Merry Xmas 2024

No small children and my grandchildren don't want toys.
But I'm part way through buying and planning I let everybody choose their own presents these days it's much easier.

Although I've seen a Grinch T-shirt that will suit my husband down to the ground!

I haven't even started yet but soon will. As far as buying toys, I will for my husband. He wants a Bugatti and since I can't buy him a real one, I will buy a toy one.

They still are but I have to admit that is quite striking. 

I've started buying for the kids, and I'll gather supplies for a few local gifts to be homemade. Two of my sisters live out of town, so I'll probably give them gift cards or order chocolate to be sent to them.

And I just bought my Jacquie Lawson advent calendar for the year. I sent my bestie the same while I was ordering.

Thanks

I've started my Christmas shopping in September/October time.

I am being very organized this year. Rather than do the Christmas shopping in one go I buy a few presents here and there. It certainly takes the pressure off.

Both should be popular.

I dont get the stress and panic that gift buying causes. Either ask the person what they want take the easy option of cash or use your sense to see what they need.

Ive had so many awful gifts , normally perfume, bath products, or woolly scarfs even after I tell people I cant use them. I normally say donate to charity please when people ask what I want. 

LOL @ the spirit of xmas.     

I bought something extra for my little family today. I'd forgotten I was on a waitlist for a souvenir item, but today I bought one for each of us. (Just in case, I won't say exactly what it is, and then none of my kids will see before Christmas. I'll tell you all later!)

I also picked up chocolates for us and for my parents, a specific brand we had growing up. Then later, I saw my favourite shortbread cookies. I'm going to end up with a Christmas food stash...

Finished shopping for the kids! I thought of one clothing item they might all enjoy having, so they each have a different colour and appropriate sizes. Yay!

I think for local family and a friend (who's close to a sister) I'll do a small box of chocolate and a box of my favourite shortbread cookies as well. Then I could write a Christmas story for all to read as well, though that can be emailed.

The two sisters out of town will either get chocolate sent to them thanks to Amazon, or gift cards by email. (Giving a woman shopping money is a good plan! LOL)

And I'll fetch Christmas cards purchased last year from their spot in storage, and decide how many I want to do this year. Sometimes it's mostly penpals, relatives across the country, and a few that sent to me in past years, just so that I don't find it tiring or stressful. My mum used to have a long list or relatives and friends to send to, but eventually she also roped her girls into helping with the task. I choose to use the cards as a way to reach out to folks who are special to me, but since many never write or send anything back, it's definitely not a social obligation for me (and I think it was for my mum as I was growing up).

Not helped by postal costs either. I have quite a stack though and so the few I send, I already have.

The way postage is going ever more expensive and unreliable I wonder if traditional post will fade altogether as people get sick of paying for things that are never delivered.