What will you do differently next year?

[NotEnoughTime]

As thread title.

For me personally I will NOT be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve/early hours of Christmas morning I say this every year

Tree will be put up BEFORE Christmas Eve day 🌲

I will not decide to replace the spare room curtains, that have been tatty for yonks, two days before guests arrive.

I will not be such a perfectionist, and decide that presents have to be given to all and sundry, including the ungrateful twat who actually threw part of his present in the mud, but managed to accept the bottle of wine that was with it....

I will keep some gift sets I won't use for the Secret Santa, rather than spend above the limit, and receive something literally 25% of agreed budget. I might still be annoyed, but won't actually have made a monetary investment

I will not insist on winging it whilst making braised red cabbage, leaving it too spicy to eat.

Not spend it with the in laws, I deserve a fucking medal. Both kids won't believe next year so I'm seriously thinking about saying we'll go away!

I wrap Christmas eve to stop the twitch. I didn't this year and took every ounce of strength.

Other than that, not much. More bottles of fizz.

go away.

seriously no one is interested in a family get together, it’s been lovely to have a quiet at home Christmas- but I’m dreading that because no one wanted the big all together day today, we are now booked in with visitors and visits for the next week so rather than get it over in one hit, I’m going to be re cleaning and keeping kids entertained in various older family members houses (where their plan for the day is to eat at the table for hours and talk, ok for one day but several on the run is going to be tough)

so yep, thinking I need to book the dog into kennels for next year - assume I need to basically book it Tuesday - then work out where we are going so we are out for the season!

We will most likely be hosting next year for the first time ever as we'll finally be in a house with enough space to do so. I'll definitely not be leaving all the wrapping until Christmas Eve again. And there will be wine on offer for anyone (me!) to help themselves throughout the day when they fancy a top up. Not 2 small glasses with the meal and then wine glasses washed and put away and only tea on offer for the rest of the day! I'm looking forward to getting back to our own house later on and pouring myself a nice glass of red!

I'm not doing secret Santa with my friends again. Every year, everyone says they want to do it. And every year someone doesn't get a gift because other people haven't been arsed to sort themselves out. This year I'm the one without a gift despite putting a beautifully thoughtful present together for the person I got, and sending it in plenty of time. 🙄

I’m happy everything went ok this year and I think it’s because I stopped worrying unnecessary and decided to go with the flow.
Its been very chilled and I think it’s what I will aim for from now on.

Actually one of the mums from dc2 a class lives round the corner and has flu, might go lick her so I’m off the hook for elderly visits this week.

Oh and 2 gifts have yet to arrive so next year I will book a day in November to go shopping rather than rely on postal service.

I hope you received a very heartfelt apology from the person who forgot and frankly they still owe you a gift and an explanation. If they really are a friend they will do everything they can to make it up to you. Otherwise if they aren’t fussed then they aren’t worth your time and energy.

I’ll avoid having the flu

Go abroad.

Any present with an element of something that should not be touched I will have to watch DD4 like a bloody hawk and not rely on the several adults sat around her to pay attention. One little live pets mama surprise. Mechanism switched off so she and her cousin can just play with the mama, for now. 5 minutes later and they're opening the hatch in the roof with the babies: "look we found the babies". Not one adult (and they knew how it worked) stopped them. 70 fucking quid and there goes the surprise.

Mama and her hutch have been confiscated away with the roof hatch taped down until later when I hope, it might be forgotten about 😤 😆

Not make the dinner spend 4 hours in kitchen and hardly anyone has eaten it with eating chocolates all day. I must remember this feeling this time next year. I want to spend a day sitting watching films and doing nothing.

Sal

@LimeCheesecake no, don't go and lick your neighbour, you'll get the flu too

I will buy presents in November as soon as my Etsy cashback vouchers come through, not traipsing around the shops 12 hours before we exchange gifts.

I will not prioritise work until the last possible minute and work out who works when in early Dec, when flights are already £££.

I will also somehow end up working all of Christmas and unable to even get on said flights, thus spending the holiday alone, thousands of miles away

Set the bottom oven 10 degrees hotter (first proper roast)

Nothing except hope my mum’s well enough to join us like she usually does. It’s been very relaxed but I miss her despite FaceTiming.

I'm a bit mystified by this. You only wanted them to play with half their present until you decided they could use it all? I wouldn't have got that at all and wouldn't have stopped a child fully investigating their toy so I'm not surprised the adults didn't intervene as you expected.

I’ll sew re-usable gift bags/sacks rather than wrap.

if the dog dies (and my health is ok) I’ll take us away to a hotel.

if not, we’ll have pizza. A “big roast” always seems like such a good idea - but it’s all so gross and sheer over-indulgence that none of us ever eat.

I will buy substantially less. DS has opened probably a quarter of his presents and is more than happy, still hasn't played with all of those he's opened and really doesn't need the rest tbh

I will be on a cruise from 21st December to 4th January (booked it online today)

*Wouldn't have got that as in wouldn't have understood or assumed that was what you wanted.

Go somewhere hot and sunny and do a completely different Christmas!

No santa visits woo hoo! DC will be too old for it.

More surfing, swimming, hiking, cycling and ENJOYING my 2 weeks annual leave doing what I want. 😊😊😊