Already started thinking of the festive season?! Want to? Share your top tips to beat Christmas stress with Lidl: chances to win vouchers NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

We KNOW it's early but lots of you (and Lidl) are already thinking ahead to December and we're sure MNers have a whole wealth of fab Christmassy tips to share. As great as Christmas is, we know it often comes with a world of stress, whether that's the pressure of entertaining, avoiding cooking disasters, or managing it all on a tight budget! So please share your top tips for beating these battles.

Tell us what do you do to ease the stress of Christmas? Is it the art of preparing early, finding those great value-wins or quick cheats like great tasting and great priced party food?

Add your tips to this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where 5 MNers will each win a £50 Lidl voucher.

Thanks and Happy Christmas

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

I have already started Xmas shopping and always start in the summer holidays. I like to buy stuff in the sales to save money and time later. I also buy online and pick it up or delivered to the house.

Buy things cheap in sales in the months before Christmas and hide pressies away. Try to make a few thoughtful little gifts.

Stop sending Christmas cards.

Do the same things (roughly) each year and invite guests to take it or leave it. Equally, fit in with hosts when visiting - so much less stressful for everyone. It means MiL sees us at breakfast but stockings are just us (she always comes, my parents are dead). A long time ago it meant playing guess the soup from a stocking containing a soup can with label removed (Boxing Day lunch - cook own can).

I have a bag for each child's stocking and pop bits in as we go. But FC is about to retire as they are 16 and 14.

DH does all the food. I do all the presents (except mine) so divide up the labour too.

I bought my first present today as I had a great discount code, and I will buy a few things each month from now until Christmas to help with budgeting. I also buy lots of things in the August sales.

Regarding Christmas Dinner, we always buy the sausage/bacon wraps frozen to save making them, and we always buy Christmas pudding. I also start buying some of the non perishible food from October onwards to help spread the cost of drinks/snacks.

I don't like to be worrying about the little things like wrapping paper, sellotape, blu tac etc so after each Xmas I check I've got enough for the next Xmas.

Also keep a cupboard of Xmas foods like Pringles, celebrations, baileys that I start buying each week leading up to Xmas.

I make a few treats to put aside for Christmas starting when the children go back. I'm planning a hedgerow vodka this year. A cider brandy apple chutney to go with the christmas cheese platter and stocking up with wine when its on offer.

I get little stocking bits in early because the children aren't trying to present spot at this time of year so its easy to sneek things into my hidding places.

-But gifts early, it is cheaper to shop in sales and spread the cost.
-At beginning of December put a few bits in your shopping trolley each week to put away.
-Some people wrap as they go along but I find it easier to allocate a morning when my son is at nursery and get it all done then.
-Enjoy it! I try and get everything sorted a few weeks before Christmas so that I can enjoy my time with my son and family.

I always find it is less stressful to let someone else sort out all the food and cook for Christmas.

Years ago I typed my address labels for Christmas cards into a word document so they could be printed as labels every year. Maybe slightly more time consuming the first year but you save hours there after.
I also lookout for Christmas presents when pottering in shops on my summer holiday ( no hardship I love shopping) I tend to pick up really nice and different gifts that way.
I have lists of lists, i love a good list.

Get everything bought before December so you can enjoy the build up to Christmas.

Don't over buy (especially for adults)

Make lists and stick to them!

Shop early. Start planning even earlier..
Remember what you have bought - it is less useful to cleverly buy crackers in the January sales if you buy them again in that pre Christmas sales. Twenty crawlers later....

Adjust your standards with small children . You can cook Christmas dinner with three courses and two different types of stuffing. Will you or anyone else notice or care when it comes to the meal?

I was going to say the same as Crocklebog! I complete the bulk of my Christmas shopping by the end of Nov, so I can enjoy Christmas and the build up.

Christmas cards, paper, crackers and decorations I buy in the January sales and put them up into my attic for the year.

I buy bargains throughout the year, putting them away. Mostly things I see reduced (by over 50%). I keep them in a special Christmas box on top of my wardrobe that the children can't get to. I buy stocking presents early in the year, for example hair accessories, stationery etc can be bought all year and they won't go out of fashion etc. You can also get the little gifts like for the school teacher, throughout the year, or things you see that you know people would like.

Likewise, I buy food from August onwards. By picking up a couple of extra bits in your weekly shop, you don't notice the extra, but it saves a lot of money at Xmas. Certain foods (pickles, coke etc can be stored for over a year).

I have a Christmas app on my phone, so I know exactly what I've bought and this stops me over spending. I put the budget per person into the app, and it tells me how much money I have got left to spend. This is a godsend, and really helps. It's password protected too, so can't be seen by snooping eyes .

Finally, I save up all my " points" for Christmas. This is cash back from my bank account, online purchases, and points from loyalty cards etc. By Christmas this year, I will have over £300 in points.

I also put some money away in a separate bank account all year. It goes in via direct debit on the day I get paid, so I don't notice it's gone and I have no cash card access to that account - so it prevents me easily spending the money.

All in all, by having the little but often approach, I never feel that Christmas is too unaffordable, or stressful because (mostly) by the time December comes, I'm largely prepared and ready to actually enjoy Christmas. Just as well, as its my favourite time of year, so I drag out the celebrations for a whole month .

I started buying things I saw in sales in June, I put them away without necessarily having a recipient in mind and it usually means I have little to buy come December!

Start buying now, if you haven't already. Buying in advance takes financial pressure off, means you buy more sensibly, and makes you less stressed in the build up because you don't do the "WHAT DO I BUY GREAT AUNT MARY" the week before. If you're not the type to pre-buy, pre-save. Set aside some money each month (even just a small amount).

If you're planning on making things, do it on a logical time line, not a festive one. Make jams / chutneys / infused booze months before, not weeks.

Keep a list! know what you need to buy, for whom, and check off when you've bought it.

Set a budget for each present, or for each person, and stick to it.

I have a big chest which i gradually fill with gifts through the year whenever i spot a bargain or something suitable for the kids. By christmas it is usually full enough to sort out all their presents. So although it does take a bit of forward planning, it doesn't need much effort. Strangely enough the kids have never wanted to look inside as for ages i used it to store boring paperwork, so they think that is what is in it. Sshhh!

It is one day in 6 months time - the dinner is just a fancier Sunday roast. There are presents like a birthday x 6 ish. Can we not enjoy the summer hols without a retail Christmas stress frenzie being created!!

I have a Christmas list running year round on my phone under "notes"

Anytime someone throughout the year mentions something they like or are interested in, I make a note quickly

Then come December I don't have to wrack my brains for interesting or will-be-appreciated ideas!

Start Christmas shopping as early as possible- I did most of mine in the January sales. It saves the last minute stress of thinking what to get and helps to spread the cost

I think my biggest tip is keeping it simple, and SMILING :) remembering that Christmas is a time for happiness and joy, not stress!

For Christmas dinner: Don't go overboard with lots of fancy dishes; keep it flavourful, unique but minimalist and plan and prepare before as much as possible. Maybe do a cooking schedule the night before and stick to it so that timing is straightforward, and start earlier than you think you need to so that you have plenty of time. Make sure to enjoy a little glass of the red stuff to keep you sharp :P

I think it's vital to remember that its just one day a year. It might be hectic, but if you just treat it like a single day rather than the most important, expectation filled, stressful day of the entire 365 days, then a lot of pressure is taken off, and it's a lot funner!

Buy a little and often. Think about whether you really NEED or want it, whether its good value, and whether it will really bring joy. Spend within your means, and you won't have to face any post-Christmas financial stress.

for people like lidl to be aware that maybe we should stressssss luvvies out with silly posts like this which will actually cause the very stress you trying to stop.its far to early.
in general.look for things towards the end of the year and keep a chritmas sack for the kids of pressies you already get so your not rushing at the end.
ask for lists for pressies.
don't put pressure on yourself.its a roast dinner! with a few extra yummy bits.
remember to make it about the family.really if it all went wrong.everything was burnt and all the decs fell down would it kill you?would it actually make great future stories ;D no but seriously this is something,moments to treasure don't hurt that by becoming a pressure household when it really shouldn't be.
your ok.whatever your doing is fab.make it special by feeling good.that where the cheer comes from
make decorations wti the kids.
get a really nice few recipes to bake.chrismtas biscuits etc.
make sure from an early age the kids no what its all about and don't let them be sucked in by friends or surrounding and overexpect from you.
don't over budget.its not worth debt!
get prepped before.can you get your pigs in blankets and freeze.
if your ordering a turkey do it as soon as and then forget it till you need to.when you get up prep your veggies and potatos and then leave I nthe pans in water.then when it comes to it boil the kettle and use this for the water.saves loads of time and stress.
go for a walk.
if you can buy fresh grocerys they are cheaper than the frozen ones round xmas as they all bring out the gourmet this or that and hike the prices up.
enjoy your day whatever it brings.if you can afford a tueky chicken or bought chicken slices in the packet.make it yours and smile because you have done all you can to make it the best.

My biggest tip is to do a big pre-Christmas declutter. Clear out the kids old unused clothes and toys, old decorations, and make room in the fridge, freezer and cupboards. It means there's a lot more order and less mess and cleaning to be done during the crazy build up weeks of December!

Okay confession time. No one in my family really has a sweet tooth- we enjoy the main course more than dessert, and hardly ever have a dessert. However, Christmas is that one occassion every year where we feel compelled to indulge. But I can never bring myself to slave over a complicated dessert, when I know no one will appreciate it, especially because it follows such an elaborate dinner! So last year, I bought Lidl's deluxe sticky toffee pudding, heated it up and served it with vanilla ice cream; it was DELICIOUS. Everyone helped themselves to seconds! Definitely a stress relief, and I'll be doing the same again no doubt this year! :D

Ah, Christmas! I don't want to spend the run-up stressing about everything, so I want to have it all in place by the start of December.

I buy something to put away every month, using spreadsheets to keep track. The main Christmas shop is sitting in my Ocado trolley to check out as soon as slots become available, then I'll edit closer to the date if I need to. Wrap and cards are purchased already, and we have a big box in the pantry filling up with long life food (biscuits, chocolates, soft drinks, alcohol etc). Just by buying one or two things extra each time I do a weekly shop, it's looking lovely already!

The kids have an Amazon wishlist I work from and will pass along to any relatives/friends who ask. The only thing I haven't organised yet is the menu for the big day and wrapping the presents, both of which I'll tackle once the summer holidays are over.

I also use Pinterest for ideas for decorating, baking, crafts etc.

Can't wait!

Starting in September I plan on buying one extra food item and one stocking filler a week, spreading the cost as much as I can as starting college, as a single parent was counting on a bit more financial help but most of my student loan appears to be going on childcare leaving us with £60 a week :/