I know I must be crazy but bought matching Xmas jumpers for the family in the next sale last week and booked our panto tickets.
Got to admit a little excited already.
What does anyone else do throughout the year?
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Anyone started prep for 2018?
180 replies
cheesemumma · 01/03/2018 07:33
OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy ·
10/04/2018 07:38
@SpecialK24, @BiddyPop is ultimate Christmas organiser. Nothing gets past her at all!
I thought I was organised until I came across Biddy; I'm actually a total amateur! 
SpecialK24 ·
10/04/2018 09:36
I'm envious 
I have great intentions to be more organised and buy stuff early etc but with 2 toddlers and working I find it hard to fit everything in! I did pre cut my Xmas drink labels so I can just glue them on to my chosen drink for the kids stockings and I have an Xmas draw full already but you lot are super mums xx
BiddyPop ·
10/04/2018 09:48
Thanks Fluffy, but I'm not that organised - lots of things don't happen in our house!
SpecialK24 I'm not fab at excel but I can do basic formulae etc on it. So I built a spreadsheet with columns for :
everyone's names,
a basic budget amount,
ideas column,
a column for "have" (which is words early on to show what's been bought or made already, but as it gets closer, that changes to Y, W, S for yes, wrapped, sent - or whatever stage its' at yet - the actual present words are changed in the ideas column to what has been bought),
a "make" column,
a "yet to buy" column (both those 2 are words columns),
and then 4 columns of figures - yet to spend, spent, total, over/under budget.
The main formulae are:
the total column is adding yet to spend and spent columns together.
over/under column is taking total from budget column.
end of each column is totalled also, to show how much my overall budget is, how much I still expect to have to spend, how much I have already spent, overall actual totals and an over/under expected budget.
Every year, I just copy and paste the current page for next year, clear out all the actual presents and re-do the budgets, and start again. And adjust column widths (ideas is always wide, but I have it set up to print wide (landscape or whatever the tech term is...).
Underneath the main list, I have some ideas for craft projects that might be useful to consider. And some years if I am very organised, I log what's in my present box, that has no assigned person yet. But most years, I'm not that organised.
And it means I can make sure I don't forget the after school club driver who always gives the DCs sweets, or the particular person who has been really helpful one year, by just adding them in. Or give people the same thing 2 years running (I did that to at least 1 DSis at least once, and while DM loves Chanel No5, I prefer to not give that too frequently but try to find other things at least 3 out of 4 years, or too many years of golf or gardening stuff for DF).
But then I can easily delete a line when some people are no longer needing a present (like DD has left after school club, or an elderly DGranAunt has passed away).
bananasandwicheseveryday ·
10/04/2018 10:05
I tend to buy presents when I see suitable items throughout the year. I often find I buy a Christmas gift at the same time as I buy the recipients birthday gift, or at least I find it easier to think of ideas when I'm just concentrating on one person rather than the 20 or so that we buy for at Christmas.
I have an app that I use to keep track of spending, thoughts and ideas. Like Rohston, our biggest and best Christmas present this year will be the sage arrival of our first grandchild in a couple of months time. And no doubt he-she will be our biggest expense too! Can't wait - baby will be the first of the next generation on both sides of the family and the first baby in either family for many years. 
JurassicGirl ·
10/04/2018 13:12
I've started
I'm aiming to buy all my DC's basic presents throughout the year & then only buy the main things in December.
Also have concluded that 'less is more' with regards to toys as they just get overwelmed so to keep the pile under the tree nice & big we're getting the following:
Need 3 of each!
Duvet cover set - got 1
Dressing gown - got 2
Pyjamas - got 1
Bed/slipper socks - got 2
Book(s) - got 1
Bath stuff
School lunch bag - got 1
Hobby supplies/equipment (new swim shorts, bag or leotard etc)
Matching pyjamas for Christmas Eve (don't do a box just have new pjs & watch a dvd etc) these were a £4 Matalan bargain!
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