Talk to Homebase about your Christmas hosting top tips and/or nightmares and you could win a £300 Homebase voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

As Christmas approaches and planning for Christmas events begins, Homebase is keen to hear about Mumsnetters' best and worst experiences of Christmas hosting - whether it's Christmas parties, having relatives to stay or even hosting the big day itself.

Homebase says: "Christmas is all about getting together with the most important people in our lives. It's a great feeling when loved ones come round to enjoy the fun and festivities- but it can be hard work sometimes too. Preparing food, getting your home looking fabulous, making sure everyone's having a good time ... the festive season comes with its own challenges and things don't always go to plan. We'd love to hear your stories of 'hosting heaven' and 'hosting hell'. Tell us about your Christmas disasters and triumphs, share your tips, fill us in on the fun times and let us know what you're planning this year."

Do you have any top tips to make Christmas hosting go as smoothly as possible? Maybe you create a time plan to make sure everything's done on schedule? Or have you had a nightmare that's put you off Christmas hosting for life?

Share your stories - good and bad - on this thread and we'll enter you into a prize draw where one MNer will win a Homebase voucher worth 300 pounds.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

We go to my parents for christmas day traditionally so have not hosted. But the present buying can be so difficult and stressful so I tend to do this earlier to spread the cost and you feel great come December when they are all bought and wrapped

do as much in advance as you can. don't invite anyone you don't like that much to stay overnight (the inlaws are fine for sinner but a weekend of getting under my feets drives me mad)

Get the guests to help! Even if they can bring a pudding or something, every little helps. Also don't stress, it's Christmas, everyone will have a good day whatever happens!

Best tip I can think of is be prepared, an have extra food In case of surprise visitors

The Delia Smith recipes for cakes are amazing for Christmas. We always use them.

Wipe it down then hide your garden table under a nice table cloth for some extra seating - no one will know

Enjoy every moment of it. Kids grow up too quick and the olds pass away too soon. Even if there is tensions in your family, smile, and try to be diplomatic. You only get one family so enjoy it all.

Go to someone else's house whilst they cook
Don't stress, wrap everything a few weeks before.

Christmas for us often involves travelling abroad to see family. One benefit of this I guess is that we have all to be well-prepared in advance. Who's doing/sorting what is arranged months in advance, and no one can rely on last-minute shopping, wrapping, etc... so by the time we're all there and together, all the work has been done.

just be yourself

Thanks for reminding me of the lovely Christmas Eve buffet I once hosted for friends and family. My MIL helpfully served everyone mince pies topped with a generous dollop of the garlic dip on the table for the crudites.

I always make sure there's plenty of fun games for the children ,so the adults can enjoy a drink in peace.

I buy early, wrap early and have an excel spreadsheet telling me what I've got and how much it cost. I check what's in the half price or BOGOF tab of Tescos online shop from about October and make sure I'm getting snacks and wine in early (plus making sure I've hidden some bottles from my dad or it'll all get drunk before the big day!).

I do as much food prep as I can in the mornings when I have family staying - while they're having second coffees and showers I do the veg and any prep for the evening meal, so that we can go out and do things in the day without me worrying about how I'll feed everyone.

I also get my mum to make and bring the Christmas pudding, and give other jobs to whoever else is staying. They like to feel they're contributing, and it makes my life easier.

When hosting family christmas parties, always have a few activities out ready for the younger/more boisterous members and a quiet zone for people wanting a break away from them. [santa]

Just calm the hell down. Anyone who doesn't like whatever you've put on doesn't deserve to be invited. If you need to plan it like a military operation it's not a festive occasion. Cook something you like, wear something that makes you feel good, invite people who make you smile.

Having all the family together was the one thing I looked forward to the most however, there were 5 generations altogether so it was difficult to balance everything so that there were no family arguments.

If the children were kept occupied and playing the oldies could natter among themselves without them getting annoyed at the children.

one year, not long after we had moved into a new house we invited some neighbours around for drinks at Christmas. My car threw up in the corner, a woman in high heeled suede shoes, stood in it, didn't realise, and walked it all over my new carpet. She didn't come round again

prepare everything beforehand. Slow cook the meat so it is ready and not taking up space in the oven

If hosting, especially at Xmas, I buy as much of the food pre-prepared so I don't have to spend time peeling and chopping! Also, set tables the night before so it's one less job on the day!

I've learnt when hosting the ILs at Christmas to have a list of jobs they can do to be helpful, otherwise they just invent their own and drive me up the wall. Came into the kitchen at about 10pm one Christmas Day to find MIL cooking red cabbage, for reasons none of us eve did work out....

Preparation is the key to everything make lists, get everything ready in advance and be prepared for anything.

My top tip is to go somewhere else for Christmas dinner. We go to my mother in laws where the load is shared. Me and my husband do all the washing up and clearing away at the end after having a nice (ish) meal cooked for us.

buy early and in bulk, take advantages of all offers and coupons, buy only half food wise what you think you will need so there is no waste, you simply do not need every dessert know to man and every type of biscuit, the success of the hosting in mainly the company and atmosphere, don't allow it to become a competition to top the previous christmas. as for presents, buy when on sale throughout the year.

Get bargains throughout the year and put them away.
My kids make gifts as their grandparents love them!
I prep the night before if hosting a party so I can enjoy it, socialise and play with my kids!