So I've started Christmas shopping.

[OhMyNoReally]

Anyone else?

I finally cleared my Christmas store cupboard, and started a Christmas gift ideas notebook. I then bought my first Christmas gift so I can put it in the Christmas cupboard. I am rather excited about this.

[BabyFaker]

Crazy talk!!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Yesssssssssssssssssssssss!

Woman after my own heart.
Though I don't have a Gift Cupboard, I do have a Christmas Cupboard where I stash away nice kitchenware, glasses, serving jugs sort of thing.
I like the gift notebook idea but I don't buy presents until Oct?Nov mainly because my recievers quite often change their minds about what they asked for.
Stocking Gifts start buying in October or any time after the schools go back. Just when I see something I like

[Lynned]

I started in January (sales). Very anal I know.

[RobinSparkles]

Lalalalalala.

[Flossiechops]

Absolutely, I bought tons of stuff in The White Company sale which was 70% off - slippers and pjs for dc and nephews and neices. I try and do the same each yr as it lightens the burden in December

[OhMyNoReally]

Pento notebook app is amazing. I love it, I've been grabbing images and prices and popping them in the notebook and saving wish lists. So much easier than trying to remember where I've seen this and that. It also gives a lovely visual feel to everything and as I'm making hampers this year it's lovely to see how things go together.

I really am excited, I love the planning and hiding in the cupboard more than Christmas itself.

Ooh and the window shopping. Not on the highstreet is an amazing place to get ideas and I've been looking on the good taste award website for lovely food and drink ideas.

Last bit of madness, I've set a reminder for the first of November to go off weekly to remind me to go to toasts website and buy some gorgeous crackers, I'm fed up of cracker rubbish and want real lushness this year.

[Nat38]

I`ve started!
A really good deal on canvasses from PhotoBox, 1 for my mum which was for Mothers Day, one for me-which is already on the wall!-& one for the kids Auntie for christmas!
Love buying bargains that I know people will love all year round!

[lemonmuffin]

Dear me. That is very early.

[OhMyNoReally]

Oh brilliant I'll have to check photobox out it would be lovely with the hamper. Thanks Nat38 :)

[Nat38]

I`m watching out for all sorts of offers all year round to help keep costs down & also to take the financial strain off a bit at christmas aswell!

[Shinyshoes1]

Yay a Christmas thread !!
I've still got a loreal men expert shave gel and aftershave balm thing and a immature bottle of wine with a glass and chocs gift set left over from Boots 3for2 offer from last year

[spottymoo]

I started at the weekend I got dd some stocking fillers

Have a list of ideas for family that ill keep adding too and start purchasing.

The aim is to be done by October as its dh's 40 in December and I want to spoil him

[OhMyNoReally]

I like to be done by October also. But as I'm doing food hampers as long as I know what I'm getting I will be happy.

I want to buy the dc animal suits from next as they love the ones they've got now. But if I try to guess the right size and buy them now they may be too small. So I'm just hoping they'll have them in this winter. Or else I'll be in a panic.

Can I ask if anyone knows if poire william keeps? It seems like a daft question but I want to buy that soon as its £60 and will be dhs main gift.

So much to organize, it's great fun.

[AllOverIt]

Bought some smelliest sets in the Boots sale so officially, yes I've started it!

[spottymoo]

Some jack wills stuff arrived for dd today £90 worth for £18 so very happy with that

Dss is the hardest to but early as he tends to want Xbox stuff but that depends on what games come out through out the year but I've seen a few stocking bits for him so ill start on them.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

You people disgust me.

Although if it saves money and you're not hurting anyone... Fine by me, you'll be please to know .

[Shinyshoes1]

My DDs teacher is Irish

What can I get her that's very Irish . Not Guinness or whiskey

Are there Irish sweets or something I can get her ??

[mamalovesmojitos]

Barry's tea :) Or ballymaloe country relish.

[OhMyNoReally]

Irish food shop shiny you might find something here.

[OhMyNoReally]

found another :)

[DeskPlanner]

I bought something for next Christmas, before last Christmas and it is for a baby who wasn't even born at the time. Born last week.

[Rosvita]

Yep started mine before this christmas!i have an excel spreadsheet with a list of everyone's names and then I put it what I buy,how much it cost and what the rrp was so i can see how much I've saved,it also calculates a running total.i only buy stuff if its on offer and will only pay full price once I've explored all other avenues and if it's something the children really want.i've got the majority if the kids presents now but room to buy them 1 or 2 bits they really want nearer the time.got teachers presents and a few family and children's friends
Last year I went a bit ott on christmas and although it was great I think the money could have been put to better use and the kids wouldn't have missed it if they'd have had a few presents less.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

As we're on a Thinking Ahead Mode on this thread...

Where could I get a key? A really ornate, solid, old brass type key .
I want to decorate it as a Santa Key (I know, I know, my DC are over the age of Father Christmas belief but I just fancy doing this )

I looked on Ebay, they do have some but would some of the oldie junk shop type places have them?

TIA

[WaitingForMe]

I'm watching this now 70! A couple of years ago I bought DH an old chest. I'd love an old lock and key for it.

[londone17]

I've only got some small gifts to buy like socks and dvd's which I'll get when I go shopping soon. I was checking my Christmas card list and that I've got enough cards and wrapping paper. I then started wrapping presents this morning. I've also done Birthday cards and presents for the year.