Talk about being prepared.
While the rest of us is still basking in that ‘not even sure what day it is’ glow of Christmas and Twixmas, some are busy planning for next Christmas already.
Yep – it’s true.
Writing in the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group, Gemma Chamberlain, from Leicestershire, revealed she managed to get everything ready for Christmas 2022 – just two days after Christmas 2021.
In a post shared to the social media group, Chamberlain explains she took advantage of all the post-Christmas sales that kicked off on Boxing Day, and managed to get all her Christmas shopping for next year done and out of the way – almost a full year in advance.
In an image, she prudent mum shared her haul of toiletries, games, toys and clothes that she picked up in the sales, and explained that the whole lot cost her just £176 -a saving of more than 50 percent if she were to buy these items at full retail price.
And not only did Chamberlain manage to get all her shopping done and dusted – she has also already wrapped the gifts – meaning she is pretty much ready for Christmas 2022 while the rest of us are still picking pine needles out of the carpet from this festive season.
Sharing a snap of the presents beautifully wrapped, the UK-based mum explained how much she saved by shopping in the Boxing Day sales:
“Boots half-price sale and Tesco clothes and club card bargains (Boots was £176 total savings £178 so actually saved more than I spent) all wrapped and ready for next year.”
Naturally, people were amazed and impressed with Chamberlain’s efforts, and the post quickly racked up thousands of likes and comments.
“I definitely need to do this,” one person wrote.
“Your Christmas photos were rather impressive, makes me want to definitely start early.”
Another one admitted:
‘To be fair I did this last year for this and it took the stress out of the busyness of Christmas. I didn’t wrap them though. I have got some great bargains for next year. It is a great way to save with the great bargains.”
Other people admitted they also shop gifts in the sale, but don’t necessarily keep them all for Christmas.
“I buy sale stuff every year, put them in the ottoman at the bottom of my bed and we use them as gifts throughout the year. We do buy with certain people in mind. We always have a present on hand in an emergency.”
Takes away from the magic of Christmas
Some followers were not so keen on the idea, however, saying it seems to take away some of the real festive magic of shopping at Christmas time.
“This isn’t for me. I like the shopping experience at Christmas time, the dark evenings with the lights, decorations, Santa etc and the whole seasonal buzz,” one person wrote.
Another one said:
“I personally feel that I can save as much money by shopping around, trawling the internet etc much closer to the time. But if this is what works for you and most importantly if it saves you a fortune then well done. You are just right.”
A third one explained:
“I don’t rush out to the sales. Christmas is what I class as family time, especially with the last two years the country has had. I tend to buy throughout the year, as there’s always a sale on somewhere. It does help us doing it like this as we have 11 grandchildren, six children and their partners to buy for before we start on parents etc. But I don’t begrudge anyone for going out and grabbing a bargain when they can. We all like to save a few pennies when we can.”
