In Preparation For Christmas Today I Will.....

[onlyhereforthechristmaschat]

...clean out the freezer and make a meal plan to use everything up before December.

I hope you don't mind me starting this thread this year @beautifulsunflowers I absolutely loved this last year. I watched from afar and followed along doing one thing everyday to spread the cost, time, energy and Christmas cheer throughout November and December.

What is one thing you plan to do today to get organised?

I was quite ill last week, so I wrote the cards whilst I was loafing in bed (don't send many these days...)

Booked my Xmas food delivery last month

I've started my Xmas food/treat box (stuffing, condiments, treats, etc...)

I've wrapped all the gifts I've got so far - I use a different paper for each family member, which makes it easy

I bought a lot of things like crackers, indoor wreath, and baubles in the January sales, so that's done

I need a couple more gifts for dd1 and another stocking gift

Then just Lego for dn and cash for other dn

Feel quite organised this year

Not much planned over xmas - or at least nothing that requires pre booking or isn't already booked

We are usually all pretty whacked by the time school/work/university close tbh

I'm doing my usual open house on boxing day, but I don't stress too much about that

Decorations will go up 1st Sunday of Advent as always 🎄

...although this thread has reminded me I need to de frost the fridge freezer at some point!

Oven clean already booked :)

We've made the Christmas cake, and bought and wrapped most of the small gifts we are giving this year. Still got to write the cards and buy the food......our budget is very tight so we have been doing a bit of gift shopping for a while.

Sorry, I've waffled and not stuck to the brief.....today I have wrapped a gift, updated the shopping master list and written the Christmas card list in readiness for writing cards.

In an update to my previous post; I have apparently managed to do the vast majority of the rest of my Christmas shopping for the girls today!

I have the fruit soaking in readiness for cooking the Christmas Cake on Sunday.

I need to get gift labels and write them and stick them on all the presents I’ve wrapped so far, write Christmas cards and post the 14 that I post every year!
Have the dried fruit soaking in brandy ready to make the cakes, not got much left to get, which is great as I’ve only got 1 payday left before Christmas!

Not bought any presents yet, but this week I made mincemeat, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding. I always do this in October half term to use up all the dried fruits and nuts that accumulate over the year.

House smells wonderful 😊

I've dug out last years wrapping paper so today I'm going to wrap the tins of biscuits for teachers, bus drivers etc. Feels good that I won't be rushing doing this the last week before christmas, this thread is a good influence on me 🙂

Bake at least one, of three, Christmas cakes 😋

I’m going to wrap my son’s trainers up as they are taking up far too much room in the suitcase and then I will put the presents in my boot in the suitcase.

Today I will be project planning 🤣 which is a bit behind compared to a lot of you!!
Freezer stocktake and (online) clothes shopping are on the list as well though. DS needs a new Xmas jumper, everyone else's will do. I need a few smartish tops, have not been clothes shopping in ages and I really can't wear hokey t shirts over Christmas 😂

Oh and post DS's design-your-own-card design. The one he did at school got ruined by another child 😡 so it's going to be extortionate at this stage but we only buy a few.

I'm off to Smyth's to see if the DC can get their free Lego decoration. Then, into Waitrose for the hot chocolate coins.

Hope to do a freezer stocktake - I froze the beef roasting joint on Thursday after an almost unbelievable bargain.

Cleaning. Doing a deep clean of each room before Xmas but one a week because I'm too knackered to do more. Putting loads of stuff on vinted as decluttering as I go.
Have most of my presents but putting off the dreaded wrapping up. I hate wrapping stuff.

Ooh ooh ooh how exciting.

So yesterday I:

Sorted all the wrapping paper out.

made a list of what I have bought and what I still need to buy

filled the advent calendars

wrapped the stocking presents

cut out triangles for Christmas bunting

today I'm going to:

wrap DH’s presents so far and squeeze him until he gives me an idea of a “main” present

sew the bunting

wrap the rest of DD’s presents

Happy Christmassing everyone🎄

@Barney16 I'm not doing a room a week but am doing them slooooowly so I don't wear myself out. So far the kitchen's completely done apart from defrost the freezers but I'll run them down to as empty as possible first!

Replace the two tubs of Christmas Quality Street that didn't make it through last week 🙄

I ordered Xmas photo calendars for 3 people this week, felt good as on sale but mainly as it’s a dreaded task I usually do in a last minute rush as one has to go to Germany.

Im pretty novice at being organised at Xmas and love these threads. I want to ask you organised ones who have most of their shopping done - how can you be so sure kids won’t change mind or ask for a new must have thing nearer the time when they start making Xmas lists? DD6 who has never shown an interest in Barbie suddenly is and has said she’d like a Barbie campervan for Xmas, but I’m not confident that it’ll just be a momentary fad and not what she really wants…

I love the sound of homemade bunting. What do you make it out of?

@Jollyjoy I leave the main present until December.
get all the stocking fillers and small presents done and wrapped by November.

Yes freezer clear out/ clean I'll get onto today

I also do a condiments clear out as invariably OH has left a few things in the fridge go over their allotted time

@Whatnextaaaahhh
I bought christmas material and bias binding. You could use scraps/old clothes etc too. It helps massively to have a sewing machine, hand sewing makes it a bit of a task!

Today I have made my husband clean the oven and I am going to pop into a lovely gift shop to find the last remaining little gift for my mum.
I am really not very organised this year so this is going to be fab to keep me focused!!
I might add an extra job of planning how we're going to eat the freezer :)

Lights and decoration planning 😅 sounds a bit weird but I love decorating the house - my favourite thing about Christmas! We’ve recently moved (last year) and had renovations happening last Christmas so haven’t properly decorated for a while. As the place is larger than we were in previously, I want to make sure there are enough fairy lights etc 🤩

also need to plan stocking fillers with the aim to have those bought and wrapped by end of November.

Thanks, yes that makes sense. I’ve done a lot of that so am feeling good, also have a lovely Xmas planner inspired by someone here!!

Attempt to get present ideas from my partner for his family which is like pulling teeth, only with less energy and enthusiasm.
Hobbycraft have 20% plus free delivery over £40 so bought my daughter her main present.