Best Christmas Tips - all in one place

[Kirst26]

I thought we could have a tips thread where we could share tips relating to Christmas budget, planning, food, household things etc all in one place that help remove stress and hassle!

Mine would be:

• Parboil the potatoes a day or 2 before Christmas and then keep them uncovered in the fridge, they develop a starchy crust that roasts up beautifully
• Stock up on bin bags, toilet roll, ibuprofen, ketchup etc before December, its an expensive enough month without having to get too many basics in as well
• Sign up for newsletters for places like Clinton Cards and you usually get 10% off your first order
• Start buying things like peanuts etc before the Christmas stuff hits the shops, it'll be cheaper if they aren't in Christmas packaging
• If you start buying non-perishable food early make sure to have a list where it can easily be ticked off so you don't end up duplicating things
• Plan the Christmas dinner out as soon as you know the weight of your turkey with resting time factored in - you'll soon notice if that would mean getting up at 4am and would be able to move eating time to later on in the day with no fuss. I have a full timetable typed up that I just amend the time I need to start putting things in depending on the turkey size - keeps me calm :)
• Check how long the meat will need to defrost as it always takes way longer than I think it will
• if gifting choccies etc, best tell the recipient not to keep it next to the fire/radiator

If anyone has any other top tips please share them here!

Marks and Spencer do brilliant cook from frozen breakfast pastries so we have those on Christmas Day.

I used disposable foil trays on the day which are a good help.

I have a 3 tier steamer which I like to use for veg. Saves steaming up the kitchen/diner as I can put it in the utility room and it saves a spot on the hob.

I get my phone and read through the what you did and didn’t like from various food shops threads on here and I make notes on what we bought, liked and didn’t like. Particularly good with M&S. Example, Colin the Caterpillar was artificially sweet in 2020 and a bit dry. I’m know not to order that in 2021.

Be wary of the pitfalls of technology especially if you let little ones use your phone.

Switching to private browsing makes it less likely that ads for what you’ve bought or were looking for, will follow you round the internet.

Confirmation and despatch email notifications popping up on the home screen aren’t ideal either.

Also be aware that many companies, who should know better (Disney& Smyths, I’m looking at you) send out products in clearly emblazoned packaging or worse, without any at all (and a dirty big address label that doesn’t easily peel off). If ordering from Amazon, you sometimes have to select that you want packaging.

Thats a really good shout too thelegohooverer. I heard last year about someone's 10 year old asking the Alexa what Amazon orders there had been recently...

Think about the balance of flavours when planning your Christmas dinner menu - I have found in the past that you can have some amazing side dishes (like brussels or carrots jazzed up with this and that) which are lovely on their own but either over power the turkey or dont necessarily work that well together.

Also rest the turkey for a good amount of time, I don't even worry about cooking roast potatoes etc until after the turkey comes out :)

Thinking of the dinner, prep as much as you can in advance to be reheated on Christmas Day, so for us:

• Carrot and swede mash is either boiled, mashed and frozen in advance or I use Aunt Bessie's - just needs microwaved for around 8 mins and its blooming lovely.
• I parboil my roast potatoes a couple of days before and keep in the fridge but you could parboil and freeze way ahead.
• Freeze pigs in blankets.
• We have proper mushy peas, soaked overnight in honour of my partners nan who always made them for his families Christmas dinner. Again, soak and cook fully and then freeze once cool. Put in the fridge on Christmas eve to defrost and just reheat perhaps with a little water.
• Make Yorkshire puddings a week or 2 before - fully cook, then chill and freeze in freezer bags. Put in a hot oven for a few mins on Christmas Day and its as though they were made there and then.
• Gammon is cooked on Christmas eve, along with sausage rolls.
• I actually prefer frozen Brussels sprouts to fresh as I find them generally to be sweeter and smaller, just cook them on the day for a few mins however you like them. I actually prefer mine just plain boiled.

Once things are reheated, I just put them in the oven to keep warm covered in foil.

One thing I would say when making veg etc in advance is that the freezing process intensifies the salt in the dish so I either don't add any or I add a lot less and just salt them on the day (the mushy peas, carrot and swede mash etc)

Mmm, getting hungry now!

I have decided this year after seeing this thread to start making lists and get sorted early.
Also going to suggest to ils to do secret santa for adults. They always complain they get to much/we need to stop doing it etc and this year we arent sure if fil will make it to xmas (cancer. Given 3-6mths shortly after easter) so i know they really wont be bothered about presents/buying them.
Dp however insists on buying everyone a pile of stuff so he will take some convincing.

Also thinking of getting a jar and putting in a load of christmas activities that the kids can pick one out through december for something to do. (Make wrap paper, read a christmas story, christmas movie, etc)

Started buying non perishables this week when on offer and making a list as i go.

I plan on getting started with kids main gifts this week as i keep hearing there will be shortages.

Good shout re taking the clips/wire out of toys boxes. Does my fkn tits in trying to remove them when they are shouting to play with it.

I dinner from scratch. Love it. No starter so just the main as dessert usually bought in. May make something this year or mum might if i ask.

Christmas eve am thinking soup and finger foods. Might do my ham to have with it and save rest for the dinner. I usually soak mine overnight in apple juice/cider before cooking

Re the dinner. My 4 kids (ds8 dd3 dt2) are the fussiest eaters known to man.
They dont usually do roast dinners, eldest defo not, the younger ones sometimes will eat the mash and roasties and gravy etc.

Do any of you do anything different for the kids rather than see plates of food not touched??

I love this thread so much thank you everyone who has contributed so far.

Every year I tell myself I’ll start early but I almost need that time pressure of December to get my brain in gear and get on with it. I’ll definitely try harder this year.

Some of these posts almost making me want another baby for tiny person Christmas time again!

Hairwizard
Yes! Our Christmas dinner includes baked beans for this reason it means there is something DS will eat (occasionally pigs in blankets will be acceptable too but there's no guarantee) otoh he always eats pudding so it's not like he's going to starve.
We also serve beef because nobody likes turkey so it would feel mean not to make something he likes my mother still doesn't approve

@Kirst26

Thats a really good shout too thelegohooverer. I heard last year about someone's 10 year old asking the Alexa what Amazon orders there had been recently...

There is a way of turning off Alexa parcel notifications but I'm not confident I can do it properly so I have a separate amazon account for presents. It's not a prime account so have to wait longer for delivery but I try to order stuff early anyway.

@Hairwizard

Re the dinner. My 4 kids (ds8 dd3 dt2) are the fussiest eaters known to man. They dont usually do roast dinners, eldest defo not, the younger ones sometimes will eat the mash and roasties and gravy etc.

Do any of you do anything different for the kids rather than see plates of food not touched??

Ours are very keen on the pigs in blankets. One year they requested a small roast chicken and gazillions of pigs in blankets - they were delighted with that!

DD's first Christmas Dinner was 2 petit filous yoghurt, some mini cheddars and a banana!

I don't cook Christmas Dinner on Christmas day - it can be such an overwhelming day, so we do a buffet that we just graze at.

Would that work?

(I still do Christmas Dinner, just not on Christmas day.)

Forgot about pigs in blankets! They like the 'baby sausages' so will stock up. Eldest will eat streaky bacon if burnt to a crisp so will put on extra. No point fighting with them.
I enjoy doing the christmas dinner and the day wouldnt be the same without for me or dp.
I just prep all the evening before. I dont have to cater to big numbers so its not overwhelming anyway.
Suggested secret santa idea to sil and she has said to just buy for dc and ourselves they really dont need anything just. The same is said every year and i know she means it but then dp wont have it🙄 and insists on buying stuff. I try to keep it simple but then he goes and buys more stuff himself🤬 when he does his last min dash the weekend before.

Going to do a reccy of smyths later and maybe get some bits in. One of the twins loves the hoover so i might get the dyson one they have

@Kirstos1

Really good tips here! Not environmentally friendly but I admit to using disposable roasting trays for Christmas dinner. The thought of washing up something the turkey has been sat in for a few hours is enough to push me over the edge...

Ensure you have plenty of easy and simple meal options for the days in between when you want something simple.

If you put a couple of t.bags into your roasting tin that caked in crispy bits from the potatoes etc and pour on boiling water, leave for 20 mins or so and wash, it comes off like a dream

though I am with you at Christmas, disposable trays are a must

Ooh these all look great. I will return with mine

@Cheeeeislifenow

I won a 500 pound voucher for Aldi the other day, I'm saving it all for Christmas, I realise that's not a tip but I am just so happy about it 😊😊😊

Love this!

I do a lot of the above, but have the following two tips to add:

• if you have any large boxed deliveries in the months leading up to Xmas keep the box, then wrap a load of presents, fill the box and tape it up. The children just think that it's a hoover box (or whatever) and you know your wrapped gifts will stay neat and tidy, hidden together in plain sight where little eyes can't see them.

• if you are doing Xmas dinner for a lot of

People use your (and if necessary borrow more than one) slow cooker to keep everything warm. Perfect for storing cooked pigs in blankets, roast potatoes etc if you are waiting on things to finish cooking.

I save all my Tesco vouchers up throughout the year. Then come November/December, I've got a ready-saved budget for Christmas food and treats.

I use online banking and have a separate account for 'Annual Spends' - birthdays, Christmas, School uniforms & shoes, Winter coats & boots. I made a list of the average costs for it all, divided it by 12 months/year, and set a standing order to come out automatically just after I get paid each month.

Maybe more a budgeting tip than a Christmas one! But it certainly makes the whole process more relaxed.

if you decide to make items for Christmas gifts be realistic. it would be nice to make lots of lovely jumpers for everyone but in reality, you won't have time will get stressed and will be running around on Xmas eve desperately looking for a substitute gift instead. be realistic knit some lovely accessories instead such as gloves and scarfs which will come in very handy after Christmas.
same with any craft make sure you are realistic and buy craft supplies start making in plenty of time.

@PatriciaBateman

I save all my Tesco vouchers up throughout the year. Then come November/December, I've got a ready-saved budget for Christmas food and treats.

I use online banking and have a separate account for 'Annual Spends' - birthdays, Christmas, School uniforms & shoes, Winter coats & boots. I made a list of the average costs for it all, divided it by 12 months/year, and set a standing order to come out automatically just after I get paid each month.

Maybe more a budgeting tip than a Christmas one! But it certainly makes the whole process more relaxed.

Awesome, any tips that might make it easier for someone else are welcome here

I've got a tip - don't buy too much food as it never gets eaten!!

@Remmy123

I've got a tip - don't buy too much food as it never gets eaten!!

I've tried to follow as many tips as possible on here, but think I have failed at this one. Again...

I definitely buy to much food - the fear of not having enough when hosting is real - it does eventually get eaten though, nothing goes in the bin. We just end up still eating Christmas treats in January!

Oh, and too late for this year, but my top tip is to designate DH as house roast dinner cook. We have a roast every other Sunday during winter so he gets lots of practice (and I get a couple of hours on those Sundays to prep presents) and it 'just makes sense' for him to do it Christmas day as well.

I get to show off my culinary skills with a Christmas Eve party food buffet (or just use m&s) that I don't miss anything fun to make as the guests don't arrive to evening, and boxing day is strictly eating up leftovers/cheese/ham etc. I freeze a meal for the day after boxing day (which could always be bought forward if we run out of food, though we never do!).

We also do adult secret Santa which makes life a lot easier.

@BikeRunSki

You can freeze parboiled peeled potatoes, then roast as usuaI. I do mine a few weeks in advance, before the chaos of Christmas starts.

Wish I gad read this thread, and this, weeks ago