What are you doing differently this year?

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

I'm not changing much. But I definitely need to buy better chocolates this year.
Bought Roses and Quality Street last year and they were crap. I'm investing in better chocolate this year.

Will probably ditch a starter on Xmas day. Dh and the kids just aren't arsed and it makes life tricky.

What are you going to do differently this year round?

Spending less.
Spending Christmas alone ( me and dd's ).
Not eating turkey ( might just do buffet style food to pick on all day ).

Agree about the chocolates, I stopped buying roses and quality street a couple years ago, I would rather buy a couple nice boxes of chocolates ( we have hotel chocolate that sales damaged/almost out of date stuff so will be going there). I would rather buy less food but better quality.

I wrote myself an email over Christmas last year and added to it as the holiday went on.

Less chocolate and biscuits
No chocolate santas or selection boxes
No cellophane
No Christmas cake
No labels required
No tissue paper
One big present only
Kids to buy for each other - secret santa
Don't buy cheese
Get DF to bring and cook tea.
No crackers
Small real tree
No fizzy pop
Only 4 x 10 metre wrapping paper
Get lots of Home Bargains gift bags. Big plastic or cloth ones if they have them as well
No string or labels
No DVDS
No stollen

Which I think translates as chill the fuck down

I'm getting a smaller tree - last year was too big for the room, and ex dp "helped" put it up and it fell over a few times as the stand was crooked.

Apart from that keeping things simple enough I think :)

Spending it with mine and DHs families for the first time in 7 years as DS will have arrived!

This year, we will be spending it at home (I think I said that both of the last 2 years and it didn't happen - unavoidable both times but everyone has been well warned in advance this year). So not having turkey #1 at 1pm, and turkey #2 at 8pm, and waddling to our bed at midnight. (and staying out of alcohol fuelled tensions!).

We probably will still do a turkey as we usually do even when it is just us 3. But we are happy to have it as it is rare, we like the leftovers, and I will have room to freeze some leftovers too.

Despite being at home, we will use a fake tree this year as I bought a really good one in the "Christmas in July" sale. (I might, just might, get away with putting the old fake in the kitchen out of the way, and then we might get most of our decorations on between both!).

I am not booking any Santa grotto or trip this year as DD is gone a bit too old, but we will still have our annual "shopping" trip to the city (involving some small amount of shopping, hot chocolate stop to people watch and enjoy the lights, and see the Live Crib before getting public transport home).

I am not as good as normal about getting presents throughout the year this year, but I am making progress there and have cut back my plans as it was getting out of hand. But I am hoping to also get time to actually do some fun stuff like baking even though we have a lot to get done at that time of year (school, Scouts, work are all busy and I have a lot of work travel going on this year, as does DH).

DD and I are thinking of a very new tradition (as my DGPs are no longer around to visit on Christmas morning after Mass) - to do a Christmas Day swim!! DH will stand on shore with towels, hot chocolate in 1 flask, (and possibly French coffee in another!). We might even go to midnight mass, if DD has definitely gone beyond Santa by then (doubting but we haven't had "the talk" yet).

Also, if DD has gone beyond Santa, there will be 3 stockings to fill instead of 1 if I have my way (DH and I as well - with each of us putting a couple of things into the other 2 stockings).

I also want to make sure I get at least 1 day of "nothing" - where we all sit, relax, read books by the fire and just eat leftovers etc.

But lots of it will be the same - Cub Scouts Christmas party, Christmas Disco at the sailing club, Winterval in School and the annual Carols in the Yard concert for school finishing up, neighbours gathering on Boxing Day (including DD birthday cake late in the evening), NY visit to DPs holiday house, holiday visit to DMIL, etc.

Will not be buying so many presents for kids.
Will not be buying any more decs (well, that's the ambition, I have an addiction ) .
Will not be getting crap quality Matalan Christmas pyjamas for DCs.

Will enjoy the school winter fair more.
Will get a lovely real big tree.

We're another house that don't buy loads of boxes of chocs - I go into Leonidas and get a big bag of orangettes (orange candied peel covered in dark chocolate) and maybe a small box of mixed Leonidas chocs as our festive treat. So spend about the same but we get far more enjoyment out of that (and far less "post-Christmas bulge"!).

We do buy reasonable amounts of cheese, and some M&S party platter/buffet type treats - but only as many as we will eat and I make sure there's space to freeze some in case we actually don't eat them all.

I also, while making sure we have plenty of wine for visitors (general, everyday drinking level - nice but not uber expensive), only buy 2 quite nice bottles for Christmas Day for DH and I - we may open the 2nd, we may have a glass of port with the cheese instead, or we may open a saved bottle of bubbles to have earlier. If we don't open the 2nd, we'll use that another date night in spring, but I find we are far less likely to open loads if what we have is really nice and worth savouring. So I prefer to spend maybe €40 on 2 good bottles than the same on 5 everyday bottles, as we actually end up drinking a lot less as a result. It normally is only for Christmas that I buy such expensive wine.

It's my first year having done Park Christmas savings, not much just £100 of vouchers. (No kids so Christmas isn't massively extravagant anyway)

I’m not getting the dc advent calendars this year. They love them at first, but the last week goes unopened, so a bit of a waste of money toward the end. There will still be a massive bowl of Celebrations and Heroes though.

Loving all these.

shesnonorman I was totally with you until you said no stollen. I bloody love stollen.

tootsieglitter chocolate organs are “decent” chocolate

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid I think I really meant not so much stollen. I went to Lidl and Aldi and had the chocolate covered mini-bites as well as the normal mini bites (test-taste of course) plus perhaps a big one. And turns out I'm the only one that likes it so it was still there in March.

We are doing santa for the first time this year so very excited!

We are staying home after the last 2 years of carting all the presents and everything else involved with small children across country. Visitors would be semi welcome.

Absolutely everything will be different this year, new home, new town, newly single so none of the old routines will fit this year and I'm frantically working out how to do things now all my old reference points have gone.

I have a Christmas fund put by and a teen who wants much more expensive stuff now so I can cover that.
Have more or less given up drinking so I wont need the endless bottles of Christmas past, just a few to offer any visitors.

I plan to spend on good quality chocolate and cheese, my ex always wanted Roses or Quality Street which I don't like. He was a 'quantity' man.

I have no idea how it will all pan out but it will be peaceful and relaxing without that drunken oaf acting like an overgrown spoilt toddler

I might take my DD to the hairdresser with me for a mum/daughter treat and maybe get our nails painted then a nice meal somewhere just before the big day. I may also host a small party for some of the mums I know well from school which might be nice, just drinks, snacks and some music.

I will be hanging around this topic a lot for ideas, last Christmas eve a lovely poster came on panicking a little as she was hosting for the first time and wasn't sure how to cook a Turkey and I helped her with that - it went well I recall. I expect I shall need help this year as my oven here baffles me.

Hmm big changes but exciting too.

Well last year I was persuaded from going to work and taking home £££ for working Christmas Eve and a half day Christmas Day because it's "Family Time" by DH.

Yes that's fair enough...but instead I spent all 3 festive days cooking and cleaning up after DH, his parents who were down visiting and DH's best mate plus the kids who I didn't really spend any time with as I was too busy in the kitchen and clearing everything away non-stop!

Totally crap Christmas to be honest. I ended up exhausted, very pissed off and getting drunk Boxing Day night and having a go at DH because no one helped out! Awful. AND I had no extra spends for any treats on sale because I hadn't been able to get the enhanced pay!!

So....this year I'm working Christmas Eve and Christmas morning to get extra cash, and I'm doing a very basic roast dinner (I usually cook everything from scratch but I'm going to M & S this year for at least my side dishes) and if they want anything else they can damn well cook it themselves. I will also not be doing any washing up. I think after hosting for the last 5 years, DH and his parents can see to that.

I'm also not spending a ridiculous amount of money on anyone either. Last year Christmas was £££ with presents, food, travelling...have a strict budget this year and it's being stuck to.

I will have a sit down this Christmas and watch what I want to for a change and do basically sod all!!

This is the first year since 2014 where I won't have hideous exams looming in the second week of January. It's not like I did any actual revision over either Christmas, but it did add a manic tang of guilt and dread to the festivities.

This is also the first year I'll potentially be bringing a girlfriend home with me for Christmas with my parents. Slightly stressed by the thought already.

I'm going to try and be more prepared this year. Start shopping now and make some food (stuffing, gravy etc) in advance. Last year was totally mad because we moved house early Dec (with a 4 and 1 year old) so left it all until after that. It was a total nightmare tbh. Dec needs to be a bit more relaxed this year.

this will be my first Christmas Eve evening off for over two decades- (I've always worked with parents who needed to be off on the evening, for their children) am working days- so, plan is- home by 4.30, walk ddog with dp, carols from Kings while setting the table for tomorrow's dinner, maybe lush bath bombs, seafood supper with prosecco, candles, and Bach's Christmas Oratorio, in front of the fire, possibly watch Christmas Carol with Alistair Simm, mass at Church, then straight to bed as have to be up at 6 for the early shift.
Not sure if we will fit it all in, we'll just do what feels right, relax, and enjoy the evening alone together before work and constant company over the next few days.

Just remembered something else I need to change.

Last year we had gluten free stuffing (a couple of people are celiac). Never again, it tasted ok but sort of had the consistency of jelly. This year we have both gluten free and the good stuff.

Trying to think of a new tradition to start this year as we will be in our new home. And I feel like we are starting anew in another way too as our marriage is so much better. I will be worrying less about trying to emulate the Christmas scenes in the glossy mags, on tv ads etc. Oh & we are going to a different place to visit Santa. Also changed the arrangements with DH’s side of the family & it will be much easier & probably more relaxing.

Not buying Christmas crackers this year . Noisy, ££ , risk of them going up in flames from the candles.

Taking DH ,DS and DD out somewhere (play or something, cinema maybe) We used to go out when they were little but DS isn't keen now. I'll drag him out if it kills -himme , this will be the last year he'll get involved he reckons (18 this year so officially An Adult. He thinks he can escape. )

Don't bother making intricate cupcakes or Fairy Cakes. No-one eats them.

We will have toddler DGS here for the first time as well as his older sister, it occurred to me the other day that decorations and tree will have to be toddler-proof as he is a vandal! Last time he stayed here he wasn't walking . . Gosh, I feel a bit tired just thinking about it.

Less food.
Less presents.
Definitely a real small Xmas tree again.
I don't need a turkey (eating less and less meat) but DP couldn't live without it so he has to cook.
Hopefully no company of mil who always spoils everything and makes us argue!

It's just one day in the whole year-this is my attitude-but the children get very excited so it's for them:) ⛄️ snow ❄️ would be nice!

Like ShesNo, I write myself notes after Christmas to remind myself for the next one.

My Christmas is a work in progress and is evolving. It is not yet how I want it. I have made some changes and upset a lot of extended family but I am still pushing ahead with my changes.

I am not having people staying over in my house.
I am cooking a turkey and pigs in blankies as I love it, so do my DC and it is tradition. I am not getting "a bit of beef" because extended family prefer that.
I am not sending Christmas cards except to a couple of elderlies I am fond of who appreciate a massive Clinton art deco card. My budget is 5 cards.
I am using up all my ends of wapping stuff
We are going to do more days out and activities
We are cutting our budget for extended family's presents. I have been cutting it down by £10 a year per person (so you can see how much it must have been in the first place!!!) as it is too much. This has gone down like a lead balloon but I don't care.
I am pretending to everyone that we are having a really quiet Christmas and that we will catch up for a bit at some point and are keeping it really low key. The reality is I just want to hang out with my own family and have loads of great things planned and booked. I just don't want anyone inviting themselves along.
I am investing in a tablecloth, mats and decorations to make a gorgeous Christmas table.

In a nutshell I am sick of bending my Christmas out of shape to suit others and this year I am only doing things the way I want.

moominsareace you need to put the Christmas tree and presents inside a playpen or dog fence/crate type thing. We did this when DD had just started crawling and it worked brilliantly.

We didn't think to do it again when we had our first Christmas with our 8month ball-obsessed border collie who during the lead up to Christmas, would sneak up to the tree and pluck off round baubles. This went on for a couple of weeks, but he hasn't done it since. Although he does like to 'help' with opening presents!