To ask your best tips to make Christmas easy and stres free?

[Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar]

What do you do in the run up to Christmas to make it easier for yourself?

If I see something during the year and this "oh X will like that", I buy it - assuming that it isn't perishables. I also have a Word document that I paste links into if I spot something and don't want to buy on the spot. For nieces /nephews that are all over 16, they get a small present to open and an envelope with some cash as the main part of the gift, which they seem to appreciate a lot. Partner and I spend a max of £50 on each other.

Xmas dinner is M&S/Waitrose, whichever has the thing that looks the nicest.

I've found that taking a day off a few days/week or so before Xmas works well, as it enables purchase of last minute things. This worked very well when my kids were of school age as it meant a day when they weren't around.

I don't start thinking about it in September, that's for sure. It is three months away!!

We have a very festive prep weekend at the start of December. I do the decoration and tree, DH does food prep for the freezer which in part ties into a nice meal that weekend e.g. we do a cranberry ham and the stock gets used for the freezer, massive batch of mac’n’cheese with leftovers frozen for Boxing Day or to have with Christmas leftovers etc.

I try and finish off my shopping in November so December is free for fun things.

Not worry about others. Hubby and I are chilling this year. Quiet as possible. Slow cooker meal and tv.

Ah, well, the first thing on my aforementioned list is "make Christmas Cake".

I make it in September, give it an alcohol infusion, wrap it up and ignore it in October. In November it gets fed every Sunday afternoon, then Marzipaned and iced in mid December.

So Christmas prep starts for me in September.

That makes sense, although I don't make my own Christmas cake so I wouldn't do that. I di see the sense of it, though. I will admit to being baffled at making extensive plans months in advance.

I don’t do anything, I just ignore all the shenanigans, relax and enjoy the break from work. Don’t bother going to anything, it’s expensive, usually rubbish, cold and wet.

I don't buy for many people, so that helps. I'd reduce my shopping list to save time, money, and mental bandwidth. Most people are happy to agree to put an end to gift exchanges. Same thing with cards, except for possibly a special few. I try to shop early, but that's not always easy to do.

Relax expectations and focus on the bits that you enjoy most or find the most meaningful.

In my family, we usually split the work of cooking, which reduces a lot of the pressure and effort. Also be open to trying non-traditional foods, if that's not as important to your family.

I'm a list-maker. It helps me keep track of what I need or want to do, timings, etc. But this is far earlier than I begin thinking about Christmas!

Don't wrap presents, just reuse gift bags.

Don't go to multiple theatre shows in the week before Christmas. We were all really ill over Christmas, toppling like dominos, and I'm sure one of us started it by catching something at the theatre.

Some of these replies are really sad .
I;m not looking for a Hallmark Film Christmas but I remember when I was a child ( in the 1970s ) Christmas was much lower key . But my DMum really CBA with any of it .
Yes we had presents (usually one from DParents and one from Aunt and Gran . Along the lines of a toy or similar , sweets , nightie , Avon soap)
Mum didn't decorate . We had Christmas Dinner but whoever was in the kitchen (either a family friend who visited or me when I was about 12) cooked it , otherwise it wouldn;t be done .

"I wish I could go to sleep and wake up on NYD"
"My favourite day is Boxing Day when it;s all over"
Two of her favourite trotted out phrases .

It was always a bit Is that it ? especially as my friends' Christmases were different
And both Church goers so very much into the real meaning of Christmas .

When I had my DC (now adults ) I planned and wanted things seamless.
Food shopping , I went to Sainsbury with my Nectar Points and DH took the DC to the cinema and when they finished I was there "to drive you home"

I love the planning and slow burn. I don;t have everything done by December but enough that we can enjoy it , and I like cooking the dinner , throw everyone out of the kitchen and follow my lists .

Reduce expectations. Reduce commitments. Don't spend more than you can afford. You don't need to spend hundreds and loads of time on Christmas markets, santa trips, expensive meals out and so on. Those things are nice enough but if they are stressing you cut them.

I over book stuff usually but this year I’ve drawn a line. One meal booked for just after

I’ve got turkey dinner planned

Im paring back decs less trees and faff

I will just do stuff if I feel like it eg local market /meal