When do you start thinking about it?

It was just a few moments ago that I was thinking how slack I am in preparing for Christmas this year. I usually think and shop a little at a time for it all year. I haven't even had any good ideas for stocking stuffers this year. With things going the way they are, I'm going to have to be more creative than ever, so I'd better get started in earnest.

I already have a few small things, but because I am on a strict budget this year (might need a new car, want to buy a house), I am going to have to start basically now. I am going to make or bake a lot of gifts, and try to get other gifts using gift cards or points from online things.

I guess you could say I start many times not long after Christmas has been gone. I already have something bought for people in my family now that I have had for months. I have been collecting things for some time now. I will continue to do so until Christmas is here and I have all I need for everyone.

i generally start thinking about it on Boxing day (the day after Christmas here in Canada and the UK) but here in canada we have great sales on stuff and its a holiday too so everyone heads to the stores! anyways, with the january sales i pick up several things for the following Christmas. this year, i am also making stuff which i have started already.

I usually start thinking about the next Christmas right after the current Christmas. Because there are sales on lights and little stuff like that and it's cheap. But that is just for small stuff. For regular stuff I'm generally done by Thanksgiving. But I don't wrap things until Christmas Eve. LOL

I only buy small girts to the little kids of the family. For me Christmas is not about buying presents but about being together. I have an apricot tree and in my country apricots are ripe a little before Christmas. So I make apricot jam for everyone and put it in recycled jars I have saved during the year. This year I will also have tomatoes from my garden so I will also make tomato chutney for the people that like it. I have had moments of having more money than I needed when my husband was alive, but we both had the same idea about Christmas. Part of the extra work for Christmas was to teach carols to the children instead of going shopping.

I do too, but this year I've barely given it a thought, I've been busy with other things...

I have been real smart this year. I just about have all my grandchildren's gifts bought.I can't get out & shop much so i have been ordering them things for awhile.I'm glad to have that much done.Keeping it hid may be a problem, lol.

I have bought the items I need for my craft projects, but I have not gotten any further than that yet. Today and tomorrow I will be online looking for crafts that I can make and sell online so I can make extra money. I will be making out my Christmas budget later on this week and will start planning on what to buy people. I want to be done with my shopping by November because we get bad snow storms in December. Also, with me being a graduate student and also remodleing I need to watch my funds a little bit.

I just answered a Christmas-related post earlier. This year, my hubby and I have resolved not to give out gifts. There was one year that I swear I spent my entire paycheck on gifts. Well, yeah it feels good. Seeing these people happy because they received something for Christmas gives a good feeling. But after the Christmas season even if we get the many thank you's and the joy of seeing their faces light up because of a gift, I mean, there must be something else other than gifts that we can give right? So this year, we're probably just going to pitch in with the famliy dinners. I mean, the kids of course get gifts. But other than than, we're not giving out gifts to the adults. We need to save up. Christmas would be a good time to start.

Usually I am not in the Christmas direction until after Halloween is over. Sad I know I really need to think about it sooner but sadly due to financial issues I can't start any sooner. Last year I was not able to begin shopping until a few weeks prior to the big day.

I ponder on what gifts to buy to my love ones, when i more or less knows how much money i can spare for it. Bonuses , aside from the 13th month pay comes in December and sometimes bonuses are nixed the last minute. When i am short of the budget comes December, i only give gifts to my family. For others, they can just come to eat our Christmas prepared foods.

Oh noooooooooooooooo not Christmas..lol but you are the wise, organized one and I salute you. Hopefully this year I won't end up scrambling early Dec. I wish I could plan ahead as it would be so much better. Good for you!!

Its been a long time I have not thought about celebration since I had been too busy...After going through this discussion, the feel of joy and childhood Christmas celebrations struck my mind once again. I will definitely plan well in advance and hope that this time I do not miss out a single moment.

To be honest my dear friend, all year round, I have probably said this before in a similar discussion, I buy gifts all year round to keep the cost down, I have a bottom drawer which I put all the things I buy, so come Christmas time I have most of my gifts. I can't bear Christmas shopping and I don't do crowds, so I find ideal gifts and store them, it is also a great way of spreading the cost!

I start thinking of Christmas whenever the "ber" months come. Technically that would be September and oh ... it will be next month. Time flies when you're having fun :) I must start my Christmas list as early as possible. Now that I have a baby, it is hard to leave home. It would be harder to bring my baby and shop for gifts.

I'm pretty sure I will start before December 24th...