Planning tips

[Cluedoclaire]

I've wandered over onto this board in the hope that some of you more experienced preppers may be able to help.
I always feel a bit overwhelmed at this time of year with the prospect of all the planning, buying, cooking etc.
Do you have any tips for me as to how to break things down into manageable chunks so Christmas doesn't seem one huge mountain of stress? (I do enjoy it when it comes to it just don't know where to start with it all!).
I'm hosting and will be cooking for 10 on the day with relatives staying either side.

I would start by working out who you'll be feeding/hosting and when.

Then work out your meal plan.

Start picking up non-perishables in your shopping now to spread the cost. Nuts, soft drinks, booze, crisps if the use by date is far enough ahead, crackers (both table and for cheese), extra loo roll, tin foil, salt, stock cubes, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, etc.

All the supermarkets and M&S do festive food to order. Pick up a brochure or two and decide what you are going to serve. I get my turkey etc from Morrisons - I'll do my order soon and pick it up on either Sunday 23rd or Christmas Eve. They do party food, deserts, pate and cheese too so you can get it all. The shops will all have lots of food in - ordering it just guarantees you will have it.

If you have the time and space you can freeze anything that can be frozen. Parboiled spuds and can coated in oil and frozen then used straight from the freezer. Veg dishes too. Gravy - Jamie Oliver's make ahead gravy is very popular.

Remember to buy enough milk to last from at least lunchtime on Christmas Eve until Boxing Day. The shops are only shut for a short while and you may be grateful of the excuse to nip to the shops to get an hour to yourself.

Try and do all your wrapping before your guests arrive.

If any of your guests are church goers then find out the times of the Christmas services.

Make lots of lists and keep referring to them.

I keep a running gift list on my phone so it’s always with me. If I get an idea for a gift I put it on the list. If I see something suitable I buy it and update the list.

Before keeping the list, I’d sometimes buy twice for someone or miss a gift. Or splurge over budget.

I aim to have most gifts bought before December which makes a massive difference to Christmas stress.

I like to do all my present shopping in October. Then in November prep Christmas food that can go in the freezer eg stuffings and some meals and soups. That leaves me free-er to enjoy all the busyness of December..

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the help. I have a mild panic at this time each year! It quickly passes but your replies have really given me food for thought and a starting place so I am very grateful.

If you have a computer, create lists on there - i have a spreadsheet .
Then you can copy it over for next year, save you thinking about it over again, just delete or add things as appropriate. If you haven't then buy a book, make lists and then draw some columns down the right hand side so you can tick them off, and have a few columns so you can use the same list next year.

So I have things like deciding on how I'll set the table, and all the items I need for that, whether I've got them or need to buy (candles, serviettes, flowers)

Cards, wrapping paper, tags, ribbon,bags, sellotape. I have people I send cards to in a book but you could put them on the computer too.

Presents - who I need to buy for (I do this on a separate page and don't delete the previous years so I can see what I've bought them before (and sometimes reuse present ideas for different people)

Household stuff I need to make sure I've got - toilet rolll, kitchen roll, tea, coffee, washing powder, washing up liquid etc

Then food plan, what I can buy ahead, what I can make ahead & freeze, what I need to buy fresh etc.
Time plan for Christmas dinner
Etc etc

A little time invested this year can make everything easier next