged to get them a little something too. I don't even always get something from them either but I ignore that. It's still a bit upsetting though when I see what some of my friends get from their adult children.

Done absolutely nothing yet, no cards bought and definitely none sent.
Presents I don’t have that many to buy will probably wait till Christmas Eve and also it’s not Christmas for me unless I’m running round like a scolded cat searching for the last Brussel sprout..

Is it a virtue to get the Christmas shopping done so early?

Mine usually gets finished Christmas Eve.

I have 15+ people to buy for but it always gets done.

It's pretty easy shopping on-line these days anyway.

what an apt user name for a Christmassy thread Sparklebright !
Ooh yes buy yourself a present too, but don't touch it til Christmas day !

I've bought a few gifts throughout the year. If I see something which I think so-and-so would like, I buy it.
But I do feel slightly panicky now so it's time to make a proper list. I'll start it this evening. I feel better when I have a proper well organised list. Lists in plural really...

You most definitely deserve a treat, I had a hip replacement op last oct but unfortunately not completely successful, but still treated myself to a beautiful pen. I only have 2 GDs so they get spoiled, the ACs get cash. On November I have 3 birthdays and in December I have 5 so struggle to come up with ideas for gifts too. My eldest nephew will be 50 this year, so he’ll get a special bottle of something, taking hubby away for his to the Canary Islands, my great nephew will get cash as he’s really into computers and flowers to my DH birth mother and will put flowers on his mum’s grave as it would’ve been her birthday on 18.

Am not organised in the least, but today I have sent a donation to the Salvation Army as I do every year. It's not very large, but hopefully many will be doing the same. I have no connection to the S.A, but I really respect the way they actually get out into the streets and practise what they preach, especially looking after the homeless. I hate to think of people having to sleep on pavements in the freezing cold.

The panicking is part of the fun. Providing everyone else is a bit more panicked….

Well done, Sparklebright.

The rest of you need to stop panicking. You're just making it harder for yourselves by getting stressed. Christmas's rarely go to plan so give yourselves a break.

You certainly need to treat yourself Sparklebright - go on . Also good luck with the planned ops/treatments. Wish you all the best 🤶 🎄

Yes you do sparklebright and make it very soon.

My mind's a blank what to get 7 children [7 to 20 ] and their parents [ie our 'children'] and I don't know what to get DH either. I'm living in a fog I think. Oh dear.

I have been wrapping birthday presents for this week. I have made way with some Christmas presents and goodies for us.

I say well done you it’s a difficult time for most people if you are well ahead with your shopping you are doing well.

yggdrasil I have all the family birthdays in October and November, finishing with my daughter on 2nd December. Once those are out of the way I can start thinking about Christmas.

Congratulations sparklebright. Now, please reward yourself ( you deserve it) and leave the rest of us to panic, worry, curse and write endless lists.

I have 6 birthdays before the end of the year, plus christmas presents to get too. I start all those early but that is all. No decorations, cooking or anything else until well into December

Ohh Stop it would ya? I haven’t even started. Sometimes I wish they would stop breeding ( no, not really but there are a lot of them) Plus yet another on the way. We are blessed, like you.