Have you done your Christmas/holiday shopping? 🎄✨

[S.J.]

It's almost December, so I thought I'd see whether anyone has started (or finished) their shopping! Are you someone who shops early, or do you leave it until Christmas Eve? The same question goes if you craft your holiday gifts!

I've bought gifts for everyone I need to except one person, since I'm yet to figure out what they'd like! I also need to draw some Christmas gifts, so still a lot to work on there!

 

[Halloqueen]

Despite wanting to try to get Christmas shopping done earlier so that there's no rush, I usually end up a bit into December before really getting a lot of the shopping done. This year, I have some ideas for what I'm getting people and am still trying to come up with some ideas for others. Haven't started purchasing any yet though.

For local folks, I always get my shopping done before Christmas Eve though. Definitely don't want to cut it that close, latest I'd be willing to risk delivery is like 22nd or 23rd, but I usually schedule things to arrive prior to that. Regardless of when my shopping is done or how long I've had the packages sitting around delivered, I always wrap the gifts on Christmas Eve night or early Christmas morning around midnight. It's kind of a personal mini tradition and I like putting the gifts under the tree in the dark room lit up by the Christmas tree lights. Little things like that enhance my enjoyment of the holiday even more.

For longer distance friends and family, I try to get the things there early but still close to Christmas Day. Like hopefully it'll arrive to them around the 19th-23rd or so.

Any cookies I bake for long distance folks, I'll mail out by like the 16th or so, whatever the cutoff for the cheaper shipping method is with the post office. Again so it's close enough to the day, but also, so shipping cost isn't crazy.

This post is mostly to do with online shopping. I do enjoy getting out into the physical stores to look too, but I find that I don't find as many Christmas gifts for people from physical stores in recent years.

 

[lasagne_of_death]

I have some of it done? I bought all the stuff for the secret santa I'm doing with a group of friends, so I have that out of the way and prepared

I haven't actually thought of anything to get my family. I swear it's so hard to shop for them because half don't care about material items and the other I don't know well enough to have a clue of what to buy lol. I'll think of something eventually (hopefully). Might just do some art for them or light candles in the local church since they like that for the ones who don't want anything, and sweets for the others

Tbh I'm not really a Christmas shopping guy, like I love Christmas and all the traditions and lights wholly, but shopping has never been my thing despite loving giving gifts to people

 

[-Blue-]

Every year I say I will get a start on it so I don't end up doing it (not exactly last minute, but the last few weeks) so it's calm and not stressful, but it always approaches and I'm nowhere done. Something always happens that throws a wrench in those plans. Normally out of my control.

This year I got done almost all of it and it's not even December yet. I also started decorating earlier to and the lights are already up. Everyone always complains constantly when I decorate earlier than they would like, but they don't help, but still want it done, and it's always so tiring to try to do it during December among everything else that happens during that month. So this year I told them to stick it and did it my way. I've been enjoying it a lot!

I cut back on the amount of people I buy for and while it's kind of a boring gift I started getting gift cards for a handful of others. It's stress free and I don't have to waste time trying to figure out what they want only for them to be incredibly ungrateful anyway. It'd be different if they gave a list, but it's like pulling teeth. Now they can get what they want and it's quick and stress free for me.

I do like to make things for others during Christmas, but usually only for those that I know will be grateful. I would like to write a story for my penpal as we usually write stories for each other and it's a nice tradition.

I mostly enjoy the little things for Christmas now. Putting up and enjoying the lights, listening to Xmas music, baking cookies and sweets, going out to this homey rustic Christmas store and seeing all the handmade goodies, decorating inside, spending time with my sister. I don't really care for all the running around only to be tired and stressed lol.

I'm going to put up the tree today and tomorrow! I got a bunch of new things to put out and I'm excited for that lol

 

[Ginny Potter]

Honestly I got my Christmas decorations up in my room but unfortunately I cannot buy anyone things for Christmas as I have usually done. I have gotten my parents something but not the rest of my family. So I'm worried about that....

 

[azurill]

I started Christmas shopping a while ago. At the beginning of the month. Most of my gifts are for my mom. Her birthday is around Christmas so shop for her birthday as well. My nieces and nephews get money. Some of them really just want to do winter sports so we help to pay for them. The other two have more expensive tastes as they get older so they get money and snacks and can go pick out whatever they want. I just need to get something for my one aunt going to get my other aunt concert tickets so we can go together. Also something for my brother and his fiancée.

I am excited to decorate for Christmas just haven’t had the time. I am hoping to start on my day off Wednesday. Thankfully I start vacation on Friday so will have plenty of time to decorate then. I did decorate an advent calendar for Aurora . Just have to fill it.

 

[Licorice]

I am almost done with my shopping. Just need a few more stocking stuffers for my boyfriend. There aren't that many people I shop for. I only buy for my mom, my boyfriend, his mom, and my two pets have their own stocking.

 

[Seastar]

It never gets done until it's almost Christmas. Happens every year now. Plus, my birthday comes first.
My family doesn't even have the money for early shopping, anyway.

 

[Annika.]

Yeah, I get stuff once I get paid for November. I only struggle with gifts for my sister because she's super picky.

 

[ShawnFuzz]

This is the first year I have finished my gift shopping early! It's so nice to not stress out last minute!

 

[SkyKnight03]

I purchased two physical gifts so far.

Danganronpa is on sale for $1.00 on steam so I also purchased/gifted that game 4 times.

it's easy to run on low end computers and was a low stress thing to give. I'm still going to gift them something else phsyically but it's a nice extra present. Especially for one of them being an online friend who I wouldn't be able to gift a physical gift towards.

 

[pottercrossing]

No, I really need to get on that

I don't really buy a lot of gifts, though. I usually only buy for my parents, my boyfriend, and whoever's name I pull in the big friend group Secret Santa, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

 

[S.J.]

I finished all of my Christmas shopping yesterday (though some items are yet to be delivered)! I ended up going over budget, which is typical. The most fun gift I bought was probably a LoZ-themed, but accurately tuned, ceramic ocarina for a family member who likes both The Legend of Zelda and learning musical instruments.

 

[Ginny Potter]

For me, I typically do it last minute due to work. But unfortunately I can't get my whole family something for Christmas this year... I feel bad about it.. they'll get me gifts and I cannot give them. I did get my parents small gifts. It's the thought that counts. But considering I have a big family. Looks like I'll have to handmade gifts

 

[Aniko]

No and I already feel overwhelmed and stressed out.

 

[Dunquixote]

Nope. Haven’t been thinking of it at all. This month has been pretty rough with our water pipe breaking. I didn’t think we’d be able to do Christmas and considering my bad’s behavior (in general and last Christmas), I can’t say I’m looking forward to even opening presents around him. I know I need to start thinking about what to get everyone.

 

[Snowesque]

I did most of mine on Black Friday since I just happened to have off that day. I think I got all of the big items, now just mainly dialing in the stocking stuffers. I've mostly had to space things out due to low stock.

 

[-Blue-]

I think I got mine all done! I just need to wrap and get it altogether! I have this idea with homemade ornaments. So I need to go out and get some fake snow and figure out how to do it. I grew a variety of flowers this year, including forget-me-nots and then pressed them when the season was over. I want to put them in the ornaments, but I really don't have a solid plan lol.

 

[Giddy]

When it comes to gifts, it's really just me and my mum, and my cats at Christmas; so I don't have to stress too much.
Me and my mum also make lists months in advice, and we don't have to get everything on the list (Definitely since my mum's birthday is in sorta early Janurary, so I can get stuff for then too). So I was able to get most stuff in time already~
Sometimes, it's fun finding things that weren't on the list, or things I feel like she may like and find them online~

I also got a family friend a nice gift, basically over the years of celebrating stuff with them, I used my trusty camera to take loads of photos, and I never had the chance to give them to the family, until now. Got a photo album, printed them all out and seperated them since there's two families in each~

When it comes to food, I think my mum has got most things, but I also wanna grab some party food to eat either before or after Christmas dinner, already got some snacks etc.

And got some toys and treats for my cats already! I know there's like probably better deals nearer Christmas, but I find since most things I'd buy would be online, it be better to get them delivered before everyone else stresses the royal mail system out with all their parcels. The amount of lines of people with parcels is insane.

I don't think I would craft gifts per say, but I might plan on crafting my mum's christmas card. Just have to find ideas, and may look online for inspiration.
(Although I am painting a 'paint by numbers' present for my mum, though that might be a birthday present since I haven't finished yet)

 

[Dunquixote]

I’m just posting an update:

I ordered all the presents that I’m getting; I still need to go to the pet store to pick up some goodies for my girls late gotcha day/Christmas. All the gifts should be here in time for me to wrap and give at Christmas.