Early planners and the Super Organised

[Charrington]

Disclaimer: Yes, I do know it’s August however I’m posting this in the Christmas Forum where people discuss Christmas related matters all year round.

If you get started on Christmas organisation well in advance, could you share a timeline of tasks or any good tips?
Thanks in advance!

Love this thread! Thanks for starting! Can I ask is organised mum method different to organised Christmas? Is it/ are they apps? Thanks

@AlwaysFoldingWashing i think organises Christmas is a Facebook group/blog/website pages from The organised Mum.

My tips are:

-book any must have activities now if you have your heart set on a certain light trail/polar express etc. You’ll get someone sneering on MN about how it’s months away but the reality is that this stuff sells out.

-have the conversation NOW with people if you don’t want to exchange gifts or reduce what you do. November is too late to have this chat as people will have started buying. I’ve just lost my job which gives me a good excuse

-I’m a crafter and often make things but I have a strict deadline of finishing all craft gifts by 1 December, otherwise I have a miserable, stressful month frantically knitting scarves etc.

This year I’m starting earlier than usual, this month, as I have two major exams the first week of December. Starting to plan what goes in my handmade calendar, decorating ideas, designing and building the gingerbread playhouse. I make alot of our decorations and they all go up the evening of 30th November, prepping them now so they can just be put up that night and I’ll know what goes where. Making plans for the north Pole breakfast and shopping list. Have my minute to win it games planned and prepped, Christmas crafts listed and prepped so I can just grab and go with them

Alongside meal planning and freezer stashing meals for the months of October, November and first part of December to give myself a little respite over that time

We’re away for actual Christmas but the few weeks lead up is a big part of Christmas for us. Knowing the first week I’m going to have my head in revision books is hard but hopefully if I’m organised my DD won’t notice too much

Most of my planning is to do with saving money, although I genuinely do enjoy planning for it all year around.

I have a Christmas planner (red & gold, very festive) that I keep with me all year. I write what I need to buy, what I’ve bought and how much I’ve spent, so it helps me keep track of budgets. All the Christmas recipes are in there, along with notes about what not to bother with again, and anything else Christmas related.

Christmas activities normally go on sale around summer, so my phone pops up with reminders that tickets for various things go on sale that day.

I shop whenever I see a bargain that someone I know would like, even if it’s January. I have a plastic tub in the bottom of my wardrobe and anything Christmassy gets put away there, so I’m not hunting for things come December, with another storage box for wrapping paper and cards. Also, I try and put a few pounds away for January; I got some beautiful glass baubles for 25p each this year from our local garden center. Next’s Clearance section are really good in the first half of the year for cheap Christmas themed clothing for babies and toddlers so I’m always dipping in and out of there.

I keep an eye on use by dates and get all my non perishables well in advance, so December shops are very relaxed and easy.

I save up my Nectar points all year and have a pee pot for loose change that gets started every January. Both make a big dent in the cost.

Within days of Christmas, we know where we’ll be planning to be the following year. This year we’ll be at my in laws and some of my family are coming too, so I’ve already worked out with MiL what we’ll be bringing (she’s not a big planner but is used to Christmas obsessed DH) and we’re writing lists of what food everyone wants, so nobody is unhappy because there are no After Eights. We always still order a turkey in October and have another dinner and cold meats/pickles once we’re home, so that’s my Plan B in case anyone falls ill and we can’t go.

I’m a crafter so if I decide to do anything poncey, it starts in summer.

Good idea to empty down the freezer in October , and also gives a chance to defrost and clean it ..

I have the main fridge/freezer and two small ones in the garage so we can move things about . I try to keep a good watch on what we have stored .

DD likes her winter bedding on by Nov 1st (not Christmas but heavy duvet and brushed cotton) so thats as good a time as any to wash and store the summer duvets .

Carpet shampoo

Clear a shelf in the pantry for Christmas food and everyone knows . Normally pantry and fridge food is free rein but even my DS will ask "Are those After Eights for Christmas or can I have some"?

I used to do a £2 tin ( the ones you open with a can opener) , we cashed it in end November , but since Covid we're not using cash so no coins
It was one of the highlights to guess how much was in there .
It got split 4 ways and each person bought themselves a treat ,

I don’t follow any specific method, my own personal organisation is to be done by the end of September. That’s my DCs & DH bought for, Christmas activities booked and all “must haves” booked/paid for or arranged by then. I try to wrap as I go so no mad wrapping in December. It dosnt always work but I try.

Two out of three of my dcs have already done their lists. I limit what they can ask Santa and us for. They always get more than what they ask for, but I know I have their important must haves bought and paid for early by limiting their lists. I’ve already got DD3s main present and enough to say I’m 98% of the way there for her. DD1s list is very easy this year and not bank breaking and dd2 I’ve bought quite a few small bits for already.

Anyone else we must buy for are DHs family and I no longer worry about them, I have a budget and just buy to suit that, if I get them sorted by September great, if not it’s not a huge expense to pick something Christmassy related up in the run up to Christmas. Other than MIL ( who I’ve already got this year) & FIL everyone else tends to get Christmas themed wine, chocolates or biscuits these days.

One excellent tip I got off here is when giving cash put it away in a card early. We give out 6 lots of £20s, I’ve already put 3 away in cards and will do the next 3 over the next 3 months, so that will save me £120 Christmas week when I usually draw the money out.

Notes and Lists are a must. It dosnt matter how you do it but keep a list and put in your calendar and cut off dates. I also note where I hide things!

I still shop in the run up but it’s not essential, I love buying extras for the kids and I feel I can afford an odd treat when I’m out if I’m not having to buy must have essentials. I buy a lot of novelty bits as my DCs are still young and enjoy anything Christmas themed.

We don’t arrange stuff over December, DCs school Christmas events, local community events and what every I’ve booked for Santa or show wise is enough. We don’t arrange nights out, DH may go to his Xmas party but he dosnt drink as we prioritise the kids events. We do any of our own socialising after Christmas Day so we aren’t dealing with hangovers when it’s the kids events. My parents were never around, always out at one Christmas do or another and always hungover or busy working to spend time doing Christmas stuff so I’m the opposite.

I don’t like filling Christmas week, we see one of DHs relatives that week, Santa is usually this week and that’s it. Christmas week is getting the house ready, chilling watching movies, Christmas crafty stuff, we may nip out to buy any last minute or forgotten bits and I will do a food shop which will cover Christmas dinner. Last year we were all done early so we decided to go to a local town shopping centre, we chilled nosing around the shops, enjoyed tea, cakes and hot chocolate, kids spent a few £ each but it was just a trip to enjoy the atmosphere rather than a stressful we need to buy stuff trip.

Christmas Eve the house is ready to go. Lunch is sandwich’s and dinner is take away so no cleaning. We refuse to go anywhere but if people want to pop in that’s fine, but the day is about chilling, and watching Santa on the Santa app delivering gifts across the world, early baths and prepping for the big man’s arrival.

I have health issues which is why I like to be done early, I never know when I will be wiped out in bed so I make sure nothing needs doing last min and just in case I have forgotten something it’s not a big deal for DH to do on top of working and looking after the kids.

When I was younger I loved the crazy bustle of busy Christmas shopping, crowded pubs and being laden down with shopping bags. Now it’s my worst nightmare, I just want to chill and enjoy watching my kids enjoy the build up.

I echo all the above and add that over the years, I’ve pared things back. I keep things simple and don’t try to have three different homemade desserts or a complicated meal on Boxing Day.

I feel I’m now into a good routine…

• start looking for presents and stocking fillers from now onwards
• booked all of our Christmas activities already
• order DC’s new Christmas pyjamas in September (as soon as they’re released)
• use named present stickers for each DC and their stocking fillers are wrapped in different colour tissue paper. Presents for DC are hidden away, everyone else’s go under the tree
• write cards and post by 30th November (I’ve significantly cut down the list to about 20 old family/friends)
• book in the oven cleaner guy for early December
• order Christmas food in early December for collection on 23rd December

@Twilightstarbright thank you for the info. Sorry to hear about your job, hope you manage to find something else quickly.

Love this, I definitely feel the need to get started.

My main tip is that I keep lists in the notes app on my phone - present ideas for the kids, DH and me (as I always draw a blank when my mum puts me on the spot about what DH and I want). It’s helpful for preventing upset when the kids spot something they want (“let’s put it on your list”). I have it going all year to use for birthdays too.

I buy as much as possible secondhand, so I’ll start looking now to find what I want. Prices tend to go up in about Nov, which is another reason to look early! I like to be done by mid Nov, not least because one of my kids has a mid Dec birthday.

Our Christmas is pretty small so it’s not a huge organisational affair, either we will host my parents at ours, or we’ll be at my mums and some combo of step siblings will be there. This is the first year that we have both me working and kids at school, so that will have some impact.

I love Christmas and my Christmas prep starts in Jan, i go in to the card factory and pick up cards, paper, gift bags in their Jan sale so I have it all at a cheaper price.
If I see presents (mainly things I think my kids would like ) when I am out shopping I will pick it up
I keep a Christmas note pad with the lists of things I have bought
I also write down who I need to buy for and any ideas, then if I see it I buy it.
look around now for bargains, got my dd a hair curly from Argos which is down to £30 at the moment. On other websites it £100.
I have a wish lists on the Argos app and it tell
Me if the stuff on there has dropped in price.
If people tell me an idea I will open a web page with that item on and it will stay there til I have bought it.
Nothing wrong with buying from charity shops, second hand.
My dh likes cheese so I will always preorder it so I don't have to think about it closer to the time.
If you have dc's look now on vintage/ eBay for a Christmas jumper, if they have Christmas jumper day at school.
Same with Christmas pj's
Will start getting food around oct, lots of stuff can go in the freezer, or if it's other foods/ drinks they can be put in a cupboard.

Forgot to add everyone in our house has a different colour wrapping paper so there is no need for gift tags

We did the wrapping paper for each person too . When the DC were little and there had to be a Big Box Present , Costco 4x roll were brilliant as though they were different , there were always 2x2 that toned together nicely .

For dc, I usually wait until after dd birthday in September as I never know what’s she’s getting, that being said I’m always on the lookout for offers. I always concentrate on the big stuff first, if I come by other smaller stuff for stockings etc then I’ll buy it. But I find once the big stuff is sorted a weight has been lifted and I can relax a bit.
the food - we buy the cupboard stuff if and when we see it on offer, I usually save points, co-op, nectar etc and use them to purchase the Christmas food. when the Christmas special food comes in, party stuff etc I buy asap if it’s freezable then that leaves less hassle nearer the time and the only things I have to buy is the fresh. Me and my mum have it down to a tee, have done for years…

Also placemarking 🎁🌲🎅

I feel so unprepared and I'm absolutely heartbroken I've not had a Christmas planner (I am.a BIG planner and have always been).
This year I feel a little lost, 2 teens 16 and 14 and me. They will be off to their dad's at some point but I struggle with the 'activities ' now they are older. Maybe an overnight trip to a Christmas Market and some ice skating.
I also pick up bits in the year when I see them, have 'staple' items for.stockings which I grab when I can. I add an extra item into my shopping from September.
I love Christmas, Christmas eve is generally my favourite day 😍🎄🎄

At the moment I’ve got a date to book Santa when the tickets get released and I’ve started to look at advent calendars. My child is still a toddler so I’m still figuring things out but this year I want to add a bit more magic as he understands a lot more. He has a winter birthday so I’ve got a loose plan for presents for both. I’ll also start adding food to our weekly shop soon.

There's a Facebook group and if you have the TOMM app then you get Organised Christmas on there too. Gemma (the Organised Mum) posts what's happening each week on Facebook too.

@Charrington Fab idea for a thread! Have enjoyed reading though everyone’s posts and got some good ideas from here.

I have started to make lists for what to buy.
Eldest DD has been asking for a Live Pets Mama Surprise for a while so assumed that would be her main present. But then I saw it in Smyths recently and it looked massive! So think I’m gonna have to hope she chooses something else nearer the time.

For nieces and nephews 5 and under I am getting them a book and some pyjamas with their favourite characters on. Got some Postbox themed tins from M&S with chocolate coins in to go with them - in date until summer next year so fine to buy now.

Need to dig my wrapping paper out and see how much I have left. I used to buy more every year but didn’t buy any at all last year - used up loads that I had left. Then I keep the Christmas cards each year and cut pictures out of them to use for gift tags.

Bought Christmas pyjamas in the sales last year, so they’re stashed away ready. Just need to get some Christmas jumpers for the kids. They will wear them to school a couple of times, and then on an outing as well as Christmas Day so they get decent wear out of them. Last year they wore the ones from the year before, but they’ll be too small this year.

Have made a start on buying stocking presents, I always like to buy these as I see them throughout the year. Then usually by December I already have enough for the stocking, just add a Choc Santa.

At the time I don’t ever think I’m overbuying, but every year since having kids once everything has been wrapped I always think I’ve bought too much. Keep trying to cut back, but always seems to be stuff they don’t play with. So cutting back yet again this year! To help keep me on track, I’ve tried to put things in categories. So like a board game, a jigsaw puzzle, a craft set etc. hoping this will stop me buying too many similar things. Just going to need to chat with family now to try and ensure they don’t buy big toys that we don’t have room for.

I start the shopping in August. I know how many items I need & keep track of what I've bought.

I plan which dates I'll make all the stuff - mincemeat, cake etc. - well in advance.

I use the same notebook each year so I can look back multiple years.

@AlwaysFoldingWashing thank you 😊

I love this thread, it's getting me all excited for Christmas.

Usually I tend to get the bulk of Christmas presents that are going to extended family done and wrapped in Sept or October. I will have picked up bit through the year for some of those.

This year part of the family has switched to doing Secret Santa so I'm going from buying 7 gifts for aged 12-80 ish to just buying one gift! It's going to help.

But I usually leave DCs and DH until last but I feel that this year with slightly less to buy I can be a bit more organised... Though struggling with ideas for Dteens!

We've a new baby due in the family too so it will be lovely to buy some baby things, I'm all over the Scandiborn website!

And as a massive change to the usual Christmas Day I've suggested a buffet as I'm getting a bit fed up with being the caterer of all events so I've said we're happy to do a couple of Christmas roast dinners on a small scale but on actual Christmas Day we'll bring some yummy food and share a fancy buffet style dinner. Actually very excited about that... more cheese and crackers and more baby cwtching for me!

Have loved reading this thread, thank you 🎅

I'm just starting to get the hang of being more organised. As a PP said - pre-kids I used to love doing all my shopping one week day in December (I'd either take a full or Half day..! How I don't know 😂) and blitz it. Used to love the busy shops, Christmas music and having loads of shopping bags, sometimes even going back to the car to offload and start again 😂 then a Christmas coffee.

Last year was the first year I successfully managed to follow TOMM organised Christmas and loved it. Having everything wrapped and cards written early on made it easier to enjoy December.

I also had a Christmas food shop slot booked for collection and you could add stuff to that as the weeks went past.

Love this thread 🥰 I feel I can not say the C word in front of others until at least October ,so I keep my early planning under wrap,excuse the pun 🤣.

-I try to keep on top of clutter by donating through the year,so when Christmas comes around ,we aren't trying to find space for the new toys.
-I take note of "ohhh,I love that, or I really want that " through the year.
-Make lists and a rough estimate of price,and where the items can be brought.
-Keep an eye on any sales on through the year, and for Christmas clothing right after Christmas,same with Wrapping paper.
-Having a savings account for Christmas and Birthdays so try to put money in there each week.
-I aim to be finished with shopping and wrapping by December.
-Try not to over fill the month of December so prioritise what we would love to do.
-Manage expectations and enjoy the smaller moments,ie Christ.as movie night with just the lights of Christmas tree.