Countdown to Christmas part 2

[SideOrderofSprouts]

Wow! Part two!!

8 months to go

Hello everyone,

I'd love to join you all, I've just spent the last couple of days reading the other thread. What a lovely bunch you are. Christmas is my favourite time of the year, however the last two years have been very much up in the air. 2015 my dd arrived on the 22nd so that went past in a blur, then last year I went back to work a couple of weeks before Christmas, had her 1st birthday and I just felt I didn't really enjoy it all as it was a rush.

I need to be much more organised as dc2 should arrive at the beginning of November ( We never plan these things well ). Dd will understand more this year so I want to make it the best I can.

I'm a little way behind you guys but so far I've brought 4 gifts and already planned Mays Rudolph day.

Hi Mary! Welcome :)

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Hi Mary. What have you got planned, if you don't mind me asking?

In terms of Christmas planning what would be your no. 1 tip? For me it all starts in the January sales (or rather after Christmas sales). Stocking up on Christmas cards, wrapping materials, decorations, etc., not only saves me money, it also removes some of the stresses leading up to Christmas and gives me more time for other Christmas related activities.

I keep a spreadsheet in the cloud so I can always access it and I don't have a repeat of the great double gift fiasco of 2013!

I try to buy at least one gift a month, and store it away, I like to do me wrapping last weekend in November, that way if I have missed any bits I have time to go and sort it!

Spreadsheet, bargain hunting with a cuppa, grabbing when seeing. Always investigate a sale

Perhaps not a tip as such but I love love LOVE buying the first Christmas magazine of the season, usually late Oct / early Nov, and sitting down with a cup of tea, looking at all the lovely things and meal planning & gift list writing. I put my Christmas music on and tell everyone to leave me alone for an hour. ''Tis absolute bliss

Hi Kitty, I'm planning on sorting out all my leftover hamper bits from last year to see what I've got and what I need to get. I've already got a list of who I would like to give them to and I've started a list of items. I'm also going to make a start on my Christmas card list and sort out my baking cupboard to see if I need any ingredients for my mince pies and Christmas cakes. Then I can add an item a week my regular shop.

Today I picked up a few more gifts ( didn't pay really as I had a gift card to use that was about to expire) so I'm going to add them to my spreadsheet later. I'm really enjoying early bargain hunting.

You sound very organized Mary. This year I'm trying out using an app on my tablet to keep track of what I've bought. I don't think it'll last long as links don't work on it and pictures I've taken don't show up! Oh well, I do have a paper Christmas organizer, worked really well last year.

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I'm starting on present-buying from my July pay. I've already got some bits and bobs for small gifts, but I won't get big stuff til nearer the time. I'll probably just save some money towards gifts instead.

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I feel lonely

My plan is to have all extended family and smallest kids sorted by start of November. Only 'last minute' one will be eldest DS as not sure what he'll ask for, will get little bits but hang fire on his main present.

I also try to spread the cost of Christmas activities such as panto/ Santa visits by booking early.

This year my aim is to make more gifts for others and really try to keep £££ down by buying second hand where appropriate.

I've only just started being organised when I found this thread and thought I was behind . The thought of me trying to get everything done with a newborn and a nearly 2 year old frightens me greatly.

I found some cheap cards and wrapping paper online yesterday so I've ordered some as I haven't any left from last year.

Oh and I'm hoping to get to a panto this year, I've never been to one.

MaryPoppins You and I are in the same boat it seems! I think, for me, the key is to try and get everything done as much as possible by Oct (baby due early Nov), order the food online, and then let DH and other family members take over a bit in Dec with any last minute bits. This part fills me with panic slightly! But it'll be fine I'm sure.
When's your baby due?

I've decided to go for retro lights this year - my taste is normally very understated, plain white lights etc, but I'm on the hunt for colourful lights this year. You know, the ones we had as kids. My friend found it hard last year as nowhere seemed to do them with pink lights in, but I think I've found some on Amazon.

And you guys have convinced me to go for a real tree! Hurray!

Hi Any, yes it certainly sounds like it

Baby is also due early November and my Dd second birthday is 22nd December! Like you I want as much done as I possibly can by the end of October. Although I'm only part time at work, I'm planning on working as late as I possibly can (all being well) working cuts into your time also. Thankfully everything with regards to baby is pretty much in hand. We have everything left from Dd and we didn't know the gender of our baby so all items are netrual which is handy.

We've had a real tree for the last 5 years. I wouldn't go back now, I love the smell and the memories it brings back from my childhood. We had a one every year as children.

I never thought about food shopping and ordering online so thanks for that tip.

Ah congrats! DS turn 2 in January so I'll have two months where I have 2 under 2! Wish me luck! I think we'll find out the gender this time but either way we'll be reusing all his old stuff.

Supermarkets release their Christmas slots in the autumn so keep an eye out.

Hi all, do you mind if I join you? I've read both this year's lovely festive threads, and would like to be part of it! I love Christmas as does my DS (we watched Home Alone last night!) but my DH is a bit of a Scrooge. Well actually that's a bit unfair - he is from Australia so he just doesn't understand/enjoy our cold, dark Christmases, with everyone being indoors all the time. It's just not something he enjoys at all. So it would be lovely to have an online group I could look forward to it with! I haven't done any planning for this Christmas yet though, I always say I am going to save a bit each month but I never do. I love the idea upthread about getting a voucher with every weekly shop - I might nick that idea.

Every one is welcome much

It's a lovely happy community here, especially when everyone comes back in around September :)

I'm here all year round

I'm here all year round

Quite right, Christmas isn't just for Christmas ...................]fwink]

I will do a spreadsheet this year I reckon, my DC are teens so I'll wait till December to buy their main presents but I will do the Hamper on the 1st Dec like last year.
So, PJs , bath smellies, new underwear, sweets etc . They get more use from them then.

The wailing threads on the 20th December that are " Hellllp , I haven't bought/wrappped/ordered XYZ. My Ocado order has missed out . ............................."

Planning.
Fail to Plan = Plan to Fail

Sorry Sprout don't want you to feel lonely. This will be my 24th Christmas since having children so the routine/traditions are well established and the DC would riot if I tried to deviate too much. That means that my plans pretty much write themselves. I do love following what other people do - just in case there is something I can add even if I can't take anything away

We both have large families but the extended gift list is fairly modest. Just our DMs and then any children in the family.

We do a two night visit "back home" in between Christmas and New Year. My lovely SIL and BIL host a party where we see all the in laws in one fell swoop and spend the other day seeing my DM and any of my siblings that are around.

My youngest is 10 (currently in year 5) and we still do Santa and stockings but my adult DDs pitch in and they do stockings for me and DH.

We have a cinema trip followed by a meal out to start the holidays once school and work break up. This year (like the last two) it will be the New Star Wars film.

One thing I do is to say that lists for Santa have to be written by 30th November as they are left out and "swapped" for the advent calendar. I have a permanent calendar that I made from a kit about 5 years ago (possibly more). DS was very impressed that "Santa" put two things in each pocket at the start of the month but there were three things starting from the morning after DD1 returned from uni