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Christmas

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Original poster

What will you do differently for 2020

107 replies

PinkJam · 25/12/2019 18:28

What will you do differently next Christmas?

I am going to be better organised and wrap as I go rather than wrapping everything in one go.

I have already decided to buy less, the kids love it just as much with fewer presents. I cut back a bit this year but am going to reduce again next year.

Instead of buying lots of smaller presents for family, I’m just going to buy one present for each person.

OP posts:
lucysmam · 25/12/2019 19:05

I'm going to write a separate list of suggestions for the girls, from their Nanna. We discussed gifts months ago, then at the beginning of this month, and she still duplicated things I'd already bought or said I had planned to buy. Also going to specify NO RANDOM SHIT. She's bought the girls dog shaped clocks...dd2's in particular ticks so loudly that I've removed the batteries because I thought there was something scrabbling about behind the cabinet (like a mouse)!

Everything was prepped and done by 2pm ish yesterday. That was nice, to be able to relax properly with nothing to do, so I'll try and repeat that.

Wrapping as you go sounds like a very good plan, it turns out I don't really like it very much & it was the last thing to be proerly finished.

Barbararara · 25/12/2019 19:05

I say this every year: simplify. I always over reach myself.

katienana · 25/12/2019 19:08

Ignore the m&s Turkey instructions that say gas mark 3. In my oven it definitely needs to be on 4.
Tesco Christmas pudding was crap and didn't come out of the basin whole.
Dont redecorate lounge 2 weeks before Christmas! Stressful.
Do buy extra gifts for kids at the last minute....they have been most played with items today!

WitsEnding · 25/12/2019 19:08

I'm going to let someone look after me for a change, not spend days shopping and cooking for lunch that is gone in an hour without anyone so much as offering to stack the plates.
Hotel or restaurant for me in 2020; whatever it takes!

MazDazzle · 25/12/2019 19:11

I will get my house under control! The sheer amount of crap I have is shocking. Although I don’t buy a lot, I am a hoarder and every room is a tip. I’m not naturally a tidy person and now that I have 3 kids, I don’t stand a chance!

Then Christmas came.

Next year I’d love to have a more organised house, before the chaos of Christmas.

lifeisgoodagain · 25/12/2019 19:18

Quiet Christmas, no kids, no parents, no stbexh!

Mixingitall · 25/12/2019 19:21

Not work on the 23rd and 24th, I’m really tired today and a day off would have made me more joyful!

My saving grace is that I was organised. We’ve not gone overboard with decorations, food or presents and it’s seemed just right.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 25/12/2019 19:23

Less presents for DD and I better have a kitchen with a dishwasher

Khione · 25/12/2019 19:52

Go abroad for Christmas

(Adult kids who want to do their own thing, no parents)

Serin · 25/12/2019 19:56

I so want to go to a ski chalet in the Alps next year.

Becsim · 25/12/2019 20:23

Fewer gifts! The amount of plastic packaging and wrapping paper etc we have is horrifying. I feel so guilty.

Wenchelda · 25/12/2019 20:47

As a pp said, I also cut down on the amount of gifts for dcs this year but think I could still do less and they'd be happy.

We didn't have a full on Xmas dinner, instead we had a party food buffet and have just grazed all day ... seemed strange at first but was definitely far less stressful than cooking a full roast with all the trimmings so think I will continue with that idea next year.

I've just heard about some friends who have gone away to Butlins with their dcs for Xmas and I'm starting to really like that idea so may look into that (or similar) for next year.

Stompythedinosaur · 25/12/2019 22:09

Not loads - we had a lovely day! Just do prep earlier - even though I was the most organised I've ever been I still was up to the early hours wrapping last min presents and prepping food.

Getting the house under control is my biggest issue, I have made massive leaps forward in the last year, but I'm hoping it will be better again next year.

thr33andme · 25/12/2019 22:12

I'm going to buy less and buy meaningful gifts throughout the year to save on cost.

We're booking Christmas dinner out for the first time.

I'm going to buy garlands fo decorate the door frames and a wreath for the front door.

Doilooklikeatourist · 25/12/2019 22:17

I’m going to get a much smaller turkey and make Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve , then I can relax and just enjoy Christmas Day
DC are both grown up , so don’t mind , DH does , but he doesn’t do the cooking

BedraggledBlitz · 25/12/2019 22:27

Buy less for DC. 5yo played with one present for an hour before even looking at other stuff. Couple of things haven't even been opened yet. I've siphoned some things away and plan to give them to charity next week.

Also I'll not buy throughout the year. He's suddenly too old for the stuff I bought in summer.

Also I will probably host next year. Parents spent most of the day complaining about how tiring it all was. I believe them, but it didn't make us feel especially welcome!

We3kingsoforientareandabump · 25/12/2019 22:36

Next year will be the year I remember the bloody batteries!

Verily1 · 25/12/2019 23:00

All bought and wrapped by the end of November.

Plan it like an event with tasks by set dates up to months before- be more organised with things like cards/ wrapping paper/ logistics.

CandyCaneLane0 · 25/12/2019 23:04

Spend less on family and don't buy ds's presents til closer to Xmas

flowerstar19 · 25/12/2019 23:05

This is a great thread - making me think!

Be more organised, definitely! Next year I would like all parcels bought & cards written by the end of November. Plus book up an activity for the kids as we left it all a bit late this year!

Once I have used up all existing wrapping paper I will use brown paper, recyclable tags & recyclable tape.

Maybe throw in a pre-Christmas clearout too! Dreading taking home all the new stuff and trying to find homes for it!!

GogoGobo · 26/12/2019 08:26

Cut back on the amount of desserts I bought. The kids eat so much chocolate and the adults like the savoury stuff we don’t need an individual dessert planned for every meal!

Original poster
PinkJam · 26/12/2019 08:55

Yes to getting the house in order well in advance. I was cleaning each evening in the week before Christmas and don’t want to be doing that next year. I always think things will take less time than they actually do!

OP posts:
ConstantlyCooking · 26/12/2019 11:00

Definitely write cards and letters over a few weeks in November. D
Also pack things away better so I can bring things down from the loft in an organised way.
Definitely buy another ikea tree- it has been a success!
'Book' a December weekend for Christmas prep so I am not running around like a mad thing during the last week (I always forget how busy work is in the last week).
On the plus side I didn't lose any presents this year!

Ithinkwerealonenowtiffany · 26/12/2019 11:30

Stop buying for my brother and SIL. He gives no thought to anything he buys me nor DH (a stinky reed difuser from a supermarket and a 1L can of extra strong beer as in 10% vol that DH doesn’t drink). Every bloody year, just gonna give their kids money from now on.

hopeishere · 26/12/2019 12:17

Buy the Christmas pudding I made it this year and it was a bit meh!

I'm actually pleased with the cutting back I did on food and presents. There's just enough food in the fridge today which is good.

Kids liked their presents Smile

Ideally I'd like to go skiing next year just me DH and the kids.