OK, OK, I will admit that I am one of those annoying people that has finished, wrapped and tagged all the Christmas gifts in November, although the actual shopping finishes bar one or two gifts in September.
I know this might sound beyond mad to many but for me it’s the only way that firstly we can afford a Christmas and secondly that I can mentally cope with Christmas and all it entails.
I am a creature of habit and I have been buying for Christmas like this for the last 16 years and I have probably saved a small fortune doing it this way.
I know some people think I am nuts, I know some can’t believe it would work but it’s working for us.
There are some things the kids will always love in their Christmas present piles, for Joshua its LEGO sets, by buying these in the sales I can shop around and get them for half price. The 2 newest sets for next year I managed to buy Joshua was in the Sainsbury’s sale a few weeks back and what was even better was I managed to buy them with my nectar points .. So I got £60 worth of lego for the grand total of £9…. Bargain!
For Jacob its playsets like the ones from WOW toys, He loves these and I have already bought a couple of toys for next year while in the November black Friday sales along with some Happylands sets from Early Learning Centre which again were less than half price.
Although most of my Christmas shopping is completed by September I am aware that the kids will decide on a few things nearer the time once the TV adverts kick into high gear on the children’s TV channels so get the final couple of things the week before the October half term so I can get finished.
Then as the kids might mention other things I make a note of them and then when our relatives ask for ideas I use the toys on that list to give them some really wanted toy ideas.
Over the year I collect nectar points from Sainsbury’s, club card points from Tesco and advantage points from Boots and these all go into the gift buying pot so again this can massively help reduce the costs and I keep my eyes peeled for their half price sales they have intermittently through the year to help stretch my money further.
Yesterday I headed off for some sale shopping at Meadowhall in Sheffield with one of my besties and had managed to pick some wonderful gifts for some upcoming birthday and also a few extra bits for next years Christmas.
I know shopping through the year is not everyones cup of tea but it really is the only way I can cope with the pressure of Christmas and the excessive money thats needed to get you through the other end!
So do you think I am mad or do you buy in the sales through the year too?
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