...To ask if anyone else is a month behind with Christmas prep?

I have some gifts, a frozen turkey, an order in at the butcher, but no tree or decs. We usually do those a week before Christmas, anyway. I have a lot of other food still to buy, and also I haven't done anything in advance for the freezer this year. I have a cake, but it's not yet decorated. There'll be 8 of us, but I'm reminding myself that other people can help!

I'm not hosting this year for the first time in years and have utterly taken my foot off the gas. Tree and decorations are up but I haven't bought a single present. Only need to get kids, h, family secret Santa but still. I'm usually done and wrapped by end November.

As someone who normally is so ahead of it I shop in July sales, craft presents, write cards on business trips, ...and have everything done to relax in December...I am in a bad place.

I have bought decorations, and lights, (now location and couldn't bring my own from home) but haven't yet got a tree.

I have bought cards but not written any yet - last posting day for getting back home is early next week.

No turkey ordered - I am hoping it's easy to get in local supermarkets. Because my family is coming to me.

I've been away for 4 days and this week has become manic, so no cleaning or laundry done. And tomorrow and early next week are just as manic! I also need to do an ordinary food shop and get the Christmas treats as well.

I have presents bought for half the people, but I need to get the rest on Saturday and post them on Monday. Shops don't open here on Sundays normally (and I've agreed to get a driving lesson from a friend here on Sunday as I need to get driving here).

I've only come home to get changed to go out again tonight. I have another evening event on Tuesday. But I think that's mostly it. Work should (I sincerely hope!!!) slow down next Thursday - but it doesn't actually stop until late on Monday week.

I can see myself not sleeping a lot next week to be ready for arrivals on 22nd and 23rd.

Christmas is very little fuss for me to be honest. There is no extended family. I am an only child, single and have one teenage DS. We will be going to my mum's house who is also single and lives alone, will be just the 3 of us. I never host here, I live in a small flat and there's no room.

DS is having a new gaming chair for Christmas which is already delivered and I have bought my mum perfume and gin. There is nobody else I buy gifts for.

Just need to pick up a turkey which I'll do next week.

Every year I'm all behind with Xmas prep. DH retired in September and this is the first year ever my tree has been up the first week in December and my outside Xmas lights were one of the first to go up. We were usually the last and one year they didn't get up until the day before Xmas Eve. I've bought most of my presents except for one adult DS who has not really told me what he wants in his stocking yet. He said he'll send links this weekend.

My parents used to decorate / get the tree etc on Xmas eve.

i am also very behind! But I remember how exciting it was to leave it all to the last minute as a child!

I'm always behind. I've got my DSs main gift and that's it. I've also got this bug/flu thing and we are still remodelling.

I plan to hopefully see the city centre lights, get the food, get some extra bits for him, send my DSD some money, put some lights up, get some candles and that's it! We are only here for one of the days. I'm not buying for anyone else as we are doing experiences in the new year.

I'm only off for 2 days. I want it to be as relaxed as possible. I've had a really rough half year. Next year I hope to do more chrisymassy stuff.

Yes, I am. I've had flu for two weeks and was away for ten days before that. House not tidied or cleaned, no decs up at all. Some presents bought but definitely not all. Some food bought and prepped but loads still to do. I have a busy work schedule until 20th so if DH who is retired doesn't do the bulk of it, it just won't happen. I am too busy and knackered to do it all this year.

We all know that you are just going to have a cup of tea and watch Masterchef!

We have loads of guests but they all bring something. 1 in charge of starters another in charge of sweets etc

I’ve written a Christmas card list and booked a Waitrose food delivery date ( not filled it yet ) - guess that’ll count as behind .

Relax there are still 2 weeks until Christmas Day!
Our tree isn't going up until this weekend because we don't like it up too early.
Set aside an evening to buying all your presents online in one go.
Same with food, write a list and if you can find one book an online or click and collect slot so it saves you some time.
Christmas is often an anticlimax if you plan too much, you don't need a lot of the stuff.

This is the thread for me. Normally I can be found over on the Ponceastic or Nigel Slater Christmas threads. Not this year.

Tree is up but it has not been fluffed or decorated. I have decided I actually like it with just the pre lit lights on.

Outside lights not up and won’t be going up either.

House is dusty, loads of unfinished diy and decorating to do.

No presents bought and no ideas about what to buy. I am waiting for inspiration to strike. Children are adults really so no real pressure. Cash transfers always acceptable for my lot but I usually like to do a few gifts and stockings. I very nearly didn’t bother with the advent calendar this year either but it would have been the first time in 34 years it hadn’t been hung up and I am more superstitious than lazy.

I do have an online food delivery booked for the 23rd so all is not lost.

I'm the same! Nothing yet - no tree no presents. My children are all adults and one will be with his girlfriend's family for Christmas and Boxing Day so only four of us for Christmas lunch.
I suppose I should get a move on

This is similar to how I operate. I'm useless without a detailed list.

I've been unexpectedly in hospital for a few days and with no end in sight, stressful at the best of times, even worse at Christmas.

But my system means I'm not too far behind, I'm compos mentis enough for admin tasks like ordering last bits and writing cards, and the list is shared with DH so he can cover the rest of the essentials. And we just need to accept we need to cut a few corners - but as long as I'm home, that makes it perfect!

Yes! Hence my username 🫠

I have so much to do

I've just been reading a guide in a newspaper about how to make wreaths and hang up decorations from rolled up chicken wire....and thought...no, that's stuff I don't need to do....

Tree can go up whenever. Other decorations are not needed. Presents can be bought online in an evening if you are in a real hurry (and maybe talk about cutting down,SS or no gifts for adults next year?). Can you do a quick clean at the last minute in the evening while listening to some podcasts.

Hosting wise, I think dumping hosting responsibilities last-minute on working parents is a bit shit; if I couldn't back out of it, I'd be sending round a nice but firm email explaining that it's going to be pretty minimal due to business and work commitments, and that everyone's going to have to do some of the work and wait on themselves. And I'd be assigning all guests some tasks to do and some dishes etc. to bring.

I could have written this post! nice to see I'm not alone, we've got this!

My priorty list is:

• get the food ordered
• at least one thing for everyone to unwrap. I've got a list of what's ordered and tick it off and chucking it in a box as it arrives. Wrapping I'll do at night
• getting tree and decs up this weekend
• Low lights and hope no one can see the filth and mess. drape tinsel on the piles of laundry

Sorry to hear so many of us are struggling. This year is the year of gift cards / vouchers. Christmas dinner I am trying to make as easy as possible by going via the m&s / cook route. Tree is up.

I'm massively behind, but tbh I always am and I don't really care. As @Maddy70 says, it's just a Sunday roast with a few presents. I'll write a few cards today and we'll probably decorate the tree this afternoon. It's up and dropping needles all over the floor, but the DC want to do it so I'm leaving it for them. I do the lights though, which is the worst job, and I need to do that.