Can I see your Christmas 'to do' list please? Nearly 50 years old and sick of being crappy and disorganised.

[minifingerz]

An old dog CAN learn new tricks!

Every year DH and I are wrapping and shopping on Christmas eve at 12.30am and the house is a shit heap on Christmas day. I'll spend the day tidying up, losing things, and feeling annoyed with myself.

So, starting now, what sort of things (and in what sort of order) should I be doing to get ahead of myself?

I think we're hosting on Christmas day for family. It's our turn and I like doing it (despite the chaos). Will go out Christmas eve for a meal or to my mums, (but will have to bring the food if I go to my mum's - I'm thinking delicious, non-cooked stuff). 3 dc's, all with more stuff than they need and very greedy. DH impossible to buy for as he is fussy and has everything.

I make a list of everyone I have to buy for,all my side all of DH's our 5DC,DH,our pets,teachers,friends and the youngest takes in a little gift for all of they're class and the older one's take in lots of sweets in a Christmas bag on the last day of school before Christmas and they share them out.

I always have a notebook on the go,once I've wrote done who I need to buy for I work out how much I'm going to spend on each and put that next to they're name.

I always take the notebook with me when I go out on the off chance I might find just what I'm looking for for someone and I usually do.

I pick up all the cards I'll need in one shop.

Then I pick up all the wrapping paper,sellotape(we have one of those big chunky tape dispensers from the 99p shop and it's brilliant)gift tags(although I do make gift tags from last years Christmas Cards for the kids)ribbons,gift bags and gift boxes.I also buy those massive santa sacks,the cloth one's(usually less than a pound each)each one has one of the 5DC names on and as they're opening they're presents the open one's get stuck into they're Santa sacks.

I've done all of those so far except for the wrapping part and I just have 1 more card to pick up.

We've got quite a few presents allready bought but the children are off in the next couple of days so I'll be shifting my attention to taking them out and celebrating Halloween and then once they go back to school(begining of November)I'm doing a massive Christmas shop so I can get all 5DC stockings finished,grab a few of they're main presents and get all the rest of our familys,the teachers and friends bought for and I'll grab the last card and wrapping stuff and then I have 3 days to Bonfire Night.

After all that I shall probably collapse for a week or 2

I have already decluttered the boxroom

I will start this weekend decluttering our room (under the bed and my wardrobe)

Bathroom -complete clean --before I have visitors at the end of the month then the Christmas clean will just be maintenance. Need to get the old steamer out.

Get the downstairs loo tap sorted

Started buying unperishables like drinks to store in the garage (hidden from DS )

Declutter and organise the pantry, make a note of anything I need to buy for the cake and puddings.

Check the inflateable beds still inflate

Lists,lists and more lists

Plan a trip out for us (cinema probably, my DC are too old for Panto)

Still doing the Pre Christmas Princessing so by Christmas I should be relaxed and gorgeous ............

Got enough plates, glasses,cutlery,tablecover,sheets,towels.

Meal Plans for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/Boxing day/ then the Sunday after.

I don't cook loads in advance, but I'll get the cake and pudding done in November/early December.

Haven't really thought about presents- DS has a December birthday but we give him money and Microsoft Points, Young Driver Lessons and X-Box games.

DD does a list and changes her mind more often than her underwear

Buy as much as you can online. Start now so those weird things on their list that you can only get from an individual Amazon seller in Wisconsin arrive on time!

Sounds like someone's met DS1 .

Buy extra bin bags. Give everyone their own bin bag to put wrapping paper into directly.

Thanks folks! You reminded me that my ocado slot opened today. Booked in for 9pm on 23!

Continually remind dh that we are hosting and he needs to think about food, but that we can have no leftovers as going on hols day after Boxing Day. I think we are going to do a Jamie one pot roast with slow cooked veg, and I am going to make a trifle and a no cook ferrero rocher cheesecake. Cannot fail. Crisps, chocolate, cheese, everyone happy.

Have bought 75% of my presents and stored them at dad's house ready for wrapping throughout November.

Have made xmas cake, but have to make another one one as dh and dses have eaten it. .

Have ordered xmas wrap - one for ds 1, one for ds2, one for all men, and one for all women.

Booked Panto for 19th.

Arranged for all friends to come to dad's for Xmas eve drinks. Turn up at 2 fuck off by 5 rule applies, as usual.

Have ordered boys's new xmas duvet sets.

Have saved last years's cracker jokes and facts for the drawers in each of the boys advent calendar wooden xmas trees.

Ummmm......

Booked three hour clean for 23rd....

I write lists of who and what I need to buy and tick it off as I get it. Get wrapping paper now so as you buy it, wrap it straight away then you can put it away and not worry till the fat man in red delivers it. Book panto and visit to Santa now. We're not hosting this year but when I do next year I will order food in advance from tesco to be picked up Xmas eve, and book a cleaner to clean the house just before as well. Then relax and enjoy x

Delia and Nigellas Christmas books both do the timeline thing and Delicious magazine normally have an article with the same info come Dec.

I do a lot of what's already suggested. I've done my clothes and toys sort out already, done my cupboards and freezer too and have started putting non perishabls away (delias book has a good list of stuff you might forget). I break my gift buying into chunks, and try to have all present buying done before December. Cards are done late November. Deep clean done in the first week Dec. Wrapping done by second week Dec. Leaving fun and food for the last two weeks.

A couple of years ago we went on holiday for a week returning on the 22nd Dec. It forced me to do all the chores early and I've never looked back. I've realised sobbing over a bloody toy at 1am on Christmas day is not fun! The only jobs I do Christmas eve are fun bits of baking, cooking a ham and prepping a starter. I go nowhere near a shop of any kind.

I have a small notebook where I write all my lists and it comes with me everywhere. If I buy something or think of something I write it down. I also block out days to do things. Cards get written over a coffee or a glass of fizz. Presents are wrapped while watching a film and chores while listening to Christmas music. I do black Friday shopping (half day off work), take a day off for housework and block a Sunday out for decorating. Putting it in writing on the calendar makes it harder to ignore.

Having read this thread I feel exhausted.... I felt hugely smug having bought cards and stamps, given suitable present ideas to my sister and thought of a main present for ds; I'd also advertised for a one off cleaner for 4 hours on 13 Dec but am now drooping as noone wants to clean my house for me

Small things can make a huge difference - writing out a Christmas budget can concentrate your mind as the one thing being last-minute tends to do is rack up your spending.

No-one ever in their lives thought 'I've bought too much Sellotape'.

A couple of packs of curling ribbon does everything for around £2-4 - wrapping and decorating the house.

Decorating with ivy and holly is lovely as it forces you out of the house and it looks and smells beautiful.

Oh yes - think also, what bits of Christmas do you actually like, and make sure that you don't sabotage them. So Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year so I make sure it's not trashed by having too much to do.

Oh and it sounds sad but I choose outfits for the kids and I for Christmas eve, day and boxing day in advance and have them ironed and put together so no last minute washing to do. Also been known to hit the laundarette on the 22nd and get all the washing and tumble done so I can iron and get it all away the same day otherwise I find it hangs around, making the house messy and ruining the festive effect!

Some very good tips above.

Every year in early November I buy one of those little lined notebooks and I write everyone's name in it with space underneath to jot down any present ideas and what I eventually do buy for them. I also use a couple of pages to list stocking presents and tree presents (family tradition).

In the same book I copy down from last years notebook all the food shopping and bits and pieces I need to get. Early December I will do two separate online shops: one for all the drink (alcohol and soft drinks) and the other for all the non perishable items. Also order meat from the local butchers. By doing that I feel I'm almost there and I'll just shop for fresh stuff nearer the big day.

I will copy this years notebook for next year.

Wrap presents as I go along...had too many times in the past doing it at midnight on Christmas Eve. Use a Sellotape dispenser for wrapping to avoid hours lost looking for the end! and sticky labels for presents to avoid the faff with string and Sellotape.

Once wrapped, each family/friends group have their own bag and the DCs have a sack each so I store them away already wrapped and in the bags/sacks. Makes dishing out and sorting present much easier.

For Christmas cards I print off address labels from computer to save writing each envelope and if anyone moves house during the year the label gets updated as we go along. Do this for my mum and a couple of friends and saves them a lot of time.

That Holiday Grand Plan is HORRIFIC! 18 weeks preparation/ shopping / cleaning for what is at most 3 days of family time. I hope to use my time more productively than that. Wonder if there are any male discussion boards worrying about all this stuff?

Not sweating the small stuff is the biggest thing on my to do list. I spent several years worrying about the tiny little details, then realised one day that they weren't really that important.

I set a budget for presents and save a set amount every month. I start shopping early - I have already got DS2 and DD's main presents (an xbox and a Hudl) and DS1's main present is vouchers so won't sell out. I then pick up stocking fillers bit by bit. I've also bought my parents' presents already. I keep a spreadsheet on the laptop of what I bought for everyone each year so that I don't buy the same thing again.

I have ordered cards and giftwrap from a fundraising catalogue that came home from DD's Brownies so that is sorted. I will add a couple of books of stamps to the Tesco shop. I carry over the Christmas card list from year to year and just edit is as necessary.

I will make a Christmas Cake this week and then the Christmas Pudding and Mincemeat at the end of November. I use Delia recipes, all very easy and helps to make me feel organised!

Not sweating the small stuff is the biggest thing on my to do list

I agree - I spent years planning everything to the last detail, everything had to be 'perfect' - the one year I bought a hugely expensive, free range organic turkey I realised it didn't actually taste any better than a frozen one .

I've hugely lowered my expectations, decide what is important to you - for me it's getting to my choice of church service and my elderly parents joining us for one meal - we all only exchange 'token' £5 gifts - no stressing (teenage DS might get a bit more), I focus on Christmas Day and have actually chosen to go to work on Christmas Eve to avoid all the chaos .

Wonder if there are any male discussion boards worrying about all this stuff? - Quite.

If I were starting a plan from now, I would start by daydreaming, going through what i would like to happen from the end (end of holidays? First day back at work? ) and work backwards, breaking it down into days then into meals and activities. What do i need for each? Some of these will require things done in advance, book a table or plan menu / order food. Even what i and the family will wear, do they need any new clothes. Its easy when its just a castle in the air, to work out what needs to be done by what time. Start capturing these as a todo list, split into days. A spreadsheet works really well for me.

Having plenty of time ahead makes it a fun activity for me, rather than a pressure because it has to be done now. Im in good time to agree events with other family members, as we each work out our complicated schedules. And make sure we have the fun things to do captured, along with what needs to be done to make sure they happen. Plenty of time to delegate jobs and make sure they get done.

As lots of people have implied, the more you do this, the easier it gets, as you have what happened last year as a starting point and know what went well and what would be even better if.

I love reading this type of thread, thinking oh, good idea, shall add that in future or change to do that instead. The key thing, though, for me, is to focus on the fun things to happen and work backwards to the todo list, in plenty of time. Rather than letting it all build up as a big chore.

Enjoy. xx

Wrap as I go. It's the biggest thing that makes a difference as it not only means I have less wrapping to do near the time but also helps me visually identify who I've bought presents for - and makes me less likely to twich and buy more.
Already bought panto tickets - do them the afternoon of New Year's Eve as something to look forward to.
Started meal planning as already booked food delivery slots.
Now need to grapple with choosing some kind of temporary bed for my parents when they visit

My plan is simple:
Presents bought by end of November and wrapped by 15th December.
No cards - e cards sent to everyone
Count the number of rooms in the house, including hall way/stairs and deep clean a room a day aiming for the last one to be on the 22nd eg if you have 10 rooms then do the first one on the 13th December. Once up together it doesn't take much to keep it nice and I allow a couple of hours on 23rd to pull it all together.
Rule in our family is that ALL Christmas prep has to be done by 7.30pm on the 23rd.
23rd meal is always a takeaway. Christmas Eve we go out for the day and have a ready prepared frozen meal on the 24th.
Christmas food is usually bought prepared and ready to chuck in the oven as I want to relax Christmas Day. Either pick it up on the 23rd or have it delivered.
Already do the box for everyone's presents but use large plastic storage boxes.

Something I had learned to do is to have everything ready before Christmas Eve then that way it's a lovely relaxed day,we get to lounge around in warm PJ's cuddling with the kids and DH and watching a Christmas movie or 2.

DH cooks us all a lovely cooked breakfast afterwards we all get ready and if it's been snowing we'll go over to the local park with the sledges all 7 of us and we'll go sledging and make snowmen and have snowball fights.

Then once were all worn out but very happy we come home to a lovely warm house,I get straight in and run warm baths and stick the fire on and stick the towels and dressing gowns on the radiators or in the tumble dryer.Whilst I'm doing that DH makes all the children some luxuary hot chocolate(made with warm milk,cream,marshmallows and grated chocolate)in that time our 2DD's have warmed up in the bath,I've sorted it so DS14 can have a nice warm bath.

The 2 oldest our usually warmed up and in lounge pants hogging the fire by then and DH makes us all some soup and toasted sandwhiches for lunch.

About 4 we go and visit my Dad which is always lovely on Christmas Eve,we have a drink together and swap gifts(all 5DC get really excited at this stage)my big brother will be there as well and we'll swap gifts with him and his 3rd oldest child.

Then we'll come home and we'll order a chinese for dinner for us all and watch some Christmas tv and maybe play some board games before the 3 youngest go to bed.Once they're a bed we'll have a laugh with our 2 oldest DS's and we might have a little drink and play some cards or watch something good on tv and then they go to bed and then me and DH get to cuddle up on the sofa whilst the house is lovely and quiet and warm and we usually reminesce about past Christmases and about how quickly the children have grown up and the things they've done when they were younger that made us laugh.

Christmas Eve is now one of my most favorite days of the year.

In the past I hated it because it was so stressful,we'd be up till 2 or 3 in the morning wrapping pressies and getting stuff ready.Because of those times I've changed the way I do things and now we have all Christmas bits sorted before the children break up from school for the Christmas holidays.

Loving the cardboard box idea, Thank you :)

Very jealous of your snowy Christmas Eves, holiday . We are on the south coast and hardly ever see a frost, let alone snow.

As I said above, I am trying to simplify and down-grade Christmas, as its been years since I enjoyed it.

I will give the place a spring clean next month, as I like doing that anyway, and decorate the place, but I can't face all the cooking and present wrapping and card writing, let alone waiting hand foot and finger on everyone on the day. I want a nice day too, and I am not cut out for servitude - it makes me very grumpy!

So my Christmas plan is :

No cards. I stopped doing them a few years ago, and no one seemed to mind.

Less presents. I negotiated a mutual 'only buying for close family children' a couple of years ago, so only buy for immediate adults, and two children other than my own.

Online shopping. Did this last year and only had to make one shopping trip in town. Bliss. This year, I aim to get it all online. In November.

Less pressies for my children. I am not making up stockings for my oldest (grown up) kids, as they loathe tat, which makes it all massively expensive. Last year, their stocking fillers were nearly twice as expensive as their gifts. Might keep the youngest one's stocking going, as he is only twelve. And I will spend much less on all presents, so less stuff means wrapping will be a doddle.

Very little cooking. I will buy a cake/pudding/mince pies, and indeed have all my shopping nicely delivered by Mr Tesco this year. I might even make them eat off paper plates to ease the clearing up

I am planning on experiencing Christmas more like DH does - hanging out with family, playing board games and watching films with a Bailey's in my hand. I can't imagine him ever angsting over when to wrap the presents

I have a Christmas "journal" i bought from amazon that lasts for years, its amazing!
Plenty spaces for gift ideas, card lists, food shopping, menu planning, actual gifts bought etc and as its all in one book you can check previous years so you're not buying/cooking the same things.
I also put a list of what was not successful (mainly what fancy food was a waste of time and didn't get eaten)
Our DD is grown up so the days of decluttering toys etc are thankfully gone, and now i just don't keep anything i don't need so no big clear up is ever needed.

In the years before my DC, my DP did absolutely nothing up until he finished work at 1pm on Christmas Eve. He then walked into town and went to Boots, HMV, jewellers, some independent shops and ASDA, to do all his shopping then walked home via the off licence. He was back in his armchair with a beer by 4pm.

My uncle used to wait until 4pm on Christmas Eve and go to his local chemist where staff helped him with all his gifts and he was home again by 5pm.

I think men could teach us all a thing or two!

I have a spreadsheet with different pages for gifts, food, cards and Black Friday. I am about halfway through gift buying and have placed my M&S food order. I like to have everything bought by the end of Nov. except for Black Friday stuff and perishable food. Cards are posted 2nd class on 1st Dec.

This year I have been buying gift bag sets from pound shops as I can't be arsed with the endless wrapping. They are only for DC's, DP and DM though, everyone else gets gift cards or hamper gifts etc. Half term will see a big declutter ready for the deep cleaning.