Anyone else started a Christmas 2019 list yet?

[vodkaanddietcokeplease]

I seem to do this every year

Started my list for next year already - some 'big' gift ideas related to gifts I've given this year/food shopping list with anything I'd forgotten added on and anything I didn't bother with taken off. List of people who's cards I need to buy etc

It feels nice to do it while it's all fresh in my mind!

[redexpat]

Are you a Girl Guide? You are very prepared!

[autumngazer]

I've just ordered some festive beauty gifts sets to be used for Christmas gifts next year. They were on offer at Amazon and I had kindly been given a gift card, there is nothing else I needed.

[FoddyWaddle]

I was given a new diary for christmas and it has a christmas organiser section. So last night iIwrote our food shopping list based on the foods that we enjoyed this year.

[JurassicGirl]

I usually make a list of what worked & what didn't over these few days.

I'm really pleased with what DH & I got the DC this year, a good mix of lovely but useful stuff (dressing gown, pjs, duvet set, bath stuff) that they love & toys that they were thrilled with & still playing with. Absolutely no tat & we only bought chocolate coins for the stockings & no other goodies as other people always do.

Their stockings had between 8-10 items & cost approx £30 in total which was much better than 20 items costing a total of £20 (which I did a few years ago)

Family presents I didn't get quite right although the recipients seemed pleased so will work on that.

Also I received some odd gifts as I couldn't think of any ideas to suggest so said surprise me (I'll think a bit harder next time lol)

I wish I had finished shopping earlier as I was a bit stressed in the last few days of the school term trying to fit everything in before the kids broke up from school.

Also wish I'd decluttered & sorted the kids rooms before Christmas so we had more space to put new things.

Christmas food was great but for next year I need more tubs for storing leftovers, ended up using the DC packed lunch boxes!

[CishAndFips]

Yes started my gift idea and budget list. Will be doing a schedule and days out list. I was so disorganised this year. I'm determined not to be the same next year.

[Philomensapie]

Nooooo! 😱

[vodkaanddietcokeplease]

So glad I'm not the only one!

Yes I've also got a few ideas of days out I'd like to do with the kids next year but I'm never organised enough. Have also decided to save £X every week to cover the cost of everything got a big holiday planned for October 2019 and don't want to be worrying about the financial side of Christmas when we get home!

[Southernmama]

Can I join in too please?
I have ordered my park and variety vouchers for next year (first time doing both but both were recommended to me by friends)
List of things I'd like to do with my children next year is on the go, both free and things we have to pay for.

This has been a horrible year mentally for me and I only realised how bad it was in the run up to Christmas when I had literally no interest in doing anything. I am determined that next year will be better.

[Titsywoo]

How can you know what presents someone will want a year in advance? Surely tastes change particularly with kids? I'm organised but this sounds mental to me - sorry 😁.

[Alanamackree]

I’ve had one for a while now
I buy gifts when I see them, year round, and I keep track of what I’m getting and who for on a list on my phone. If someone mentions something they like it goes on the list. If I have a gift already bought for someone in July, then I add gift notes and ideas to next year’s list.
It might sound bonkers but I’m rarely stuck for an idea for Christmas or birthdays.

I also keep track of key sales dates so I know when to watch out next year.

Yesterday I added in my observations of what worked and didn’t work. I won’t remember this next year because I have the memory of a goldfish

In a while I’ll distill this year’s list into a master list for next year.

I know lots of people deal with the stress of Christmas by not thinking about it until December. I prefer to spread it out and get as much done ahead as possible.

[Lolly34h]

I have 3 gifts already and enough wrapping paper for all the gifts I'll buy year round to wrap.
I have a list for my youngest daughter on my phone to work through
And I save £x of money each week as I have teenagers that like to get money instead of a big gift as they have the phones and gadgets they need already.
I'm determined to have Christmas done by early September.

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

I do buy ahead of time but haven't got any present ideas yet. Do buy birthday gifts for the first half of this year in the sales though.

For the first time I've made a list of things to remember based on what did and didn't work this year. We have at least got our food shop down to a fine art.

I doubt very much that we'll be hosting again next year so that should simplify things massively!

[vodkaanddietcokeplease]

@Titsywoo it's not a definitive list, just ideas. I have nothing wrote under the kids names, but think we'll get my SIL & BIL meal vouchers do have popped that on there. Same for my parents. My DH got a PS for Christmas so have wrote 'PS accessories' under his name - I'll have a look into those closer to the time.

@Alanamackree I'm the same, I can't deal with the stress all at once! DH & I usually buy a lot for a each other and the kids do well too, mainly because we don't all have much bought for us through the year so I like to splash out at Christmas. And it's much more manageable writing down ideas that I have from this Christmas while they're still floating about in my head!

This year I'm planning to save money on a supermarket card to cover the cost of the food shop too. We didn't spend a huge amount this year but I had found myself wondering how much it would be in the few days running up to it, would be nice to know that's paid for in advance.

[CishAndFips]

I wrote all my lists into a new notebook after seeing this thread last night. I'm really hoping that this thread keeps going. I need you all to keep Me on track and organised.

[Pinkroseuk]

Yes I do this too! I will also go out and buy all family birthday presents today in the sales (al bdays are in Feb or March) to save some pennies. Christmas shopping will start if I see something else that's a mega bargain too-
I always write down lists of what food I bought and try to judge how many people we had each day and if anything was left over so I don't overbuy next year too as I hate food waste!

[TheRebelHedgehog]

Christmas is not all stressful if you plan in advance. Absolutely Everything apart from the Christmas food shop is all done and dusted by November 30th. Can relax and enjoy advent thereafter

[UserMe18]

No! I love Christmas as much as the next person but I don't live for it, I love getting the decorations down and a "fresh start" for the new year. I like to plan for Christmas but there would be no joy in doing so in January, sept/Oct onwards and I still manage to get it done by December and enjoy it.

[vodkaanddietcokeplease]

Ah I'm so glad I'm not along 

@UserMe18 it's honestly not something that gets thought about constantly, just a little kick start! I won't think about my food shopping now until I do my online order in November, and won't have to wonder what went down well or what I forgot this year because it's already written down I also do what a PP said and write down anything people have mentioned, means I rarely struggle to think of something they'd like for birthdays and Christmas. I work in retail so have very little headspace for my own Christmas from September onwards.

[lucysmam]

Yep, me!

I've written a "master" list of food & drinks I bought. I'll add to/take away from over the next day or two although we waste little anyway but I over-bought a few bits this year.

One for stocking fillers, and one for advent calendar fillers, I'll fill those as I buy bits so I don't over-buy and the girls have the same-ish number of stocking fillers.

I have a small list of bike-related things so I'm never stuck for gifts for the girls' dad.

I also include a small list for dd2's birthday (tomorrow). There was one year when I didn't forget as such but it snuck up on me & I ended up having to dash to town for some gifts in between Christmas and her birthday which wasn't fun.

One thing I do need to do is think about other people's gifts a little earlier. One person's were bought in a bit of a hurry & I always struggle for something for my dad.

I have a couple of other lists too - what to prep Christmas eve, baking I like to do along with recipes.

User, it's not something I think about constantly, but I like to be organised and doing it this way saves me feeling like there's loads to do and not enough time to do it. Or feeling like I have to think too much about it, I can just tick odd things off here and there as I go.

[vodkaanddietcokeplease]

@lucysmam very organised, I'm impressed if you don't mind me asking, what's on your Christmas Eve prep list? Or mostly just food?
I always feel like I'd like to do nice things on Christmas Eve (usually just leave the box out with pyjamas in) but in reality I work so it always feels a bit rushed when I get home.

[MeetOnTheSIedge]

I won't be doing any sort of present list/present shopping till about November but I have made some notes regarding food buying and quantities, I keep notes and recipes in a folder that comes out around November when I start seeing new recipes in magazines that I might want to try.

[CishAndFips]

Vodka I also feel like I should make Christmas eve more magical. I will be following for ideas. This year I took DC's to the crib service we came back had tea and the Christmas eve box. The plan had been to then sit down with hot chocolate and watch a Christmas film. We were a bit disorganised though everything took longer than we thought and by the time we got round to the film DC'S were tired and we managed 20 mins before they went to bed.

[MeetOnTheSIedge]

We never really manage the hot chocolate and Christmas movie thing, too much to do and the DCs get restless with excitement (even as young teens now). We tried the Christmas Eve box one year but no one was really interested, however we do get out Christmas DVDs, mugs, teatowels and bedding at the beginning of December. Now we peel and prepare veg, put out mince pies etc for Santa and stockings, maybe go for a short walk after dark to see the lights and prepare cinnamon buns ready to pop in the oven first thing on Christmas Day.

[duckling84]

Me 🙋‍♀️
For the poster who says about what do you know what they will like - well my ds1 has had the same things on his list for the last 6yrs - lego and PlayStation games. I'm sure that won't change. Plus things like board games aren't particularly related to latest fad so can be planned in advance.
Plus dh has said for years how much he'd like a model village so I've already bought him his first lemax house in the sales, ready to start his village next year.

[lucysmam]

@vodkaanddietcokeplease it's mainly food related. But also includes to check if the ISS will be visible, as it has been some years (it's been Santa checking folks are doing as they should when we have seen it); and the time/channel The Snowman is on. We all stop whatever we're doing to watch it every year.

Christmas eve is always a relaxed day here, I have my panic that there's not enough (always is) about a week before .