Christmas 2024 - what will you do differently ?

[mrsbyers]

So many posts last 48 hrs where family members have caused issues , presents have been either terrible or not received at all etc so I think we should commit to making changes to make things better next year.

We had a good Christmas luckily having decided to go out for a curry to change things up and not being in the raw stages of grief like last year , but I think
mine are not to waste money on advent calendars , between us we spent over £100 and my Degusta calendar was really disappointing.

No alcohol stuff like amaretto liqueurs : baileys etc - after one drink they’re just added to drinks cabinet and wasted

Going to stop buying presents for a couple of extended family members as the same things are exchanged each year and I get Thornton’s chocolates which I loathe

Go skiing. We normally ski over Christmas and don’t do presents. We had an at home Christmas this year with presents. Children said ‘things are nice but skiing is better’

I’m going to put an envelope with some cash in to cover a takeaway when I pack away the decorations this year.
Im just going to get a cheap chocolate advent calendar, this year I got the Joe and Sephs as a treat but I’m a bit disappointed.
I’ll be spending less next year, we are planning on a family trip to New York in November, so will have a smaller budget for food and presents.

I am going to suggest to my two adult DC that we don't bother with it next year. There is just the three of us. We all live alone but get together for Christmas Day; both of them are sometimes working on Christmas Day but didn't this year. I am retired. I am going to suggest we treat it as a normal day. No presents or decorations. No traditional "Christmas" food. Just food we really like with favourite treats. Go for a walk, watch films.

Usually we end up with leftover food that nobody wants to eat. There's loads of clearing up to do afterwards when we just want to relax.

When my DH died 16 years ago we decided to go away to Scotland for our first Christmas without him.

We stayed somewhere really rural. There was snow and fabulous walks. We took lovely M &S food with us (self catering). We had a train ride to the coast on Boxing Day. It was so relaxing. I would love to do something similar next Christmas and will be talking with them about it soon.

I say this every year but good grief, we have GOT to get an earlier start on the shopping and decorating! This last week was just a slog and it wasn't helped by the fact that I had to work over the weekend (we work every fourth weekend on a rota) and it was my year to work Christmas morning as well so Christmas afternoon was utterly insane.

Probably go to a restaurant for lunch. We always host, just 3 adults, no kids, but my health is making it more difficult, even though my husband does more than his fair share. I’ve been in bed since yesterday evening having overdone it in the organising and prep.

Try to get the shopping for presents completed earlier. Write proper messages in Christmas cards. Check tableware etc in advance of Christmas Day (!) Seriously considering a no-visitors Christmas Day although need to check with DH. Don't take dc to theatre/smart concerts. Don't plan too much for December weekends. Don't buy Bailey's (finally worked out it's that that makes me hugely bloated with a rock-hard 7 mo pregnant looking belly. Must be intolerant to something in it) Oh, and furoshiki. I'm tired of bins full of wrapping paper. Don't do the train ride. Do more outdoors days. Actually get to a church service. Don't be ill from Nov to Jan.

Don't have bubble and squeak on boxing day, I don't like it ( although I like corned beef hash, I think that's what I expect it to be like).

Start cooking a simple Christmas dinner at home again, we've been out the last 3 years but only the first year was worth it.

Buy the kids just a few gifts they want rather than all the usual extra bits that don't get a look in after being opened.

Not buy as many "Nibbles" and cake. So much gets frozen etc.

More of a plan on Christmas Day, few games etc. we have a tiny (lovely) family but felt like the day was a little "flat".

Send my Christmas cards earlier.

Not eat as much in December!

I’m not inviting anyone. If my adult children want to come here they can cook.

Our Christmas was about right this year.

I think it due to having Christmas away in a beautiful hotel abroad last year, Christmas markets, good food, spa baths, ice skating, etc etc.

This year we were excited to be at home with our adult DC’s, more enthusiastic, everything felt a bit more exciting and fresh.

Saying that I always think about ‘lessons learnt’ and correct them now, ready for next time This year a Christmas apron, bought two years ago when I realised I needed one. The year before a set of vintage meat forks and a sharp knife.

We are going to go out for lunch next year to have a bit of distraction in the day and not so many food leftovers Also a church service.
And we will add in a trip to the Boxing Day sales

Try not to book as many Christmas events, our whole December was insanely busy when school events, birthdays etc were added in too.

Also not go overboard on canapés, I overcatered and I'm not entirely sure anyone was that hungry for their dinner.

Thirdly book the taxi home for a bit earlier, we were at in laws and I was desperate to go home and put my pjs on by about 9.30.

Buy a smaller Turkey

I so wish I could cancel Christmas 2024 for the entire country

bloody waste of time and idiotic spending

I despise Christmas so much

Why, does the time of year trigger you or is it the consumerism?

Why should you get to inflict this on the whole country

Just don't celebrate it yourself.

I think I’d do most of it the same, I only buy for adult DC and my DM. We don’t go mad even though we could afford to. I bought a lot of easy to cook items for Christmas lunch and they worked well.

This was the year I changed things up after years of rushing round working right to the last minute and spending all day in the kitchen on the day so I finished work four days beforehand to be ready and for the first time ever we went out for Xmas dinner and my parents came.

It was absolutely amazing and I will never again cook Xmas dinner at home if I can help it.

I will however start wrapping and buying earlier because yet again I spent hours and hours wrapping as I kept putting it off

I will also be solving that problem by buying a lot less next year.

We already scaled it down this year but even more so next year as we want to save for a big holiday experience which is mega bucks so we all need to sacrifice for it

I would like to get my act together a bit earlier and actually sew the tree decoration sets I bought (I left it to late) and maybe make some homemade cards (I only send about 6 cards).
Maybe go to the Christingle service with Mother in Law (I'm not religious but it sounded nice).
But that's about it.
I've already learnt to art of only doing the parts I enjoy and am interested in.

I didn’t say I should get to. I said I wish I could.

It’s collective chaotic carnage in December. And i think it’s stupid and unproductive and it upsets a lot more people than it pleases.

Buy a nice set of bowls for the pudding so we don't have to go round scavenging cereal bowls and dip bowls for everyone

What worked really well was involving the teenagers in the food shop. They went and got the snacks they fancied and brought them all home in a wheely suitcase (like a downing street party). Completely saved me a job and they enjoyed it.

I'd be happy to do it all the same. I think I had it pretty much nailed this year.

I’d like to wrap things sooner. Although this would involve buying things sooner.

Other things this year have been due to external factors so can’t do anything about those.

I’ll vote for you!

I won't book for us to go away for a few days the week before Christmas. We had a lovely time with our DDs, but we missed out on several parties and we had to cram too much in when we got back. It all got too busy and hectic. Next year we're going to New York for a few days, but think we'll go at the very start of December.

I also won't buy our DDs quite so many presents, because it really was a bit over the top. I expect they'll leave about a third of their presents at home when they go back to university because they don't want so much stuff! Next year I'll probably spend the same but buy far fewer, far more expensive presents.