Top time-saving/ organisation tips for Christmas?

[JudithofthePiece]

I've noticed a few threads that people give this sort of advice on, but was wondering if we could pool it all together in one place?

I love Christmas but I have got quite stressed in years past about fitting in everything that needs to be done. Here are my small contributions:

• Buy gift stickers for presents rather than other tags and things. It doesn't have to be the crappy foil ones - I've got some nice ones from eBay this year. They really reduce the amount of time you spend wrapping presents!
• Carry a small notebook with you with present/ food lists in so you can take advantage of offers when you see them.

Any other good tips?

Get a large cardboard box from a supermarket or somewhere and wrap it in cheap paper leaving the top open.
Use it as a rubbish bin for all the discarded wrapping paper on Xmas morning and it looks much nicer in the photo's than a black sack! :)

Oh another tip that's not really organisation.... The sell by dates are
Are a complete con over Christmas, things going off the 24th to make you think you need to buy more for christmas day. Oh and shopping at 11 at night or 5 am really does make it easier so use those all night supermarkets!

This won't be any good for this Christmas, but might help for next year!

After Christmas, when you are packing everything away, write your future self a note about what you learned this Christmas, also things like "you have lots of wrapping paper and cards left over, don't buy any more". Put the note in your diary/Filofax so that you read it this time next year.

Also, after Christmas, raid the sales for a) all things Christmassy....cards, wrapping paper, clothes (Christmas PJs etc) for the DCs and shove it all in a box in the loft (write what you bought in the note above) and b) presents for next year - I got a hugely bargainous wooden toy garage for DC2 in last year's sale. No good for him as a 6mo last Christmas, but this year it will be spot on!

If you haven't already read it, read "This Year It Will Be Different", a collection of short stories about Christmas by Maeve Binchy that do remind you of the bigger picture and might help you stop getting lost in the craziness of the season!

Last year I put a note in this years (we use google calendar on phones) diary to buy a sellotape dispenser at the start of October and for this week to 'organise Christmas'. I have the sellotape, made the cake today and tonight will be making a list with DH of presents for everyone and doing some serious online shopping. I have already bought a couple of things and wrapped a few stocking presents for the children. DS1 has a birthday in November and I always used to leave Christmas thoughts until after that, but have discovered that that is way too stressful for me. I would like to enjoy the run up to Christmas this year without worrying about shopping, etc.
We also have been putting some money each month into a savings account to pay for Christmas presents - a bit late for anyone to do for this Christmas now, but may be helpful for next year. We overspent a little last year and that doesn't really add to the new year cheer!

Agree with colour coded paper. We have only recently switched to this and it makes life so much easier. Last year we did purple,silver and blue, this year more trad with gold,red and green. Helps with little ones giving out gifts if they can't read gift tags.
Wrap as you go, do the cards early,buy online and relax.

My top wrapping tip?

Make sure you call your DD Holly and give her holly patterened wrapping paper.

OK she's 10yo, she thinks it's cute and special.
By the time she's 14yo she'll be
When she's 16 she'll be "FFS"

When she gets a boyfriend he'll think it's really clever to wrap her presents in holly paper

Oh 70s!! That's cute!!

I have realised recently that DD is starting to use her second name as well for things - she can't spell it right completely, but a good effort at what happens when DH gets hijacked by my elderly grandparents for leftovers dinner on Boxing night as I and DD are in hospital after her birth that morning: BabyBiddy Stephanie Pop

Any ideas for a theme for her??

I have ordered these gold and silver popcorn type bags for quick wrapping of small prezzies/stocking fillers....await their arrival!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250957828590?var=550069037605&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

If you do an advanced search for Flylady Christmas theres a poster called Jas who did a whole countdown thingy which is keeping the Minx household quite organised

Off to check out organisedchristmas.com too

Loving this thread!! Thanks OP!

I agree with tape dispenser - be lost without it.

Turkey - for the last few years I've been buying Sainsburys "just cook" butter basted turkey. Costs £4, feeds 3 (or 4 if serving ham as well, as we do). Can freeze it or keep fresh. Bung in the oven for 60 mins, and that's it! No bones, no waste, etc. And it's the moist-iest (??!) turkey I've ever had. Won't be to everyone's liking, but it's my life saver.

Wrapping paper - this one is for post Christmas. Card Factory were selling off their paper for 10p a roll. I think it started Christmas Eve, but defo on Boxing Day. I have enough paper now for the next 5 years!

Just told DP that I've found the Christmas section on MN and he's rolled his eyes at me

Mmm, I do like the idea of the gold and silver popcorn bags for smaller pressies.

Mmm, I do like the idea of the gold and silver popcorn bags for smaller pressies.

Damned iPhone. Sorry about that.

The only tip I can think of is "read MN Christmas threads for ideas"

I write my shopping list and stick on fridge and tick off as I go - lovely feeling seeing everything crossed off just before the big day.

Buy food in advance as it's less stressful and cheaper with offers etc - non perishables though like crisps and nuts.

I have a Xmas cupboard - all food in one box to stop dh and ds busting it into it before the big day and presents, card and wrap in another box.

I also stick my present list on fridge - name and then whatever I pick up for them I write it next to their names so I can see what everyone has.

Very boring but when ds opens presents under the tree I have my notepad ready and jot down who gave him what for thank you cards. I always write them 'from him' and personalise the cards - you can get some great, cheap ones from ebay that you can stick a picture of ds in opening their presents under the tree on Xmas morning.

Second class stamps for all cards and thank you notes.

I have ordered all my food and bird to be picked up and noted down pick up times - will send dh to pick up one load to ease my workload.

Lay table NIGHT BEFORE - glasses, napkins everything!

I do order all my cards and wrap reduced on Boxing day sales online - saves time and money.

I have suddenly remembered whilst reading this thread that last year I bought a pre-lit Christmas tree

I've just been reading the little booklet that came with my Good Housekeeping December issue and there's a recipe in there for a turkey breast roast. Basically, you take two large turkey breasts, wrap them together in streaky bacon and roast it. I think I'm going to give that a go this year - it sounds simple and apparently serves 6 with leftovers so should be plenty for our requirements.

Not much of a planning timesaver, but could be a space and timesaver on the day.

When buying wrapping paper, I usually get one or two rolls of gold on gold/silver on silver - the patterns are often just swirls or stars. I keep these until last so that any rolls or part rolls left over can be used for birthdays, saves having very xmassy paper hanging round all year.

Really interesting re turkey breast

Lakeland sticky spots I find these so much easier than sellotape or even those hand dispenser thingies. They last for ages so work out pretty economical