Stashing and organising gifts

[TenCornMaidens]

I usually use a spreadsheet to keep track of everything I've bought but still end up feeling like I need to buy more. I am wondering about adding pictures of the gifts to the spreadsheet since I've seen some apps do that. Do you find it makes a difference having pictures? Do you have another way of reminding yourself vividly what you bought for people?

This is making me check my lists! Just bought some presents today 😊

Just note to anyone who stores in loft, please check and double check your loft roof for holes.

We took all our gifts out one Christmas Eve to find they had got wet, I had to dry what I could with a hairdryer and then rewrap.
Many tears were shed that night.

I have a bed that lifts up (there will be a proper name but it escapes me!) and I stash all the gifts under there. I have a box in there for stocking presents too, so on Christmas Eve I can just get the box out and decant into each stocking. Know of someone who bought two identical stockings per child, filled one up throughout the year and then on Christmas Eve hung the empty one on the door and just switched with the filled one when she went to bed. Absolute genius!

I have started to wrap presents later - always in December now. It always felt a bit flat doing it with no tree up! I was more organised but I did not have any Christmas vibes!!

OnlyToWin
Ottoman bed that's where I'm going to be keeping all mine this year.

Just thought of another tip, the stocking with bells look very nice but they make a lot of noise when trying to sneak in a child's room in the middle of the night!

@RainbowRaine - that’s it!! The problem I have is that I am too weedy to lift it up myself so I have to remember to ask DH to do it!! Pathetic really!!

@OnlyToWin I need to empty all mine out and find other homes for the stuff that normally lives under there.
I am thinking of using one section per child.
Will wrap and label once the space has been cleared.

It’s amazing how much can be stashed under it and it is also handy to keep long rolls of wrap.

I'm SO GLAD I started this thread. So many great ideas!

Stocking fillers

I use a carrier bag for each person with their names written on the outside of the bag.

Christmas Eve, DC get empty stocking, once they are asleep, I just empty the carrier bag into the stocking and done.

Stocking fillers that don't fit into the stocking get added to under the tree, Father Christmas must of decided they had been extra good so got extra presents.

I always add a drink (carton or sports bottle type) and a cereal bar (age depending) into the stocking, so I know they have managed to eat something other than just chocolate.

This year I am determined to be ahead for Christmas- I downloaded an iPhone app called ‘Christmas Gift List Tracker’ and so far so good as I end up making and losing so many paper lists! You can’t add a picture but you can add a website link and also the cost and whether it’s arrived/wrapped. In finding it great for boring present ideas as I go, or as they are mentioned by kids. We have a loft conversion so at a bit of a loss for present hiding spots though!!

Err sorry for typos - great for noting presents as I go, poor kids if it was boring presents only!

@OnlyToWin

I have a bed that lifts up (there will be a proper name but it escapes me!) and I stash all the gifts under there. I have a box in there for stocking presents too, so on Christmas Eve I can just get the box out and decant into each stocking. Know of someone who bought two identical stockings per child, filled one up throughout the year and then on Christmas Eve hung the empty one on the door and just switched with the filled one when she went to bed. Absolute genius!

I also do the identical stockings - it really does make things a lot easier.

I too fill a carrier bag with stocking gifts, name on outside, ready to decant.

I also do a present spreadsheet. In fact I do three - one for my husband, one for the kids and one for everyone else. No pictures but I do list the cost. I find that a sobering reminder! I do also have other spreadsheets but not for toys, just other Christmas plans (elf on the shelf, a calendar etc). I find it handy to do it all this way as there's no way the kids can stumble across it and I can get it on any device.

Also with the kids lists I tend to have a column for what type of toy it is (craft/doll/game/book etc) so I can quickly see if I think one has something missing. When it's ordered I turn the cell orange, once I have it I turn it green. When all cells are green they get wrapped.

Have finished buying for one DC, just everyone else to go.

I have bought a Christmas planner book so hoping that arrives soon and I can start filling it in before I forget what I have bought.

I do need Christmas wrapping paper so I can wrap as the presents arrive.

Mine have santa sacks so I spend a day wrapping in October (I usually have a week off without dc) and put it all in their sacks and in the loft ready to get down just before Christmas and hide in black sacks on top ofbour wardrobe. Stockings I sometimes buy ready filled stockings in the sales then transfer the gifts over.
I keep a list on my phone so I can keep check of the number of presents

I didn’t know you could get ready filled stockings! I’ve only ever seen pet ones. Stockings are my favourite part of Christmas! I always end up with too much stuff that I have bought over several months then end up having to keep some stuff back!

Oh I love this thread! I normally brainstorm ideas into a list in August then start browsing online and comparing. I start buying in September and like to be done before December. I have a big box and all the presents go in there. I take them out and lay everything into each person's pile around mid November then I make sure I haven't missed anything. I tick off my list as I go. I love to have it all wrapped as soon as people are putting their trees up so I can give them out.

I found a packet of malteasters yesterday that I must have put away for the kids Easter hunt. Happy to say I was very pleased and enjoyed them 😁

This is mine, and I love it! Card, present and food lists, plus I've written in all of my favourite Christmas recipes

I bought this one, had a quick flick through, not sure what I think of it yet.

Christmas Planner: A5 Holiday Organiser - Plan Cards, Gifts, Budget, Meals, Shopping Lists - Store Recipes, Lists, Notes & Much More - Everything you Need to Plan your Perfect Christmas www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978040903/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vCvrFbHGD9857?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I have the gift list app (works on both iPhone and android and can log in on more than one device) use for birthdays and Xmas. Can assign budgets to everyone and see spend against it and add photos (and notes) also allows to split joint gifts against individual budgets....

For stashing I put them in the back of a wardrobe but for kids use the loft and store inside our empty (and waterproof) suitcases and also use ikea storage bags for bigger stuff