Anyone else started a Christmas 2019 list yet?

[vodkaanddietcokeplease]

I seem to do this every year

Started my list for next year already - some 'big' gift ideas related to gifts I've given this year/food shopping list with anything I'd forgotten added on and anything I didn't bother with taken off. List of people who's cards I need to buy etc

It feels nice to do it while it's all fresh in my mind!

I'm not buying yet but I have ordered a prepaid debit card and put my first tenner on there to start saving for next year. Both kids have December birthdays and every year it's a last minute financial struggle. This year I set aside money each month into a savings account, but ended up transferring it back and spending it when I was short. I'm gonna give my mum the debit card and tell her not to give it to me until November 😂

@MeetOnTheSIedge that's a good idea! I really must try and do some more baking next Christmas, everything ended up shop bought.

@CishAndFips I'm glad it's not just us! It's so hard with working, by the time I get home and have a quick whip round, DH goes out to collect tea, kids need bathing etc then suddenly it's too late to do anything and I've collapsed in a heap on the couch

@duckling84 yes same here, I can easily pop a few things on for my eldest already based on her general interests, board games I usually try and pick up through the year, she likes craft things too

@AllGoodDogs great idea! I didn't even know there was such a thing as a prepaid debit card. I'm also going to save with my DM this year and get it back the beginning of November. As well as saving with her for gifts I'm going to try and put some money on a supermarket card to cover the big shop I think! I've got all good intentions.....

People may not agree but the key to a successful Christmas is the intrinsically planned details which one can divide into various sections of a jigsaw. You start with the edges which could otherwise be classed as the foundations. Whilst not always apparent, they become their own mini-projects or assignments in themselves and these take place throughout the year; Not to the extent of living and breathing Xmas 365, but in their own little pockets of sub-division which ultimately come together at the end to create the middle of the jigsaw and subsequent project.

For example, this kicks off which the post Xmas sales from the previous year. You need to identify presents (not main presents) but presents that will last the longevity of the year ahead, quite a skill in itself as you need to ascertain those presents which will still be in vogue, both age wise and social trends. Even wrapping paper can be purchased over the next few days/weeks. Not only does this facilitate a saving, it allows a present to be wrapped in September/October, thus Negating that last minute panic and rush. Make a note on your phone or your book of what you have bought and what you have spent, this will also allow to you track what you have.

Christmas planning does not have to be a mad rush. Xmas 2019 should start on Boxing Day and run until around mid-late November. Only thing left to do should be to put up your decs early December (say Sat 30th November 2019) already for the first day of advent on Sunday 1st and the big Xmas shop a few days before.

@TheRebelHedgehog I agree with everything you've said there! It's not about thinking of Christmas every minute of every day between now and then, rather doing like bits at a time to make it more enjoyable as it all comes together.
I have had rushed Christmas' in the past and have hated every minute. I already feel calm about next year with the few things I've noted

For my 2019 notebook:

Just give DS (he'll be 20 by next December ) money. We got him a couple of wrappable gifts ( H&M clothes, shower gels ) because there has to be something wrapped up. He got a CEH too . DS doesn't do "things" and all his life he has saved (bless him) .

DD had a Beauty Advent Calender made by moi and loved it ( I quite liked the challenge of finding new things for her - and they have to be Cruelty Free ). Start the search early .

Don't buy Christmas Cake . I didn't make one this year . Bought a small one . It was very peppery

Accept it'll just rain.

Job Done

@TheRebelHedgehog that's exactly it! Putting a few pieces together here and there.

We've just been into town for dd2's birthday & popped into Poundland. They had some crackers that together make a board game, reduced to 50p, so I bought a box of those to go away for next year.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget that's a good idea, I'm sure your DS will be able to get himself anything he needs  love the idea of a homemade beauty advent calendar! Have always fancied doing one but I'm worried that it would just end up full of tat for DD6. May bear it in mind for when she's older and would appreciate cosmetics/toiletries though.

@lucysmam great that you've got something to put away! I've found nothing yet to buy for next year, will keep my eyes peeled but not the end of the world if I see nothing.

Have just been thinking about 2019 birthdays and realised that no-one bought me a diary this year! Might have to treat myself. I have no birthdays (except DD2 now) the first half of the year, and then a manic June which seems to creep up on me so I want to start shopping early for those too.

No, definitely not the end of the world :) We had racing reindeer/Santa ones this year & they filled half an hour after Christmas dinner nicely so think these will do too. I'll keep my eyes open over the coming months and just add bits as I see them.

On the subject of diaries, I'm very much looking forward to transferring things into my new one over the weekend. Might be sad but it's one of my favourite 'jobs' at this time of year.

Like previous posters have said I won't be thinking about Christmas everyday but I do want to be organised next year so come December I can relax and enjoy the build up with the DC's. This year was very rushed and last minute and I don't want to repeat that next year.

I've been writing lists in my new notebook and my friend and I have scheduled in a shopping trip each month hopefully with lunch the deal being that we will buy at least one Christmas present.

For savings I'm transferring a little each month to an account I can't touch. I also have a lovely to shop card I'm going to top up each month. I'm hoping with the shopping trips that I won't need to use much of the savings so that can be used for day trips and the money on the card can be used for shopping in the January sales next year.

@lucysmam yes I'm looking forward to getting a new one! DH got me a very fancy one last year, but I'm not as generous with myself as he is with me 

@CishAndFips great idea! Love the agreement of going for lunch but making sure to get one Christmas gift

Out of curiosity, have any of you got plans already of what you'd like to do in the run up to Christmas? There's a couple of things at hotels in my area that I always like the look of for DC but never seem to be organised enough to get something booked!

@vodkaanddietcokeplease DC's will be nearly 9 and 4. I ideally want to do something each weekend.Ideas so far are
gullivers world santa package
Pantomime
Carol concert.

I got given a beautiful red notebook this year so obviously it’s become my Christmas planner. Started off with what worked/didn’t work this year. Budget done for next year and started gift lists for people. And for me ... so if I think of stuff I need or want I actually have an answer to that ‘and what would you like’ question. Glad I’m not the only one like this 😝

vodka we do fairly cheap things in the run up to Christmas -

*Yorkshire Wildlife Park Christmas fair (have annual passes & live about half hour bus ride away so easy to get to for a good walk round)
*local Christmas fair
*Dd1 is in the school choir so their carol service
*Panto on boxing day evening - walk to town, taxi home.
*Walk to town for sprouts, a wander round the market & hot chocolate on Christmas Eve, then everything's done and dusted barring food prep
*Late night shopping to see the lights in town - never spend very much, just a wander in Poundland & McDonald's or similar for tea

Don't forget the "at home" stuff too though! Mine both enjoy making mince pies (even dd2 who doesn't eat them!), making decorations, the odd Christmas film, shopping separately for each other and me/their dad.

hedgehog has it spot on! Things like wrapping paper and cards - get now. Save a fortune and can wrap as you buy.
Last year we picked up advent calendars in the sale (toy ones) and they went down brilliantly so keeping eyes peeled but also price tracking a few on Amazon.
Matalan alder hay pjs sell out so quickly, but You can estimate when they will be released based on previous years so I just pop it in my diary to remind me to check.
Make notes of gifts that went down really well - dd loved "the fight before christmas" and thought "the teenager who came to tea" and "we're going on a bar hunt" sounded fantastic so I will definitely get some more along those lines. Plus the fluffy Christmas socks went down really well so will try and pick up some during the sales.
Little details. It's not all consuming planning, just awareness. When people comment I always reply with "failing to prepare is preparing to fail".

Last Christmas I wrote an idea down as DSS’ GF mentioned a particular chocolate she loves so I would remember to buy her them this year. She was totally chuffed I remembered!

This Christmas I already came up with an idea for the DCs. They’ve been into film making for a while now and have their own “production company” :o this Christmas we got them a stop motion kit and I realised a good present next year if they are still into it would be t-shirts printed with the logo they’ve designed. Like a studio uniform.

I generally buy wrapping paper in the sales too as I’m fussy about it. I’ve not been well enough to go out yet so I’m hoping I haven’t missed the nice stuff.

Also I’m going to make notes on food this time, I really really want to try cooking a ham but I keep forgetting until too close to the day.

Yes. In fact I just bought a gift for each of the DC's stockings for next year in the Studio sale (personalised colouring pencils). I buy throughout the year as we have lots of Dec birthdays too and stocking gifts not really dependent on what they are into at any given moment.

@allgooddogs - great idea. I think I will do the same.

Also @southernmama, what are those vouchers?

I don't buy gifts any earlier than about November and definitely don't wrap as I go (I much prefer to do it in a couple of large sessions) but I have just picked up wrapping paper for 50p a roll in Sainsburys, it will go in the loft together with leftover cards and gift tags ready for next year (I do a little stocktake in November and top up cards then).

I make a list of what has gone down well and what hasn't everything from toys to food to games then next year I can try and concentrate on what I know will make a good Christmas

I make a list of when certain things go on sale or events start such as boots star gifts start, best fragrance deals were on black fri/cyber mon, Tesco had toiletries gift sets down to £2.50 about 3 days before Xmas etc

I do Christmas Crafts with the kids throughout December so if there's any reduced foam ginger bread houses, make your own Santa kits etc I buy and stash them

Big Christmas activity next year will hopefully be disney on ice

Try and top up Amazon account weekly so by next Xmas have a decent amount to spend on amazon, the prepaid debit card sounds good as well I was aware of them but didn't think of doing that so that could also be a good saving tool

Ah, I'm enjoying the company / thinking of this thread. Thank you!

As per ASJ0405 I have an automatic Amazon weekly payment deduction of £5.00 per week. Not enough to be missed but it accumulates to £260 over the year. I then dip in and out in throughout the year based on good deals at any given time.

I love the idea of topping up the amazon account. I hadn't thought of doing that but would come in very useful.

Yes the Amazon idea is great! I've ordered loads from there this year (helped by the free trial of Prime!)

Wondering if I pop into town today whether I'll still be able to get some decent cards/wrapping paper ready for next year...

Great idea for the wrapping paper and cards. This will be on my list next year, due to being completely disorganised this year we are a bit cash poor at the moment ( everything we need but not much cash to spare if that makes sense ) I'm not holding out much hope for cards and wrapping paper on the 15th.