shopping in advance

[laurence2]

just carrying on from the subject of shopping, if some of you have finished your xmas shopping or done part of your xmas shopping already. When exactly do you buy your Haloween outfits etc, buy your fireworks, and your easter eggs, and your valentines cards. I'm just curious now

[4getmenot]

I dont do any of the rest

[redcrx]

i buy a valentine card the week before.
Halloween: son too young
Fireworks: home sets are rubbish, prefer organised displays and they only do them around 5th November :)
Easter eggs: dont buy any

[4getmenot]

If I did I wouldn�t have to start early as you don�t buy fireworks, costumes, valentines cards for your whole fanily.

[mnko]

over in southern ireland fireworks are illegal. but saying that its easy enough to get hold of them. gonna buy costumes and stuff next week. its not the same as xmas. also they dont celebrate bonfire night over here. its all about
ALL HALLOWS EVE

[laurence2]

4getmenot,
maybe i worded the question wrong?

What i was trying to say is are you or anyone else for that matter the type of person who plans ahead, for example: someones birthday in 2 months, so do you get a card & present NOW for them.

Its the advance shopper i was refering to, not so much buying fireworks or haloween outfits etc early.

In other words, are you a person who plans in advance because,

1, financially its easier to plan
2, you can't stand the hustle & bustle of the crowds
3, your just a person who likes to be in control of the situation, ie last minute means no thought goes into it.

etc etc etc

[natalie_1982]

Don't have children so don't celebrate Hollowe'en especially

Don't buy fireworks as my Birthday is 9th Nov so there is usually a display somewhere local that I'd go to

I buy Easter and Valentine's things at the end of the previous month (each payday I go out and buy all of the Birthday cards, celebration things etc that I need for the following month)

[redcrx]

If i see the perfect pressie perhaps a few weeks in advance them i will buy it ready. If i havnt a clue what to get then i wont really look until a week or so before if for a birthday.
xmas i usually try to spread over 2 pay days so i will start in ernest mid November, but I do have to buy for my boyfriends family as he hasnt a clue lol

[natalie_1982]

Sometimes if I see something that I think someone I know would love then I will just buy it anyway and save it for either their Birthday or some other celebration (exams, driving test, etc). I like buying Birthday cards as well and quite often will just buy random "It's a Girl!" cards when I don't even know anyone who's pregnant!

[Hellion]

Hi Laurence, I'd like to be a more organised shopper, but I tend to end up leaving it all until the last minute. BUT I do buy gifts for people early if I'm on holiday away etc and see something I know I won't get at home. Also I buy Christmas Cards ( for acquantainces )and Wrapping paper 1/2 price in the January sales. Get nicer paper and cards that way and costs less!

[4getmenot]

yer sometimes I have bday presents hidden away for months but only coz I've seen it and thought of them or was just a bargain price :-)

[laurence2]

so come on then,

who's going to use leftover xmas cards & paper from last year, this year. lol

The way some people go on about it, you would think their was a sell by date on the cards & xmas paper, people feel your tight for doing it, after all, xmas cards look the same year in year out.

And whilst i'm at it,
I bet we ALL buy the best cards for family &friends etc, and give the crappy ones {you know 100 in a box for 50p} to work colleagues

I do it

[natalie_1982]

I don't because I don't send Xmas cards (I give the money to chari-dee instead). And I don't use last year's wrapping paper, because it p*sses me off getting the way all the time and I end up binning it around February. Or using it to wrap Birthday presents when I have forgotten to buy paper!

[4getmenot]

I only use nice xmas birthday paper for family, for my mates I use old newspapers. And yes I will use any left over cards from past years, but only send cards in the post to people I don�t get to see.

[Hellion]

Very true Laurence lol! When I counted up all the work people 'politically' I should send a card to this year it was about 70!

So I'm doing this this year, because it's environmently friendly, cheap and less hassle!!

http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/ecards/index.php ?act=browse_cat&cat=1

[redcrx]

I always forget where i put last years unused cards until ive just given up and bought new ones.

Then i find the old ones, along with ones ive written the previous year and never given.

my boyfriend used to be more organised and had paper and cards in a cupboard in spare room and always knew where to find them. Of course, once i changed the room into a nursery that soon changed

[Agent_Smith]

my wife does all the shopping but on Xmas eve i will go into a mad panic and get the wife something from me and something from the kids!!!