Having decided to purchase this for my daughter, I was disappointed that the subscription did not include this Christmas issue as an extra. Many other magazines appear to do this. As it is a gift, I thought that there would be some sort of gift card automacically sent to the recipient at Christmas but it is coming to me and I live abroad. Having ordered the 12 issues in October, I then found it quite confusing to make sure that the first issue was in the New Year and she didn't get the November one. Some other magazine subscriptions are definately easier and cheaper.