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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Christmas 2024 - what do you need to remember?

75 replies

Nonplusultra · 27/12/2023 10:00

This is a time capsule thread - protecting important information from the erosion of time.

• Make a meal plan for all the meals around Christmas so I’m not glaring wild eyed and accusingly at family members who dare to get hungry at lunchtime on Christmas Eve.

• Belvoir mulled punch is the nicest non alcoholic mulled wine.

OP posts:
Iwishiwasasilentnight · 27/12/2023 11:16

Tell DH if he doesn’t get his finger out and organise shit with his family I ain’t being involved with last minute shit that involves us hosting.

Yes, to meal planning and also less food.

Maybe fewer Christmas activities. We went for a weekend away in December which was nice but added to the overall stress.

Fewer gifts for the kids from my Dad. I had been doing a good job with reducing the number of gifts but then my Mum died and I felt the need to do what she would have wanted.

Don’t buy the kids selection boxes.

TheNoodlesIncident · 27/12/2023 11:21

I have a list stored in Word with this sort of detail on, it gets more extensive every year! I tend to forget where I put things like spare bauble hooks or black sandwich ties (used for attaching outside fairy lights to the trees) and I have umpteen boxes of Christmas decorations in the loft, so not knowing where they actually are would herald the beginning of a long slog to find them Xmas Grin

It also mentions useful stuff like what roast potatoes were awful and not to buy again and which snack food was a big hit and must be bought again next time...

TheSuggestedAmendment · 27/12/2023 11:22

Send a text to everyone I buy for in November: ‘I am doing my Christmas shopping this weekend. If there’s anything you want let me know before then, otherwise I will chose’. It’s so annoying waiting for people to come back with suggestions and I think they find it annoying too. Ok, I will make decisions for them.

That weekend I will go to the big Blackwells bookshop and choose everyone their presents from there. Books or a game or a jigsaw. Done.

LlynTegid · 27/12/2023 11:22

Make sure that who has what time off work is agreed long before Christmas, say in September or October.

Lifestooshort71 · 27/12/2023 11:56

Not be tempted by M&S party food 4 for 3 - all beige and overpriced.

Gizlotsmum · 27/12/2023 12:00

Make a list of what I buy and where I have hidden it

use a specific wrap per person

don’t assume if I forget something someone else will remember!

EarringsandLipstick · 27/12/2023 12:01

Buy some practical gifts for my teen sons in the summer - underwear, sports socks, toiletries. We had a good system for main present planning in October but ideas like this as 'extras' were eschewed by them at the time.

I quickly bought a few items in a rush on 23rd Dec as they essentially knew their main presents - they loved them. Would have been so easy to pick these up months before.

Also, remember how much my youngest, like me, suffers from slowing down at Christmas. He lives live at a mile-a-minute, always going, playing sports, onto the next thing. When we stop for what should be pleasant family time, he's a nightmare. I need to address the frantic nature of the other 11.5 months of the year 🥺

EarringsandLipstick · 27/12/2023 12:03

TheNoodlesIncident · 27/12/2023 11:21

I have a list stored in Word with this sort of detail on, it gets more extensive every year! I tend to forget where I put things like spare bauble hooks or black sandwich ties (used for attaching outside fairy lights to the trees) and I have umpteen boxes of Christmas decorations in the loft, so not knowing where they actually are would herald the beginning of a long slog to find them Xmas Grin

It also mentions useful stuff like what roast potatoes were awful and not to buy again and which snack food was a big hit and must be bought again next time...

Yes, along these lines I have put a big reminder in my phone to buy lights for outside the house as early as possible next year.

For at least the last 3 years I've admired the lovely outdoor lights everyone else seems to have. We had one paltry set that died two years ago.

I don't remember from year to year & when I go looking there's none to be had.

TheNoodlesIncident · 27/12/2023 12:35

@EarringsandLipstick Go looking online now, there's bargains to be had as many are reduced post Christmas. (Then make a note of where you've put them if it's not obvious, I've taken to putting mine in clear plastic boxes so I can see what's in each box without having to either unstack them to see what's written on the lid, or open each one - I have a LOT)

imnotthatkindofmum · 27/12/2023 16:23

Stay home with no visitors until 4pm then take Xmas tea to my mums so I can leave whenever I like. Never hosting again. I have said this before. I mean it this time!!

AdoraBell · 27/12/2023 16:26

I need to remember that I already have DD1’s present. Bought in the sale earlier in the year because her favourite colour is discontinued.

tinkerbellvspredator · 27/12/2023 16:35

Don't forget to buy Xmas crackers! I always fanny about looking at loads of different ones thinking they're not very good/ wasteful / too expensive/should I make my own etc. This year I think I looked at at least 15 different types in 4 different shops and failed to buy any.

Don't double the pastry recipe, it doesn't fit in the food processor.

The pigs in blankets cooked faster in the air fryer than anticipated, try 15 minutes to start with.

Put up new hooks for outside lights in the summer (have put a reminder in my calendar).

Make some more fabric present bags in a medium size.

Forestdweller11 · 27/12/2023 16:49

Not to get side tracked by the exotic sounding 'christmas food' when the big standard stuff is actually more than adequate. Eg plain old pigs in blankets rather than with apricots or cranberries, baked camembert doesn't need stewed plums or prunes. Plain old baked ham.

Exception for mince pies - the whole mince pie range from Asda was like food of the gods.

I have a rolling gift list in my phone

To be more organised with Christmas cards or don't bother at all.

Not to start the 'treat food' until the week before Christmas - then we will at least stand a chance of not having to buy more treats at the last minute.

I always buy way too many bags of nuts.

hattie43 · 27/12/2023 16:55

Need to remember we might get peckish in the evening . Bought everything for a 3 course lovely meal but didn't buy any nibbles for later .

hattie43 · 27/12/2023 16:56

Oh yes I really need to reign in my social activities, I was out too many times and felt exhausted come Christmas Eve

Pollyparkin · 27/12/2023 18:25

Buy turkey foil as soon as it's available.
Do not buy 12lb turkey, misreading it as feeds 12
Get double cream and in fact everything in a real shop and do not get an online slot at all
Cook sausages in air fryer not oven.
Ask my stupid family not to loudly exclaim "oh it tastes ok. You can't tell it's gluten free" to my newly diagnosed coeliac son. It really upset him because as he said " I don't have a choice ". I shall say gluten doesn't have a flavour so can we move on?

Fushia123 · 27/12/2023 18:39

I second your idea!
Make a meal diary plan from 23rd to 27th Dec. Plan B/Lunch/ evening meals and then shop - just for what you’ve planned. You’ve done the hard work planning so rely on your good judgment when in the shops.
Buy a few goodies too. My DD who is vegan came home from uni to a fridge and freezer full of food. It’s made life much easier and dare I say a pleasure to prepare and eat.

Gizlotsmum · 27/12/2023 18:44

Practise vegan pancakes so I find a recipe that works! Keep that recipe somewhere safe!

PennyPinkPineapple · 27/12/2023 18:48

Things I got right this year:

*Only buying presents for DD, and only bought 5 things and a few books
*The Black Farmer turkey crown, smothered in butter, drowned in wine, and roasted upside down was delicious!
*No Christmas cards, no exception

Things I got wrong this year:

*Putting the tree up too early (early December)
*Forgetting what I'd bought DD and where I'd hidden it (write a bloody list next year)
*Hosting. Sixth year in a row, and I forget every year how stressful and hard work it is. I missed all the action because I was stuck in the kitchen, and by the time I sat down, I was too worn out to enjoy it.

Next year:

*Christmas dinner for just the three of us at home, either before or after the 25th.
*Christmas Day we are going to our local Indian with any family member who wants to join us.
*If we do have people over at any point, party food only.

sunshineandrain82 · 27/12/2023 18:50

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

pizzaHeart · 27/12/2023 19:08

Gizlotsmum · 27/12/2023 12:00

Make a list of what I buy and where I have hidden it

use a specific wrap per person

don’t assume if I forget something someone else will remember!

I need to remember these^, especially about the list where things are hidden, I usually have a few scares every year 🤣

Edwardandtubbs · 27/12/2023 19:10

Don’t do an online shop for delivery or click and collect as there were too many things substituted or just straight up not available.

Instead, go to the supermarket at 6.20am 2 days before Christmas.

PurpleStarRising · 27/12/2023 19:19

Remember unwrapping presents is always too much for DS (autistic) and put his wish list presents in his present sack unwrapped. Including those I've hived off to other relatives to buy. Will hopefully save him getting overwhelmed.

MissyB1 · 27/12/2023 19:34

Make my own Christmas pudding, the Aldi one was fine but I need to be brave and attempt my own.

investigate and decide on films /Tv shows to watch in advance and write them down! We are useless at deciding and looking, no patience!

Make Dh book leave the week before Christmas so I don’t have to do all the running around and prep on my own!

TulipsfromAmsterdam · 27/12/2023 19:53

Do an in store food shop with a list. We spent a fortune after reserving Asda food delivery and forgetting to add to it so ended up doing 2 more click and collects plus many trips to Aldi and Iceland. Definitely need to be more organised with food.
Wrap as things are bought as circumstances meant this year wrapping had to be done once kids in bed over 2 week period.
Put all the outside Christmas lights up as some sets have been new in box for last 2 years.