Are you shopping earlier than usual?

[ohgillian]

I am shopping earlier than usual this year - trying to get my DD's November bday, and Hanukkah/Christmas, done by early November. I'm just nervous about shipping delays and things being out of stock. I'm not sure this concern is based in any reality. But I NEVER shop this early and this year I feel worried about getting it done early. Wondering if I'm alone in this. 

[Susie]

I started early this year. Combination of being home with less places to go, so I'm just getting to it earlier, and being aware that I can't count on Prime to bail me out on December 20+ this year.

So far I've started working on the family calendars from Shutterfly, bought a couple of Christmas ornaments (I buy the kids their Halloween costume character in ornament form each year), and things like that.  I've also started flipping through holiday cards because I think can order them early.  I'm going with a photo taken on Christmas morning last year, rather than getting new pics taken.  While it'll only be about a month more recent than the pro pics I had done last November and used on last year's cards, at least it's different lol.  And a pic of us in pj's seems about 2020-right.

I have a next-size-up Patagonia down sweater and matching hat in the closet that I'll probably give DD for her November bday.  I think she'll need it sooner than later anyway.  I bought that during the sale last spring so I guess that was really early, lol.

[CloudBee]

Yes. We could consider ourselves done now and have a reasonable number of gifts under the tree for DS. I always shop early, but don't usually wrap things up in October. We had a really hard time getting our hands on items a few months ago via mail and local delivery. We've been using grocery delivery exclusively, and I struggled to get incontinence supplies for MIL delivered within a week through Instacart. Amazon? Forget about it. We now have mass amounts of supplies for her in our garage. I don't want to have something else to stress about in Nov/Dec, so we went ahead last week and ordered most of DS's gifts.

This might be the last year DS (7) believes in Santa. With all of the disappointments this year has brought, I'm happy we've gotten ahead on Christmas shopping. We can't see family out of state, and MIL's assisted living facility has already told us they will likely be going into lockdown again soon. With FIL having passed, we're looking at it being just the 3 of us this Christmas. I really want it to be special for DS.

Honestly, it's probably better for the mail system that whoever can order now, goes ahead and does so. (For ordered items, not for in-person shopping.) The mail service is still over-burdened. Imagine how swamped they will be in Nov/Dec.

[macmars45]

Yes but mostly because we're set to move into our new house in the middle of December plus H's birthday is the beginning of December. Add in COVID and it only makes sense. FWIW, in a normal year I'm done with Christmas shopping by the very beginning of December because H's birthday spurs me on.

[cricketwife]

Yes and no. I’ve always shopped early, usually starting in the summer with the target toy clearance. But it used to be fun or I was out and I found a great deal so I got it. This year, it’s been a deliberate decision to buy early for FOMO. I bought a Switch in August after stalking restocks because I really wanted to get one for xmas and there seemed to be a shortage. And I paid full price. That never would have been me in the past. I’ve continued to pick up things on my list in the last couple of months. A week or so ago, I ordered a Playmobil set from Amazon and it has an expected arrival date of Nov 6-26. One, that’s a long time post ordering, and to, that’s a huge window. Also, anecdotally, I ordered the Wild Kratts game on a Sept 30 and it just arrived Saturday -18 days later. It made me realize that I need to get all my shopping done by the end of this month. And usually, I’m pretty much done by this time anyway, but there’s a more deliberate effort this year to do it ALL , like even the little xmas ornaments for the stockings and stuff.

[turkletsmom]

Yes- I usually start early but I'm probably 75% done with the kids which is really early for me. I got most of it from prime day/target last week, so that's the big reason. In the last 4-6 weeks I've had amazon lose 3 or 4 shipments that by the time I got the replacements were a few weeks from order time. I'll save little easy to get things, stocking stuffers, clothes, etc for later but I like knowing the big "wants" are done for the most part.
At this point we might just put the tree up after Halloween and go all in LOL

[abs]

Yes but with DD having a November birthday I always start early. DH is almost done, too, though so that’s new. Usually I struggle big time shopping for him.

[pandorica]

Well, I've had DDs big gift for months because I saw it on sale (play kitchen). I would love to finish her stuff early, but I need to leave some things for family to get her and I'm sure they won't be able to decide this early.

My brain just feels wiped this year, and as much as I want to get gifts done early it seems like a lot of work. And I don't know what to get most of the people on my list.

[sent]

Yes because I've been on a "check things off the list" kick and bought stuff from Target last week. DD has a December birthday so I've got that too. DD still hasn't come up with her Santa gift or anything in particular, but I think I'm otherwise almost done. I still want to get some Legos but since those weren't on sale, I'm waiting to see if I can get a bigger cash back from Rakuten or something. 

Next on my list is "Christmas cards." I'm even going to do a custom Advent calendar this year for DD. Like with handwritten clues about what's in each drawer with holiday colors and paper. For the first time since DD was born so 7 years, I am on a roll to make the holidays warm and fun. 

[erbear]

Just the opposite. I can't get it up for anything. Halloween is next week and no one in my house has costumes. Christmas may be a non-event this year.

[redpenmama]

I always start early, so I'm getting a head start as usual. I have a handful of gifts for each kid, with the bigger items taken care of. H and DS also have December birthdays, which is what prompts me to get moving early.

[tcu2003]

A little earlier, but more so on my kids than every else I will need to buy kids for. I ordered DS (8yo) several Harry Potter Lego sets this summer, so his big gift is done. I ordered DD (4yo) a couple of toys last week during Prime Day, but not sure what else to get her.

I have yet to start on any of the nieces and nephews.

[tarajane]

I'm shopping now but I always start early.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Yes and no for me as well. I usually shop for my kids as they come up with ideas, but this year I am more ahead than usual and think I am pretty much completely done for them unless they come up with something else they REALLY want (and stocking stuffers which I always get whenever I see anything little they might like).
But for family, I still haven't started yet, because the main people we buy for use Elfster to do a grab bag for extended family, and everyone tends to make 'wish lists' once the names are selected on Thanksgiving. I lament this pretty much every year because it means I can't shop any black friday deals for family. So we will buy for MIL and FIL, SIL and her dh, BIL, SIL and their 2 kids, and our grab bag person. And none of those people have anything on their wish lists yet.

[ssmjlm]

I always start early. I think the plan will be to finish early just to be done with having to order/run to the store.

I need to get my kid's final list. She is all over the place this year.

[1yeartogo]

Seeing how inconsistent the mail/delivery has been I definitely think anyone who waits until 2 weeks before Christmas will be disappointed. I’m hoping to get done early but I’m sure I’ll have last minute things I need to do. I’m also very worried that the covid spikes we are seeing may be very bad come December and then I definitely would not want to be out shopping in stores for the kids.

[nicolewi]

Yes, but mostly b/c of Prime Day at this point. I am trying to wrap up earlier in December than usual, though. I'm hoping Black Friday will be my next big day, and that I will wrap things up earlier than usual. I'm usually still watching some items and shopping mid-December.

[Dznyprnces]

I’m about where I usually am this time of year. My goal is always to be done by thanksgiving, and I usually am. I have to mail most of our gifts (we do not live near any family) and I like to do that the first weekend in December.

[tiptoetulips]

I’m just about done. I mostly did this for budget reasons. Last year was out of control. Dd1 also has a December birthday which makes things tricky. We have 9 kids to buy for between ours and nieces and nephews. Plus 6/9 have winter birthdays so it adds up quick.