Are you okay with waiting until the last minute?

Time... Next week I'll be off, so hopefully I can get the rest of it done while the kids are vegging on the TV, computer, etc.

Oh my gosh, we are waiting until the last minute for three years now. I hate it but we have no stability in our business right now. We can not plan for more than a week in advance and that is nerve racking! I just got the spirit and energy to put up our tree yesterday. Hopefully things will be improved before next Christmas.

I prefer not to leave it to the last minute, but usually I do end up with a lot of last minute things. the scary bit is when you get the last paypacket before Christmas and realise how much you have to do with it. so every year I tell myself I'll be better about it. this year I've done really well and been organised. and as I get my carers allowance weekly, that helps a lot as I know I've only ever got to wait a week until more money comes in, even if it's a smaller amount. I have one week left and one person left to buy for. what needs to be posted has gone, and reached at least the nearby post office, which means it's just waiting for her to collect it. I just need to get a few more things for my husband, and I have several things in mind. so really I'm sorted. I've got a big family meal on Tuesday for the Solstice, and my Partridges are reserved at the butchers, I just need to get the veg and some cheeses for afterwards. all in all I'm getting better at this. I used to struggle a bit through lack of organisation. and I'm planning to start earlier next year, and save up throughout the year, even if it's just the odd five or ten pounds to make it easier. I hope your boxing day isn't too stressful. but there's no point worrying about it until the money turns up. maybe make a list of what you need to get the trip out as quick and easy as possible. if you know exactly what you're getting then it saves having to browse in crowds. and I think an important thing to remember is don't sweat the small stuff. the things that get forgotten are rarely missed. otherwise they'd not have been forgotten in the first place. if you've still got presents to buy, maybe see if there's some nice things you can make with store cupboard basics so if for any reason you are unable to get the present you plan on, then at least there's something nice to open on the day and the main present can always follow on. have a lovely Christmas.

I'm so glad I don't have to shop for gifts anymore... but when I did, I always, got it done and over with quickly, so I don't have to make it a burden for me.

I could not wait until the last minute to do any of my Christmas shopping. lo...I want to make sure that I have a couple of days to relax before I start in on the cooking frenzy. Hmm, waiting to the last minute would certainly put the pressure on, and that's a feeling that I am just not comfortable with :) The one advantage of waiting until the last minute is that the kids can not sneak into their gifts :)

of course, I would be saving for it and do not be too wasteful for Christmas day. It is not good for us.

Actually I haven't done the first bit of shopping even. Money is way to tight this year. I haven't even decorated yet..and probably won't. It just doesn't seem Christmasy this year. Why have a tree with nothing under it but dust bunny?....my husband dragged out the tree but I put it back..told him no use decorating..so yes.. I am a Scrooge or Grinch this year...lol...

Not at all!!! I did most of my shopping on line, so I had to get it done waaaay in advance. I had cookbooks to order for people. I published a cookbook five years ago, and I wanted copies for people for Christmas, and then people also bought copies from me, for their relatives. Those had to be delivered nice and early. The rest of my stuff I bought on line, a lot of it from a Russian store in NYC. I got a lot of chocolate, caviar, and other things. That was all delivered last week. I ordered my Christmas cards, personalized ones at that, in November, and had them all written and mailed by December 1st! :)

I hate waiting and now we are in the last stretch and not looking good. Today is Saturday and Christmas is this Saturday. I still have a lot of gifts to purchase and not a whole lot coming in....

i dont mind really. i still have a few things to get but thats it. i still have a bunch to wrap though.

In my case I have to be done early to ship all the packages overseas etc...but I do once in a while wait until the last minute for the stocking stuffers. Mainly because I take a break inbetween the shopping as I am not a good shopper. This year I did most of it online.

I went to Christmas shop the first time this Thursday. And I'm going tomorrow to try and finish it, if I can. Nobody wants to tell me what they want for Christmas, and I'm not a mind reader. The reason I've been late is the fact I stay with my Mother through the week and, on the weekend, I'm just too tired! I say every year I'm going to start early but never do. Thank goodness I didn't this year. I walked into a Door Buster sale at a store yesterday and got $50 hoodies for $15 for 4 grandson1 What a deal! Hopefully I can do as good tomorrow.

In my defense, YES! I am OK with it as long as I don't have to do all fo the shopping at last minute. I like to get most presents done ahead of time. I only have a couple of small, easy gifts left to buy, such as gift cards and stuff like that. I wouldn't wait until last minute for everything though, as that would be way too stressful for me!!

I really don't like waiting until the last minute and that is the reason that I've been done with my Christmas shopping for two weeks now (excluding three Hot Wheels for Paul's stocking and buying new stockings for the kids because my mother can't seem to find their at her house). I figure that the Hot Wheels are easy enough to find because they are available even at the grocery store. As far as the stockings go, a friend of mine gave me a great idea for personalizing them so I just need to get to the store and buy them.