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

[SoftBlocks]

Start early November. Make lots of lists. Start buying stocking fillers and hiding them while remembering where I put them! Try to get DC Christmas lists as soon as possible and hope they don’t change their minds after I’ve bought the main presents!

[Girlicorne]

I plan and book our Christmas events from July onwards to spread the cost. I make present lists from around half term then start buying after my daughter's November birthday. I order dinner at the beginning of October and finish work the Friday before Christmas then plan when to do the rest of the food/booze shop, usually a couple of days before late at night so it's not rammed. I do most of thw gift shopping on line so everything is in my amazon basket ready for payday. I wrap in the evenings after work from early December. We don't have many people to buy for other than the kids. I never find it stressful I love November and December. Everything is planned in my diary but I m like that all year round anyway! oh and DH does dinner as I spend 8 weeks doing everything else, Xmas day is my day off!!

[Cotswoldmama]

I write lots of lists and try to do it all in one go. I usually make a lot of gifts and gifts I buy are usually from online retailers as with 2 kids and working there never seems to be enough time in the day!

[sarat1]

I do lists for presents and lists for cards.

[Whatififall]

A list of what I’ve bought and a list I’ve yet to get
You can guarantee though I’ll be in Asda last minute on Christmas Eve having forgotten something...

[foxessocks]

Yep we also just don't go mad. Buy some nice food. Buy some presents and wrap them. Done!

[AWholeLottaRosie]

Lists, lists, and more lists. I have a Christmas notebook that's been on the go for nearly twenty years. I start Christmas shopping late August/ early September (or earlier if I see something good) and everything I buy gets written in the notebook. This way I can keep track of what I've bought this year but I can also make sure I'm not duplicating the same present I've bought someone the previous year.
The notebook also has a comprehensive list of Christmas food and household essentials plus little tips that I've gathered over the years to help dinner etc to go smoothly.

[sharond101]

I get alkali the gifts in in plenty of time and then lists of the food we need and tick off as I pick them up. I freeze as much as is possible to have made in advance and try and enjoy the day itself.

[RhubarbAndCustards]

I’m feeling overwhelmed this year - working full time plus lots of other responsibilities, so just trying to remember it’s just one day. And it’s just a roast dinner. I’ve arranged activities for DC to be out of the house so I can wrap everything. But I need to get cracking on lists - it’s the only way I’ll remember everything, and stay sane!

[duck22]

I have a list for everything. As soon as I get a date it goes in the joint diary. I also keep a list of what people mention throughout the year so I can refer to it for presents, which I try to complete by December, to take away some of the stress

[TeenTimesTwo]

Lists

• what we have bought / going to buy for people
  
• Christmas cards
  
• jobs for xmas eve
  
• food to buy
  
• Christmas day cooking list
  
• big family get together list
  

We even have a list of what cutlery is needed on the table for Christmas lunch (so one of the DC can lay the table without needing help)

Then on next year's calendar, reminders like:

• early Nov - buy 40 cards & new outside lights, have plenty of crackers

[TheWickedWitchofWestYorkshire]

We have a massive box of cards, both professionally printed homemade and shop-bought, that are used and then added to every year. We just write them when we get a minute.

We start asking our children to think about what they'd like from around October and then start pricing them up and buying them from the start of December. They're wrapped and put away as soon as they arrive. We can't afford to buy for each other or for other people so we don't. Santa brings us a box of chocolates or something so we have something to open.

We save supermarket vouchers and coupons throughout the year and that gives us money to spend for Xmas dinner, boxing day dinner, NY eve and NY day. We buy little bits for it here and there throughout December (not chocolate, biscuits it mince pies though because I'll eat them too soon!) so we don't have to a big shop. We only cater for ourselves on those big days too so don't have any pressure to provide a big feast for lots of other people and nor do we feel we have to do a big 'tidy up'in preparation for visitors.

We reuse our decorations every year - there's really no point in replacing the tinsel or the tree or whatever every year just to keep up with trends and fashions because this just wasteful. This means we don't have to organise or buy all that stuff in December. The tree etc goes up about the 2nd or 3rd week in December.

Both sides of our family live within a 20 mile radius so there's no travelling or overnight guests to prepare for, which makes it easier. People just drop by when they want and we do the same thing to them.

I can't think of anything else that needs organising really. Ultimately it's just one day and shouldn't take loads of planning and endless shopping and to-do lists and things-to-buy lists etc. That's just madness and an expectation pressed onto us by the retail industry imo and creates needless stress and then the day itself is just an anticlimax.

[TwoGinScentedTears]

I do a mixture of all of the things really. I shop for good deals in January on wrapping paper and decos.

But it's in September that I start with the mental planning and in November I try to get completely done: just the food shopping to do.

It's a huge job, made much easier with online shopping TBH-and yeah, sometimes that includes an online and delivered McDonalds

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

Lists, lists and more lists! I first make a list of the lists I need to make it works for me, it stops it all racing through my head and worrying I've forgotten something

Also starting early so it's not all a mad rush

[margaritasbythesea]

A proper good one from DH this year, regarding extended visits from family - he reminded me that only one or two meals need to be special. The rest are just normal meals.

Good one from me too but maybe not one for everyone - one of our guests is a chef. When he asked us what presents we wanted, in a moment of inspiration, I asked him to cook Christmas Dinner for us. Although I could probably cook it with my eyes closed it's the best present I could have asked for for myself. I'll get to build dolls houses and Lego sets and I'll also get not to stress about cooking lunch for a chef. I currently feel I may be a genius.

[Imgettingcheesefries]

Lots of planning and lists. I start shopping quite early, this year I started in September and now I'm finished Christmas shopping. I have an app called manage Christmas which is really useful for budgeting and remembering what I've bought. The Christmas food shop will be ordered online but I usually add a few Christmas things (box of chocolates/posh biscuits etc) in with my normal food shop in the weeks leading up

[angell74]

I keep my list from the previous year and tend to follow that. This reassures me - if it went well the year before I’m on track for another successful Christmas.

However, my best organisational skill is keeping it all in perspective -life is not a TV advert and it is the people you are with that matter most.

[Almostthere15]

Like many others it's all about the lists for me. I start a present list pretty early else I forget what I've bought until it comes out from various cupboards.

On Christmas eve I sit down with a glass of Baileys and write the timings out for Christmas dinner. It keeps me on track with all the extras and oven shuffling.

[Enigma222]

I always manage to plan and purchase everything in the first couple of weeks in December. Look for the latest offers and deals and purchase from where it is the cost effective for me.

[defineme]

I order food online, delegate cooking to my husband, buy the main presents in October and keep lists on my phone. I also use (and reuse) gift bags instead of wrapping paper, donate my Christmas card money to charity and invite everyone to my house because I dislike travelling at Christmas. All of this means that I have a lovely run up to Christmas in December, going to Xmas markets to pick up little extra presents, choosing a tree, going to the panto, socialising with family and friends.

[JC4PMPLZ]

I do it all, but I take my time and don't sweat it. Actually DP does main food shopping, but we leave all that till Christmas Eve. I am still buying presents on Christmas Eve, in the hope of discounts. Not organised, but then I don't have great expectations.

[36degrees]

I have a smallish family so I can do all my gift shopping in one shot, like having one specific day for it in our local town centre, or visiting one specific event like the Etsy Made Local market or similar. I make a list and budget and stick to it, and try to get consumables wherever possible - I think most people are at peak 'stuff' these days.

I do a full deep clean and declutter of the kitchen before the last payday in November so that anything we need, I can budget for, and anything we're stocked up on and need to use up, I can save money there. If we live out of the freezer for a couple of weeks, it means I can stock up on at the reductions section when the shops are doing shorter days or closing for more than 24 hours.

Lists upon lists for everything, but I tend to recycle my lists year on year, I keep them in the back of the address book so they're easy to find.