A super-organised gran has already wrapped up her Christmas shopping – a whopping seven months before the big day.
Anna Andrews makes sure every present is sorted by the end of April each year after decades of planning like a pro.
The 54-year-old spreads the cost by picking up gifts throughout the year.
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And she sticks to a strict £800 budget for her three children and four grandchildren.
“I just want to make sure I don’t forget anyone and I have a big family,” Anna, from Birmingham, told What’s The Jam.
“I’ve being doing this for years and I love Christmas.
“We have a set budget otherwise you could spend more than you need.
“I don’t have a spreadsheet to keep track but I buy one or two things each month.
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“We ask our children if the grandchildren want anything specific or I tend to get things that are for their age range.
“I also just listen to what they’re talking about throughout the year.”
Her festive prep starts as early as the Boxing Day sales, where she snaps up discounted cards, wrapping paper and tags.
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Anna keeps her growing stash hidden around her home, with bags piled in her bedroom and more tucked away in an ottoman at the end of her bed.
She says being organised means she can avoid the last-minute shopping rush and focus on family time instead.
The customer assistant said: “Christmas is about family, not just presents.
“I don’t think it takes the magic out of Christmas, I just find it more calming and there’s still a lot to do around the Christmas period.
“Being organised means no rushing around last minute and worrying about items going out of stock.
“If I change my mind about what I’ve bought, I’ll swap who I’m giving it to and give it to my other daughter or a friend.”
Despite being nearly finished months in advance, Anna refuses to wrap a single present until 1 December 1, just in case she’s forgotten anyone and to make sure the grandkids get equal gifts.
The family sticks to tradition and takes it in turns to host a classic Christmas dinner.
Anna said: “My friends all say I’m so organised but that I spend too much.
“My kids think it’s a great idea but my husband thinks the pile in our room makes me look like a hoarder.”
Her early planning proved vital after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2022.
Anna had already sorted Christmas that year but spent much of 2023 undergoing major surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy while off work for nine months.
She added: “My advice is to just save a little every week or buy a gift and put it away and you’ll be surprised what you have by December.”
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