DIY plans and lists for Christmas

[Candlesonthetable]

I usually make my own set of planning sheets for Christmas around this time of year. They are then stuck in an A4 notebook. The trouble with this is that they often get tatty by Christmas and the notebook is too big to carry it around e.g. shopping when I want to refer to it. This year I have treated myself to a nice A5 notebook with a dotted grid and heavy paper. I am hoping I can recreate my normal plans on a smaller scale. The planner is not just to help me this year but also form a record for the next year.

I was wondering what lists and plans people created for Christmas in case there were some ideas out there I could copy! The pages I already plan to make are:

• A calendar plan of December to write in all our events.
• A week by week list of all the tidying/cleaning and planning that needs to be done from Sept-Dec (heavily inspired by the Grand Holiday Plan from Organised Home)
• A present list for all nieces, nephews and godchildren
• Individual present/stocking lists for each of my DC and DH.
• Baking list
• Craft list
• Decorations plan (we have the same decorations each year but they sometimes get put in a different places or we make something new from the garden so I like to record this for the next year)
• Cooking timetables for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Have I missed anything? Or do any of you great planners out there have any ideas for me?

As you might be able to tell from the above I not only love Christmas but I love planning for it as well, so this isn't a chore but a fun seasonal hobby!

Week-by-week list of Christmas food (+ extras like turkey foil) to buy over the course of November and December to spread the cost.
Christmas card list
List of presents for teachers/support staff and tips for postman etc…

Ooh, thanks @Fivemoreminutes1 I particularly like the idea of having a plan for spreading the cost of all the extra stuff we buy for Christmas over two months. Previously it's been a bit haphazard so some things got bought twice - oops!

I use an Excel spreadsheet 😂It takes the stress out of it and I don't have to wonder have I forgotten something?

Following with interest! The last few years I have been so disorganised, it's stressful! This year I want to start planning and buying now

@JoeyJeremiah
I do love an excel spreadsheet, but there is something about having it in a nice notebook that feeds my Christmassy spirit! I also like to decorate it.

@trevthecat
I love being organised for Christmas. The goal is to be pretty much done for December and completely done a week before so I can just enjoy myself and spend quality time with friends and family, plus do all the little things I like to do (making wreaths and garlands, painting pinecones, baking lebkuchen etc) which would be pushed out of the timetable if I still had the presents to buy and wrap, turkey to order etc.

Love this! I also love Christmas and lists so this is right up my street

I would love to have a special Christmas notebook but unfortunately I use my iPhone for everything.

I use an app called Santa's Bag. You can adapt it all - set your budget - it's brilliant and then year on year you can archive it all and start again. All on your phone - easy!

I bought this one this year. I love lists, stationery etc. I've attached a photo (hopefully) of some of the things inside. I couldn't show them all but there was lots more too. Including a cleaning schedule.

I totally appreciate that many people like apps on their phone - at work I am completely paperless and love that, it is really efficient and probably more effective than paper. But I think when I am getting ready for Christmas having a notebook (or a premade planner like @Marypoppinsisnosaint shared) means I almost treat the planning as part of the celebration itself - I like it to look nice and be a record I can enjoy looking back on in the future. I realise I might be in the minority on that though!