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Original poster

What will you do differently next year?

104 replies

MaitlandGirl · 26/12/2017 09:22

While the horrors of 2017 are still fresh, I’d there anything you’ll do differently next year?

We’ve already decided we’re having Christmas just the 5 of us. It’s time for BIL to take one for the team and have MIL (and FIL) for Christmas lunch. FIL is great but MIL is hard work.

The kids will all be over 18 next Christmas and I’m seriously considering giving them all cash + a stocking. It’s not easy finding ‘big’ presents for them anymore as they’ve got pretty much everything the want/need.

The big thing will be doing the entire Christmas food shop on Christmas Eve - I always buy far too much food and figure if I’ve got to restrict myself to what I can fit in a small trolley it’ll still be a great meal but I’ll save a fortune.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 26/12/2017 20:11

Next year im going to plan the presents better.

Usually I just buy things i see that i think theyd like over the whole of november and december, and then end up buying more than i meant to. I really think i need to choose better and plan ahead and definitely buy fewer gifts.

I also want to do more carol concerts next year

5BlueHydrangea · 26/12/2017 20:32

Well due to various stresses we only put our Christmas tree up today... looks lovely but should have done it ages ago!

Saladtongs · 26/12/2017 21:34

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth how about saving a regular amount straight into a long term deposit account. You can get 30, 60 & 90 day notice accounts so choose one that suits you.

user1497997754 · 26/12/2017 21:46

Everything right this year me and DH stayed home for Xmas with the dogs. Wonderful time....sent all presents to family in the post....did what we wanted when we wanted. Only had to please ourselves and had the best Christmas ever..no stress....no arguing...no putting up with shit from anyone. I would def advise any family's who have had a bad Christmas this year to try a stay at home with just yourselves next year it is lovely

BerylStreep · 26/12/2017 21:50

I’ve already announced that and whilst it was really lovely to have everyone here, and theŷ helped out with veg prep the day before, even cooking a traditional dinner for that many people was too much for me, let alone the mountain of dishes afterwards.

I think next year if we have big numbers again, I will prepare some big ‘dish’ type meals in advance for everyone instead. Thinking of turkey and leek gratin with boiled potatoes and green salad.

We just have far too many dishes - I’ve just counted up, and this year we had:
Turkey
Sausages
Gravy
Pork stuffing
Bread stuffing
Bread sauce
Roasties
Parsnips
Carrots
Brussels sprouts
Chestnut roast
Homemade cranberry

Followed by 5 separate desserts with cream and ice cream

Not to mention all the cups of tea, coffee, wine, mince pies and brownies.

No wonder I feel exhausted.

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 26/12/2017 21:54

Right now...struggling to think of what I'd do differently, but that's because we purposely did things differently this year.
YY to just the nuclear family - I'm an arse when I'm stressed, and much as I love my folks, just the three of us at home on the day is simply a joy. We eat what we want, I made a really nice dinner, but with no attempts to show off, which I totally would do for guests. And then there was loads left for lunch today. And tomorrow Confused

I really cut down this year on gifts for DS - he was still utterly spoiled and totally got what he wanted, I just didn't get him the gazillion extra bits of shite I got him last year.

I did get too much for DH, but it's hard not to - he never buys himself anything so it included clothes and jammies.

One thing i would do differently? Contact my best friend from school a bit sooner. She's been in trouble, but I thought she was OK now. She's not, and if I'd known, I'd have been round before Christmas. Not sure she'll live out 2018 at this rate, and I feel powerless to help her.

BerylStreep · 26/12/2017 22:05

I’m also never buying crackers again. Will cut down on Xmas cards.

Lolimax · 26/12/2017 22:09

Not work as much. I do 12 hour shifts as a carer and did Christmas Eve and today. Next year I’ll be a student so will be picking my Bank shifts carefully.

IrrationalFamily · 26/12/2017 22:10

@JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth I would set up a Premium Bonds account. It's such an utter faff with so many passwords you'll never withdraw the money unless you really want to!

SleepingBooty · 26/12/2017 22:23

We had one of the best Xmases this year. There's not much I'd change. I'd like to spend more time with Dad, only saw him for a couple of hours on Sunday. I'd get a chocolate or carrot cake, the red velvet cake was tasteless.

Equimum · 26/12/2017 22:25

Not put stockings in bedrooms. DS1(4) went to the loo at 2.45am and saw his stocking, hanging at the end of bed, was full. He then decided he HAD to get up, and was bouncing round with excitement. Attempts to get him back to bed resulted I. A tantrum, which woke DS2 and DM. We ended up downstairs opening presents by 3.15am. DS then refused to go back to bed and stayed awake until 7.30 last night!

We’ll also make sure it’s just the four of us next year. Even just having my mum adds stress and makes us less comfortable in our own home.

Butteredparsn1ps · 26/12/2017 22:33

Avoid being ill!

I have a recommendation though. Iceland frozen mince pies from the Greggs range are bloody marvellous. Will be stocking up for 2018

ButteredScone · 26/12/2017 22:53

I'm going to make sure there is stilton on the cheese board. I trusted DH's cousin to get the cheese and he got lots of fruit Wensleydales and a chunk of Edam. No Stilton.

In quiet retribution, I poured him a smaller cup of coffee than everyone else.

BerylStreep · 26/12/2017 23:15

ButteredScone Grin

Draylon · 26/12/2017 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stoplickingthetelly · 27/12/2017 00:12

Thinking of staggering the presents a bit more next year. Dc are 5 and 2 and we opened everything I'm the morning. But felt it was a rush. Mainly because we had to go and visit inlaws 10:30-12. Next year I'm thinking of putting the stockings and father christmas presents in the living room, which can be opened first thing. And then putting family presents in the second lounge/dining room to be opened after we have visited inlaws. Then eat a bit later at maybe 4pm so it's less rushed.

Juanbablo · 27/12/2017 06:15

I think next year we will go somewhere else for Christmas dinner. I've cooked for the last 5 years (dh helps a lot). And hosted my brother and previously my dad but he sadly died this year.

For some reason I just found this year really stressful. I found it rushed and like we didn't have enough time for anything. So we might go out or even go away.

Mrswinkler · 27/12/2017 06:59

What a great thread.

I enjoyed Christmas this year although the immediate run up was stressful. On the whole I'm a bit Bah Humbug about the whole thing but can't opt out now I have DC. Currently writing notes on my phone about the good and bad bits so I can refer to them next year.

ohanabanana · 27/12/2017 08:19

Definitely buy less landfill rubbish - no crackers, less cards, less unwanted stocking fillers.
No Christmas pudding- everyone was too full and chose the lighter dessert option.
Buy less for dh’s family - fed up of getting thoughtful expensive presents and getting chocolates in return.
Buy a smaller turkey.
Other than that it was pretty damn perfect!

lostlalaloopsy · 27/12/2017 08:32

Hopefully nobody will get ill next December, I've been pretty miserable the last couple of weeks and my dd had sick bug on Christmas Day.

Organise and ensure that dd has complete medication before the big day.

Don't put tree up too earlier. It went up on the 1st this year and is getting on my nerves.

More lights for outside the house.

Our extension should be finished next year so we will be having Christmas at home from now on. Everyone is welcome here but we will be staying put.

soontobemrsmckeown · 27/12/2017 20:21

My daughter will be with her dad Christmas day so I'll be spending it alone and won't bother to get out of bed at all

anyoldname76 · 27/12/2017 20:31

the changes im making are gift vouchers for family except dh nan and my parents, less food, better present choices for dc, im a bit torn over whether or not to go on holiday next Christmas

theaveragewife · 27/12/2017 20:36

Eat out, buy less, try not to have a melt-down every day of December.

Knittedbreasts · 28/12/2017 06:46

Start earlier. Wrap as I buy. Stop ordering online and get into the shops to do it. One wrapping paper design per child. Different paper for stockings.

CablesCables · 28/12/2017 09:55

Start the stockings earlier. And wrap them too. Keep the actual stockings out of the loft so I can keep an eye on how much I've bought and what fits.

Write cards earlier.

Keep the timetable I wrote for getting the dinner ready. For the first time, it worked!

Book Santa earlier. There's somewhere near us that apparently does an amazing Santa, but I never bother to book, and then it's too late. Next year, I will remember!