How early do you start preparing for Christmas?

[gritsar]

DH and I have gotten so lazy. I have a 7 1/2 ft. artificial tree and a ton of decorations, but we don't even bother to put it up unless we know that we will be seeing the GS for Christmas. We celebrate for the child, and that's about it. Not sure if DH has to work Christmas this year or not.

 

[mamawolf544]

I have a closet full of presents already. So my shopping has begun.

I decorate the day after Thanksgiving, that is how I was raised, and it all comes down Jan 1st.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

I've got a few things already because it's much easier to spred it out over time. But today we went to Big Lots and got a few new yard decorations. Our tradition here for decorating is the day after Thanksgiving we clean house and bring out the decorations. We spend that weekend decorating. And making presents... I'm going to make my inlaws a set of placemats and some coasters.

 

[lockedhearts]

After losing our son in 2002 , we went a few years, not even celebrating Christmas, it was way too hard. My niece and nephew are grown, BFF's girls are grown so doing anything for the "kids" was not even worth it.
Last year, after Christmas we were shopping and we found a White Pre-Lit tree, we bought it and then found a bunch of Blue and Silver Decorations, everything we got was less than $50 (tree and all) so this year, I guess on Thanksgiving, I will put up that tree and decorate. As far as shopping, I try to buy stuff all along, as it is more budget friendly. I am praising Wal-Mart for bringing back Lay-Away this year (HUbby wants a new camera

)

 

[Fierlin1182]

Quote:
Come down this way

Winter never really gets below ten degrees (C) during the day, and the days are nowhere near as short as they are in the northern hemisphere

Oh, and you'll be wide awake for Christmas with the barbecue

lockedhearts:

Say, who here uses a real tree, instead of an artificial one? We've always had artificial, I guess there's no way to get a great lumping pine tree into the middle of the city and up the stairs

 

[Rosaleen]

I knit several gifts throughout the year, Jars of jam have been made, some gifts have been purchased earlier ( to ease the $ crunch) and I plan to do a lot of baking.