A ‘what will you do differently next year’ thread

[OMGitsnotgood]

I’ve been hosting Christmas for almost 40 years so generally have it pretty well sorted, but there is always something to imporove on.
This year I had a pretty hectic December for a combination of reasons, some of it unexpected. I did still manage most things but ended up doing a lot of cleaning on Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve, when I’d much rather have just had food prep to focus on them put my feet up enjoying a Baileys.

Next year I am going so make sure I do a deep clean early in December and keep on top of it.

Nothing major but will probably rethink having soup/a starter with Christmas dinner-everyone feels too full for the main course!

Ill obviously forget this by next year and make soup again as usual!

Oo yes, I managed the early deep clean this year and the relaxation on Christmas Eve felt fantastic!

I think next year my aim is to plan family Christmas Day outfits - I always wear a lovely outfit and so does MIL, but DH and FIL could do with some help 😂 I think I will coordinate with MIL in advance and plan their outfits for them so we can get some lovely photos!

Head to a nice hotel instead…! Proper family time without the stress/bickering over food prep, getting the house in order etc.

I think I might try some prepping ahead and freezing of the Christmas food.

We've booked a 3 night cruise, well away from DH's family demands

Seriously considering being on holiday somewhere warm and all inclusive next year, I love hosting but this year has left me absolutely exhausted!

I can't see the point in doing a deep clean when the house is going to be trashed during Christmas. Why not just do a surface clean and hoover and do a deep clean after everyone has gone home?

I always write a few 'debrief' notes in my Christmas folder (that has gift and Christmas card lists, addresses etc in it) at the end of Christmas.

This year it is to start a wee bit earlier planning everything. And not to over schedule myself (was very ill last year and am still quite tired and recovering from treatment).

Also not to cook a second Christmas lunch for the other group of family I see after Christmas. I think we'll go out for that day, as I'm too tired and have found it a bit stressful.

I could come round to this idea. I was really behind this year and the house was still a bit of a mess (although not too bad) when my in laws arrived. I realised that it really doesn’t matter. But having said that, I would prefer it clean so next year I’m absolutely going to force myself to do the big Christmas clean in September or something then enjoy 3 smug months of just keeping on top of it!

I do a deep clean mid December and it’s so much easier to keep on top of it all and nice for Christmas.

It obviously gets messy on Christmas Day, but it’s clean.

This was the first year we didn’t go to our local Christmas market on Christmas Eve (we went the weekend before) and it was so much nicer having a calm, relaxing Christmas Eve. We didn’t have to be anywhere, everything was done, so we played games, watched films and had Chinese takeaway for tea. Definitely doing that again next year!

Not have Turkey - going for a nice rib of beef instead.

Gift buying and wrapping is what stresses me most and I didn’t finish until Christmas Eve. My son’s birthday being in early December doesn’t help! Also spending so much money in a week/ fortnight was really stressful. So I am going to set up a Christmas space in my bank account and put £50/ month in that. And aim to do all my gift buying in November (including stockings!!) so I can gradually wrap through December.

1. generic gifts - I prefer to receive nice candles, bath oil & warm, quality socks. I know my friends well enough to know who likes candles etc. And if I make a mistake with someone I don’t know well then it really is the thought that counts. But I put far too much pressure on myself to find the perfect gift for others and then spend too much time worrying I’ve gone over the top/missed the mark etc. They don’t need to LOVE it, they just need to know I thought about them and included them.
2. Carry on doing less in general. We really enjoyed our calm relaxed run up to Christmas with enough space for things not to be perfect. Must remember this!
3. Take up more offers of help when hosting. We have a lovely family. I don’t let them help enough. This year was so much more relaxed as I’ve done it so many times and I’m ready to let go a bit more. Who cares if the cheeseboard isn’t what I would do or the potatoes are peeling into too big or small chunks or heaven forbid some of our many guests bring their own sheets (as some offer every year). I let go more than usual this year and I’m ready to surrender!

I bought 3 tubs of fancy M&S gravy and it was waaaaaay too much for 6 people.

I'm doing everything differently next year,me DH and DD18 are going to go away for a few days.

This year's was stressful and horrible because of 1 person so next year they can sort themselves out because we won't be here.

Next year I’m cooking a whole turkey! The crown was good this year but I simply love the dark meat.

Next year I will find time to go to church on Christmas Eve. That was a shame this year, I was too tired to go

I didn’t feel very Christmassy on Christmas Eve this year. Spent too much time running about getting last bits and cleaning. Next year I’d like to go out with DS to the Christmas market or something. I’d also like to get matching Christmas pyjamas.

It’s just my mum and I for Christmas dinner, she struggles a bit with the cooking/hosting and found it stressful (although the food was lovely). Next year I’m going to see if we can go out somewhere instead.

I always want to put a little money away every month to help cover costs as it’s been a bit of struggle this month which makes it less enjoyable.

My children are with us next year so I think a lovely quiet Christmas at home (teenager and adult Christmas) and then holiday somewhere warm on 28 th to 5 th jan

I am going to save £30-£40 a month from January to go towards Christmas!

Fewer people. Never having more than 8 house guests again.

Where are you planning to go to ?

My kids are adults now. I've decided to not even entertain the idea anymore because I'm not a Christian.
I'm not anything.

Grandchildren can have presents but that's where it ends.

Not invite one family member. Buy presents to myself assuming DH won’t or will panic buy and then I’ll have to reassure him when he’s feeling upset about what he got me that’s it’s fine. Also not caring that he doesn’t know what we’ve bought our child. I enjoy buying presents and doing a stocking so ill
keepmdoing it for me and them

We’ve had a pretty relaxing Christmas, we had Xmas dins at my mum and dads for a change, it’s always lovely but it was quite hectic (16 people plus multiple dogs running about!) I’m grateful they are close by and we get to all be together but I think we’ll have the dins at our house next year as normal & go round on Boxing Day like we normally do. We like a lazy Christmas Day, especially since our kids are still very little.

I don’t think I’ll do anything different, we have a big family Christmas and always enjoy it. I’ll probably get a bigger tree next year though.