Christmas 2026…. What would you do the same or different next year?

[Darker]

I had a good Christmas but I got very stressed in the lead up because everyone was trying to be flexible (for the right reasons) so I felt a bit taken for granted. I’m having a difficult time at the moment so perhaps a bit sensitive.

Then for a completely unexpected reason we had to change plans at the last minute and everyone was brilliant.

Next year I am going to be more proactive about asking people to take on little bits of the responsibility for planning and doing because I think it’s just a lot more fun when it’s shared.

This is the second year in a row I've been away with dp over Christmas. Last year cruise, this year train trip across Eastern Europe.

I've already told him I'm not doing it next year. While I don't have any Christmas traditions really, I do kind of miss it.

The problem is, we can't have a summer holiday (well, he can't, I go away without him) so it's the only time we get to go away.

I'm thinking next year we head off on 27th for a short trip. Maybe over NY.

I am going to splurge and buy a ready cooked Christmas dinner. I'm getting tired of doing the cooking every year and it's making my arthritis worse. So 2026 I am not cooking the Christmas dinner 😁 new year resolution that I will be definitely sticking to

Moving our Christmas Day to Boxing Day as two of our daughters are obliged to visit the in-laws as well, one set of whom refuses to even contemplate doing Christmas Day one year, Boxing Day the next, so we just going to move it, less stress for them, more time for their kids to do what kids want to do rather than having to go to two grandparents houses on same day(we have suggested they go to neither and just spend the day at home)

Not stay with relatives, some you don’t know very well, who obviously don’t want you there. Leaving today and I can’t fucking wait. To say it’s “been tense” is an understatement.

To change up Christmas Eve dinner, we always have a buffet (party food, etc), always loads of leftovers and frankly, fed up with doing it after 10 years.

like this year, i'll give all the people who have given me joy this year a token gift, ..the lovely seikh shop keeper, the old man who waves to me everyday (and his miserable neighbour who bless him is old and lonely), the local dog walkers who always stop for a chat, the postie and the tesco delivery person who brings my xmas shop

Fortunately I made notes in my iPhone after Christmas 2024 about what not to buy/do at Christmas 2025. So this year our food bill was reduced, got the exact right sized turkey, cut down on “party food” that gets put in the freezer. And brought out on a random day in the summer when it’s too hot and I can’t be bothered to cook, so we are sat in the garden eating tempura prawns in batter etc. for tea.
Also make notes of what I buy for who etc. and where all the left over cards and wrapping paper are hidden so I don’t go out and buy new.
Last January I started saving £20 a month on an M&S Gift Card and added other gift card bonuses from work to the pot during the year, so had £395 to spend in December on food in M&S.
After all that, next year I will be abroad.

@ShadesmarBead absolutely agree re Nigella’s Mac and cheese-love the taste but the recipie is too dry

I will not be inviting my family again because they are incapable of behaving or having any consideration for the money and effort put in.

Not going to DH's family next year either, because they also have their own issues with the nephews (aged 10/8) who scream/shout/fight/throw things/hit the elderly relatives all day and don't sit down to eat xmas dinner which leaves DH raging all day with their behaviour (not ND, just never told 'no').

Saying no to things I don't want to go to.

Plan to have just the day for our little family unit to do what we want, when we want.

Ooo Lidl roast potatoes sound like they are worth a try... Tell me more please.

We often just have pigs in blankets and no main meat on Sundays through the year 💗

I will:

• prep as much in advance
• finish present buying and wrapping before the Guide Christmas sale
• buy a similar sized turkey, but fresh, remove giblets, then freeze it
• not make the stuffing in the blender

I have made notes in my phone as I have a Christmas food list so I've written down what worked well and what didn't get eaten so not to bother with next year.

My main lesson for next year is not to bother making desserts. I made a Christmas cake and a trifle and they just don't get eaten much as everyone is too full. Next year I think I'm just going to buy a yule log and serve with a bowl of berries and some cream and be done with it. It'll be far cheaper and easier.

Doing a very simple cheeseboard worked well. I love cheese so can be guilty of going totally overboard and buying lots of little wedges but this year I pared it right back and just bought big pieces of three cheeses (stilton, brie and a cheddar) and most of it went.

I have bought too many snacks and bottles of wine and fizz. It's hard when hosting as I don't want to run out of items and want to make sure I've got enough for everyone to eat and drink. But our guests have all gone home now and I'm left with multiple bags of crisps and bottles of prosecco. They don't go off though and will get used up so it's not a disaster.

We pared back presents and cards this year and that worked well. I wrote five Christmas cards and posted them, all to people that we haven't been able to see over Christmas and that I know will appreciate them and it was so much easier. I don't need to give friends that I'm seeing throughout December a Christmas card.

We also bought fewer presents for DDs and it still felt lovely and they were happy with what they got. We did stockings from Father Christmas and then four or five gifts wrapped under the tree each and it was plenty and hadn't cost us a fortune.

I need to spend less money next year. I budget and save throughout the year but because the cost of everything has gone through the roof, I’ve overspent massively. I don’t really want to spend more than I’m budgeting as it already seems an obscene amount of money for one day, plus a couple of activities either side.

I also am not going to work Christmas Eve next year, I don’t want that kind of negativity in my life and leaking into Christmas again!

Sending Christmas cards was impossible this year. Local post boxes sealed up. Couldn’t get into town to main post office. Next year I’m going to set a date in late November and Moonpig the whole lot.

Going to use the Giftster app and make a list. This year I bought my own gift from DH and wrapped it myself. We made a joke of it making husband guess what he had bought me and everyone else for that matter.

I’m going to avoid people for about a week before Christmas as going down with a cold on 23rd was rubbish .

Will continue to have the family meal and presents Christmas Eve it just works better for us.

Will manage my mum better next year. Use the carers to find everything she wants in the house before we arrive.

In an ideal world I’d go on holiday somewhere warm over Christmas but work restrictions stop that happening.

Didn’t send one Chriatmas card this year. If people are in my life I will text and message anyway. If they’re not I don’t see the point of a card. DH has an au tied that literally send a a card every year saying ‘from aunti name’ and then we hear nothing all year. We used to write a little paragraph about our DC but there doesn’t appear to be any interest in a relationship so we don’t now. It’s so expensive now to post.

I have a stollen and a box of mince pies in the cupboard untouched. I feel like I have to have them in but nobody wants it.

We always have Christmas with extended family which I really like, so keep that the same. Dad and I cooked, which meant I spent quite a bit of time away from DD. I would suggest either going out to eat or insist that we cook the turkey in advance and use pre-made roast potatoes so cooking is more like 40 mins rather than hours of faff!

To not buy so many bits of unfreezable ‘party food’, dips and salads in tubs that needs eating by the 27th/28th December.

Last year was great as we went on holiday on 27th December so I didn’t buy anything that either wouldn’t freeze, or that I wouldn’t want hanging around when we came back mid-January.

@catontheironingboard
I’m totally with you on your new present-plans for next year. I swapped to no-fuss when my parents were unwell a few years back and just didn’t have the headspace for the normal buying and wrapping, realised that the world didn’t end, so I’ve stayed with it. Minimal fuss all the way.

@Negroany
I wholly recommend a trip away from the 27th December. We did this several years when DS was younger, and again last year.

I don't have kids, and DP's daughter is in her twenties and works away a lot, so it kind of depends on her.

But 27th to 2nd, depending how the days fall, seems doable. We could probably do another cruise, though I don't like them much plus I get seasick, and over NY there'd be all the silly black tie nonsense. But we get a really good discount which actually makes them good value.

I liked it when I was on my own and just had a pork chop, stayed in my PJs and watched TV all day!

Why not put them in the food bank today so that someone else might have the chance enjoy them over the rest of the Christmas holidays?

Good for you. It all seems like a collective madness. I've never even heard of Christmas Eve breakfast. Why? What on earth does it consist of?

Something else that has really worked over the last few years is cutting down on presents between me and DH, and encouraging family to get us less and stick to consumables as much as possible. We do use Giftster with our siblings and parents which saves a lot of of hassle when sorting their gifts, especially making sure we’ve got the right sizes and colours.

It feels much less overwhelming and I’m genuinely so pleased with all the things that were thoughtfully chosen and that we’ll actually use.

I will accept that my children are no longer the age to find Christmas as magical as I want them too. I won't be leaving the house and will absolutely not be agreeing to any plans without asking the kids if they want to do it because all the things they loved when they were little now just earn me an eye roll and them fighting and bickering! Next year will be all about slowing down and just enjoying being together, in our pyjamas, at home!

Good shout. What age are they? Mine are now 21 and 25 so have been through that. It gets better. We have come away to an Air bnb for a couple of nights, playing cards and walks etc and it’s lovely to hear them say ‘Hey we will get dinner tonight!’ Finally!!! 😂😂😂