How do you stay organised in the run up to Christmas? Share with McDonalds - £300 voucher to be won

[EllieMumsnet]

For the majority of people the countdown to Christmas has already begun...queue the Christmas films, carol singing, decorations, gift giving, Santa Claus and Christmas dinner. However it can also feel a little overwhelming trying to get everything sorted all before the big day, especially if you’re more of a do-it-all-the-week-before-Xmas type of person . Which is why McDonalds would like to know all your tips and tricks for staying organised throughout the run up to Christmas.

Here’s what McDonald’s has to say: “We know it’s a hectic time of year for families, so if it’s a quick coffee when you’re out shopping or popping in on Christmas Eve for some free Reindeer Treat carrots, we are here to help you get #ReindeerReady on your way to Christmas 2018!”

In order for you to stay organised do you have to begin your preparations early and if so how early do you start? Are you a big list maker and write down everything you need to buy, plan and prep? Do you split the responsibility out across your family? Maybe you order all your presents and/or food online to save time? Or do you buy decorations and presents throughout the year when you see a good deal?

However you stay organised in the run up to Christmas, tell us on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Lists
Updated calendar
Reminders
Starting early.

I am unorganised, leave everything until December however that's how it should be! It's when I feel most festive so I love shopping, wrapping and delivering just when Christmas is around the corner. I always make sure I have babysitting favours ready though as cannot get anything done with the children around!

lists, lots of lists

Little and often - I try to do something every day and to keep this up - even if I'm exhausted and 10 Christmas cards feels like a chore! 😂 I also try really hard to make sure we don't forgot what it's all for (and for us, that's a festive celebration of family) and remember to do something festive every couple of days in December - such as reading a Christmas story, roasting marshmallows, going for a walk to look at the neighbours Christmas lights, making pomanders (oranges and cloves) etc (nothing takes longer than 10-15 minutes) - and this means that we can enjoy the advent rather than getting completely bogged down with the preparations! 🎄

Lists and more lists. Christmas card addresses all set up to print out on sticky labels - I check who's sent to us as well when we clear the decorations and update the list, as so many people seem to have stopped sending cards now. I've had a Christmas present spreadsheet for many years now, so I can make sure I know who bought what for us and what we bought for them. Avoids duplicated presents and the dreaded regifting to the person who bought the original gift!

I'm not a lists person but others find that useful, I know. I just start EARLY by planning the bigger important things and fitting the smaller less important things around them. I don't get hung up on present buying. In our family, this isn't what Christmas is all about.

Lists are the only way to go! As a Musician, it’s the busiest time of year and with all of the kids’ concerts and shows too it’s all a bit manic. I have lists of what I’ve bought, what I haven’t bought, where I need to be and when etc.
I’m definitely a ‘start early’ person and will buy gifts when I see them throughout the year so avoid a big outlay at the end of the year. We spend within our means as we don’t earn huge amounts.

I start present shopping in the sales after Christmas and throughout the year if I see something, same with cards and wrapping paper, all bought in the Xmas sales.
Never shop for food the week before Christmas as way too busy!
I tend to buy a couple of Christmas food items each week I go shopping and put them upstairs in a cupboard, it's amazing how it helps out, one week may be cranberry sauce and goose fat, the next week tins of chocs or a bottle of wine, this way the cost is spread out, on the actual day I've already prepped the fresh veg the night before, or should I say my husband does that as I hate prepping fresh veg, as I do the cooking I do NOT wash up!
My favourite thing though is going to McDonald's on Boxing Day 👍🏻

Food wise I make a list of items to buy a month in advance, I buy as much as I can in the weeks running up to Christmas as I can. I prep and freeze anything I possibly can.
Perishable food that can't be frozen is bought as late as possible.
Everything os defrosted on Christmas Eve or the 23rd.
Presents I start buying in August, buying as much as I can locally from small business and I wrap as I go.
Activities are booked in September so I can plan around everything.

Lists and start the shopping early.

As my working and private life are both very hectic (my job can have me running off up and down the country and in my private life I play with a band so spend most weekends gigging), the only way I can cope with Christmas is to be very (almost obsessively) organised. About 3 months before I will have decided on the food needed (as veggies we don't have the trad turkey) then I work out what can be bought 3 months before, 1 month before, 1 week before and last minute. When we get to the supermarket it is bordering on a military exercise. We have split the list in half based on the shelf location in store then each takes half of any discount vouchers and "we're off". Usually meet up at the till where everything is paid for. When we get home the rest of the team is waiting to offload and store the shopping.

On the big day we always eat with my parents so we again, split the roles. 1 person makes the starter, 1 makes the main and 1 the pud. Hubby is usually responsible for provision of regular drinks (and keeping out of the way - usually heading off to buy anything we may have missed).

It is important to keep a level head...by always having a bottle of wine in the handbag.
Whilst wondering through the shops BARGING is necessary to ensure efficiency of the task at hand, take no prisoners .
Buy the husband a prostitute to keep him occupied of busy days for example when you're gifting your side hoe with Christmas presents.
Add cyanide to every meal, slowly adding more each time...no kids? No husband? No stress!
If you are in particular of a rush don't hesitate to "BORROW" a police car for the day, this will definitely reduce travel time by at least half!
Hope this post has helped all you stressed out mums.
Merry Christmas!! xoxoxo
[santa]

Making a list and checking it twice!! No joking, there usually is a few lists going on to help me prepare. I try and get everything done early and ticked off.

Preparation is key. I buy throughout the year and tend go avoid last minute shopping. If I need anything in December I head out early morning before the rush.anyone I haven't seen for while or dont seeanymore gets cut off the present and Christmas card list less fuss less hassle. I always make sure to have extra tape gift wrap and giftbsgs to hand as they're is always needed. I only buy for immediate family nan mother father my kids nieces and nephews and sister.anyoneelse just gets wine or chocolate. I always have spare wine and chcoclate in the cupboard. All Xmas outing are booked months in advance. Chock.ate and Xmas snacks are stocked up from aboutoctober when I see them on offer. I tend to clear the freezer and don't buy more freezer food till almost empty that way come latenov early Dec I have the room to go and buy party food from Iceland or dessert started and Turkey ready to be in the freezer ready for Xmas no mess no fuss no running around like headless chickens xmas eve

@Gobblemonster !!!

Most of my shopping is done by October and sent to Scotland with my parent after their annual Norfolk visit. Other than that I try to minimise social events so we can have lots of chilled family time

I start to get the cuboard biscuits and sweets in gradually in weekly shops, and on weekends i do a little wrapping so to avoid whole nights sat up doing it.....

We keep it as simple as possible. I'll only be sending a handful of cards. We don't buy more food than we would eat, opting instead for more luxurious food than we would normally eat. I've ordered a deboned and stuffed goose for the day. I will make some accompaniments ahead and freeze them and just buy others in.

The kids just get a few presents they want or need, rather than big showy piles.

Plan ahead, and don't go nuts!

I book a home delivery for the food shopping as soon as they are released and edit it up to Xmas.

Presents are trickier as if I start early I spend more! So I do most online in one hit and then have a packed shopping day one day in December for the rest. Lists are a must!

By 6pm Xmas Eve, I figure whatever I haven't got, I haven't got, pour myself a large glass of wine and stop worrying!

But I much prefer Gobblemonster's top tips!

I am trying to be more organised this year with a list of what presents I need to buy. Sounds obvious but haven't really done it properly before. I have more to buy for though as friends have more kids etc

I bookmark websites like a crazy person so a direct link to the item I'm buying and on pay days I slowly work my way through the book marks!
I'm not so organised with food, as in me and dd do not have the self control so tend to nibble our way through December and do a panic shop on the 23rd 😊

I think because I try to not add to much pressure to myself by seeing it as just a slightly busier normal Sunday dinner I find it's not to hectic. I buy just for my little boy and children in the family and I buy something each week starting 1st December. Christmas food shop I buy a chicken start of December and freeze it just incase no fresh few days before and I do treat shop week of Christmas. Presents I wrap Christmas Eve once my little boy is asleep Christmas TV on and a cuppa. The main thing is just to let yourself enjoy it. It's so easy to get carried away with overbuying, worrying not bought enough etc but the main thing is on the day it's spent together. It's just another day

Make lots of lists, take advantage of sales and deals, start early enough so it doesn’t end up a big rush

Like others I start picking up presents throughout the year when I see them and squirrel them away ( and hope I can find them again as Christmas approaches ) I also start to clear out the freezer and buy extra ready meals to enjoy when things are busy before Christmas and when we want a quick and easy alternative to festive food between Christmas and New Year.