What Christmas tips worked well this year and what will you not be doing next year?

[Monroe]

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas
I've picked up lots of tips over the years from these threads. This year we tried the lottery present opening for the 2 dc's. We had a jar filled with numbers that corresponded to the ones stuck to the bottom of the dc's gifts and they took turns pulling out a number then both had to find that gift. It stretched the opening of them out and they really enjoyed playing the "game"

What I won't be doing is buying loads of stocking fillers just for the sake of it. Most of them were opened and discarded within the first couple of minutes

[Davros]

I bought some of those suction hooks last year in the 99p shop and thought they would be rubbish but they're really good. I use them to put decorations on the windows

[goldenlilliesdaffodillies]

Things which worked:
Christmas Eve box with PJ's, hot chocolate, DVD, Christmas story was a massive hit.
Stockings- bought stuff in sales last year after Christmas for this year from places like Dotcomgiftshop in their sale and local shops
Food shopping- gradually bought things which lasted such as cheese crackers,crisps,soft drinks etc.Then bought all fruit/vegetables/cream etc from local farm shop-ordered these in advance so only had to collect a ready filled box. No queues in car parks or fighting over things in supermarket- just collected box, paid and left!
Christmas present spreadsheet- really helpful as bought throughout the year and filled in spreadsheet. I also photographed the presents, and any battery information. That sounds so sad but was very helpful.
Bought Christmas presents from local Christmas Fayres,local shops and online

Things which didn't worked:
Feeling forced to have house guests who were difficult and unhelpful. They had a lovely time but I didn't. 1 stayed for 3 days and the others a week. Next time they can stay in a local B&B and just visit for the day. I felt like the whole Christmas week I was constantly making food, then clearing it up- exhausting! They were asked to help out but didn't.Either that or we shall have to go away for Christmas

Present unwrapping was a frenzy- so very difficult to see who got what from whom. Next year I will keep some back for Boxing Day and spread them out more.

[PesoPenguin]

Things I'd do the same: avoid crappy toys for ds (5) that will just break (ds got a trials motorbike this year so very few toys), avoid buying tons of junk food and just get what we'll actually eat, go away for new year, visit both sides of the family on Christmas day, have our annual Christmas Eve onesie party, go to panto on Boxing Day.

Things I'd do differently: not much really, this has been the best Christmas ever!

[girlywhirly]

For me, putting up less decorations worked well. The house didn't look any less festive.
Having a special bag (from The Range) for gift wrapping stuff; all paper, gift bags, tissue paper, tags, ties etc. Even DH commented how easy it was to find what he needed in it.
Making some meals and items for Christmas lunch in advance, and frozen to save time and also effort, so that I didn't feel as if I was slaving in the kitchen all the time.
Had the same meals for Christmas eve, Christmas day, Boxing day and 27th Dec as we have had the last three years. As it's just us, when you have a winning formula, why change it just for the sake of it?
Get meat from local butcher, as I have done for the past 13 years and never been disappointed.
Don't have guests if you don't want to.
Planned menus for each day, helped me to buy only what I needed. Keep a notebook of shopping list and menus year after year, tick off items when bought. Buy non perishables in advance as and when.
Buy internet gifts early, don't leave until the last minute in case of delays caused by adverse weather/courier difficulties/backlog caused by Black Friday etc.

Nothing that didn't work.

[supermariossister]

dp putting his gift card in a bottle bag was a daft idea. I spent satuarday night rifling through bin bags to find it

[goldenlilliesdaffodillies]

Don't have guests is easier said than done though. We had to have my BIL who has aspergers. No-one else will have him so he would be sitting home alone all Christmas.

[girlywhirly]

That's a shame golden. But if other relatives could take turns having BIL it would be fairer on everyone. My post was probably badly worded, I meant that people shouldn't be forced to host every year whether they like it or not. I know that I am lucky that I have never been in that situation.

[DraggingDownDownDown]

Golden - is your BIL hard work? Are you likely to have him again this year?

[ArcheryAnnie]

goldenlilies my sympathies. I had resigned myself to having a difficult relative (who in the end turned us down, thank goodness - though I did my best to make the invitation as welcoming as I could), and had already discussed with my DS an emergency survival plan of going to bed terribly early with our laptops!

[Paperblank]

My DP worked nights all over Christmas, so while I was initially a bit about it, it actually worked out really well. We had more time together than we would've normally had and there was the benefit of him being off all over new year!

He's already said he's happy to cover the night shift next year.

[mrdaddypig]

great threat even know it is last years i wanted to add mine
we dont do stockings because their just cast aside for the best prezzies
christmas morning the prezzies are in piles for each child so they know where they are less hassle this way easy opening for them i cut down this year last year we was swimming in prezzies and the girls actually looked a bit fed up with unwrapping

[mrdaddypig]

thread typo

[Septembersunrays]

This year we tried the lottery present opening for the 2 dc's. We had a jar filled with numbers that corresponded to the ones stuck to the bottom of the dc's gifts and they took turns pulling out a number then both had to find that gift. It stretched the opening of them out and they really enjoyed playing the "game"

WOW what a brilliant idea!!

[Monroe]

Just had another read of this. Some good reminders from last year.

The lottery present opening did work well but we had to make sure both dc's had the same amount of gifts which might be a bit tricky. DD is 5 this year and wants and will play with anything and everything. DS is 9 and not so much into toys anymore so a lot trickier to buy for.

[Toffeelatteplease]

We are a dark meat loving family so instead of the whole turkey we just get the legs from the local butcher. Absolute pittance to buy, easy to fit in the oven and easy to cook.

Love the slow cooker mulled cider idea

[Secondtimeround75]

Worked
Pancakes&fruit for breakfast.
Dinner at 5
Party game Christmas crackers
Christmas jumpers & jeans dress code.

[Trashcanoracle]

Loving this. I make wee notes to remind me what worked well and not so well each year as a reminder too.
I pre order turkey (Tesco) to avoid last sorry turkey in the shop panic. Do last shop around 22nd ish to avoid rush. Buy a bag of ice with turkey and store in cool box in garage. Keeps perfectly.
YY to Christmas Eve prep. Always make time for a run too. Do a nice soup and bread/cheese for tea - celeriac pancetta and thyme last year - Christmassy and slightly posh but light meal before the coming debauchery
Also spend an evening writing envelopes for cards in November so the boring bit's done and saves time - makes card writing more enjoyable.