What will you do differently next year?

[MaitlandGirl]

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.

Do more in advance, unfortunately I had a very busy two weeks in mid December. Next year DD wants to host but she doesn't really have room .As usual we've over catered but there's no telling DH.

1. I'm going to make November payday weekend, the Christmas shopping weekend as opposed to my partners Christmas Eve shopping day - (when I then spend literally hours wrapping presents for his family)
2. I will NOT under any circumstances be going to my in-laws. There! Said it!

Not going to my mother in laws

Cutting back

Hopefully I won't have to go to work this year!

I will cut back on presents a bit, but not to a minimalist level. I would like new stockings for the dc, nice ones that will last for the rest of their childhoods. Hopefully I'll get tickets to Kielder Winter Wonderland this year, they sold out too quickly for me this year.