Anyone started prep for 2018?

[cheesemumma]

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?

[NoWordForFluffy]

I've got the ingredients for my mincemeat coming at the end of this month, so will get on with it then, get some good maturing time in!

[TheGirlWhoLived]

ooh I have a christmas spreadsheet too! It is a multi tab affair with formulae to add everything up as you go along

sadly I have a mac though, so it's on Numbers, I am happy to send it if any mac fans are short on a christmas spreadsheet, no?

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Yep. Booked to go away for my first Christmas on my own. Lovely hotel, log fires, delicious food and glorious walks along the beach.

[JurassicGirl]

My DS 's birthday has been & gone & now I'm really focusing on Christmas yay!

Just ordered a pushsheen duvet set from Next for DD9- she'll love it!

I love buying for my DC but get quite stressed buying for the rest of the family so thinking I'll seriously start them now so I'm not panicing about it when I really want to be wrapping dc presents & watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (my favourite Christmas film!)

Last year was the first year I haven't left wrapping up too late & been up at 3am Christmas Eve still wrapping & it was bliss! Definately doing that again.

My 3 dc have colour coded wrapping paper (saves labelling) which I usually buy every year but I think I've still got loads left from last year - must check in the attic! However, I'm using up all other paper for everyone else this year otherwise it'll still be in the attic in 10 yrs!

We tend to only do token gifts for adults which is great but I struggle to make them interesting.

I really like getting nice shower gel, bubble bath, soap, moisturiser & slippers because I can use them, they don't clutter up the place & it's something I don't have to buy for myself. I know that maybe sounds a bit boring but I always stuggle to find places to put things & have enough 'stuff' of my own already!

DH also likes receiving useful things like shower gel, aftershave, t-shirts, alcohol etc so we're thinking maybe this sort of thing for family members token gifts. Anyone got any other ideas?

We buy more personal gifts for each other although rarely surprises as we usually discuss what we'd like :)

We're very much an 'enjoying the build up' family & decorations etc are down by NYE to start the New Year clean & tidy (ish)

On boxing day I add to my memo on my phone (been running a few years now) about what worked & what didn't. Really useful (& fun) to refer back to during the year.

[cheesemumma]

K, making good progress on t present buying front. Nearly finished my nephews and bought stuff for daughter. Would like to get all of xtended family and friends done and wrapped before end of Oct. Then concentrate on my daughter and husband for the real xmassy bit. Will try and get slot of bits in summer sales.