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.

I'd like to have Christmas day to ourselves (DH, DS, DD) without the in laws.

This year, I didn't make my own Yorkshire pudding, stuffing or desserts. I bought good quality ones from the supermarket. We didn't really miss the homemade versions and saved me a lot of time.

On Xmas day and boxing day, I skipped the starters (even though I had them bought) so it was less stressful getting the dinner together.

I bought less for DC but bought good quality presents. They were not upset about having less and I feel like there will be less waste in the long run.

Next year, I'm going to try to save some annual leave for the week leading up to xmas day.

MNers seem to use “deep clean” when they mean thorough clean.

A deep clean is done a couple of times a year and everything is taken out of cupboards and drawers to clean inside them, large furniture pulled out of place, curtains taken down to be cleaned - etc. I think you just mean a thorough clean OP.

Definitely worth doing early December before the decorations go up. I have a cleaner which makes things a lot easier, but if you don’t have a regular cleaner and are short for time you could book a professional clean with a local agency or an app like Housekeep.

Buy less crisps and party food. We have tons left.

We bought one for two people and it was way too much. They should do smaller tubs.

We had a quiet one, no hosting and had a prime rib of beef instead of turkey.

Back to hosting next year, will get the traditional turky and will reminisce about this year, it was bliss.

What I'll do differently though from hosting years is pander to grown adult's who expect a perfect Christmas with no thought for the hosts.

Reason we had this year off is how spoilt and entitled guests were last year. We went back to work emotionally and physically tired.

I meant a deep clean of some areas, not the entire house, and a thorough clean of the rest.

My local credit union has a Christmas savings account. You put away all year and they don't ' release' your funds until a specific date in November! Can't touch it.

That’s a great idea. Can I sign up ?

Did a similar thing with Tesco club card points, although I only started in August but I’ve started again for 2026!

I am going away with DP and sitting on a hot beach somewhere next year, I am leaving my passive agressive sulking mother to her golden balled son ...( AKA as my DB who barely bothers with my mother but apparently is the only reason she enjoys christmas )

I'll buy different candles for the tree - ones that don't drip, and a bigger tree skirt to cover the floor in case of dripping wax.

I'd love a big family Christmas, like the ones I used to know, DH and DSiL and DS can do the cooking and I'll take the kids and the dog out for a walk whilst they get it sorted.

I need to buy less snacks, at the moment there are 4 family bags of crisps open , not to mention the twists, twiglets and bruschetta bites.

We also have four different cheeses out and God knows how much in the fridge. Every time I mentioned it in the run up to Christmas how much cheese we have he says he knows exactly how much we have and there's always one type we never have and has to be added to our supply, this year it was chip shop curry sauce.

You put candles on your tree? WTH? Isn’t that a massive fire hazard?

Everything. I booked a cruise on Boxing Day. We leave December 20th and come back Jan 3rd.

Where are you off to?

😂
www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/H701/H701

Looks great. I’d love to do something like this one year. I really want to go away next Christmas.

I’ve stayed in hotels for Christmas in the past and it’s been okay. But I’m getting to the age where a cruise suits me 😂 and I’ve taken a couple with Cunard. It’s just really easy … show up, and everything is right there. Food, board, entertainment… we booked an early bird fare which works out to £146 per day … given it’s Christmas and New Year it felt reasonable. I have until September to pay for it …

sounds great. How much do you pay back per month?

For me it’s to spend less mental energy on buying gifts especially for the kids. Realised they spend 10 seconds opening it and I put too much pressure on myself trying to find something wonderful and perfect

This makes a lot of sense!

Where will you go?

I’m just going to put money aside for it and pay it off on the due date. I’ve committed to a no unnecessary spending year with my sister 😂 that should help!

I've booked Antigua today...me and DP and one DD plus her fiancee.
Other dds ..one will be on her honeymoon, other 2 said they either want to spend it with their mother or it's time to go to their other halves family...no one upset...dd who is coming is paying for herself so no favouritism.
We fly out on 23 rd Dec.
Lovely two bed villa in a hotel .
Not going to mention it to my toxic mother

I'll force DH to put in his request for AL for the Xmas period at 5 secs past midnight on 1st Jan.

Don't want another miserable Xmas in UK.