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

I usually start my present shopping once I've been paid at the end of October and split it into two, doing the remainder after Nov's money. Food & treat wise I start to buy a couple of extra things every week when I do the main shop. Make lists and stick to them! Don't spoil anyone - Christmas shouldn't cost the earth or be a stressful time - family and friends are the greatest gift of all!

I suffer from dreadful FONBE (fear of not buying enough) every Christmas

FONBE culminates in buying "just one more thing" for most people on my list in the week before Christmas. Often before I've even wrapped the gifts I've already bought (and undoubtedly forgotten about).

So my best tip and one I'm trying to really stick to this year is to have everything bought and wrapped by December 1. Then you know what you've bought, you don't overbuy due to FONBE and if there are gifts you still genuinely need to buy, you've got plenty of time to get it sorted.

Plus you have more time to enjoy the few weeks before Christmas when everything gets busy.

Also I hate writing gift tags. So I wrap each person's gifts in the same paper, and put them in a gift bag (re-used from birthdays and previous years where possible), then just a tag on the bag itself rather than every individual gift.

Lists, lists and more lists are my way of coping.
For presents I keep a list of presents, whether brought and ticked when wrapped.
Also keep this list to refer back to the following year, as I have a fear of buying the same present for someone two years running!

I have lots of lists - everything that has to be done, broken down into more detail under each heading.

I tend to do Christmas along the same lines each year, so some things are set, from one year to the next, and I have actually put the lists into a spreadsheet, so I can just add details to that, and print it out, then tick things off.

I also do a lot of lying awake and fretting - this is less useful in organising Christmas, but I don’t seem to be able to stop.

Lists. And then a list to control the lists!

I also have a 'Christmas Book' where I jot down shopping lists, gift ideas, menus, links to recipes etc. It's really helpful to go back through the years and remind myself of what I cooked, where to find certain recipes and quantities of vegetables etc.

Lists ! We have what we call the 'book of Christmas' which is my book of list, DH has a linked more sophisticated spreadsheet.
We have 2 of our children who have xmas birthdays and mine is also a couple of days before xmas, so it is a very very full on expensive and chaotic time of year!
I tend to have different jobs to do each week in the run up to it. On top of all the organisation is also all the school events like nativities, xmas fayres etc to keep on top off. I won't lie I do enjoy the actual day, It so exciting for the children, but DH and I enjoy Boxing day best when we can sit and relax and enjoy our times together. No visiting, no visitors and just playing with the kids and their new toys and games and having nice food.

But the condiments and alcohol alongside each food shop from october onwards.

Lists. Lists and lists and more lists. And I start Christmas shopping in about August (ok, July 😳) with the sum of being broadly finished by the beginning of December so I can enjoy the festive build up.

My only tip is get an app where you can share the to-do list with other adults in your home. Something like Picnic or Wunderlist. I share a list of everything that needs doing with dh and we tick each job off as we've done it.

I used to do everything and only started doing this after I was very ill one year and dh had to do some most of the planning. When it was all over he announced he was 'never doing all of that again'. And I thought well neither am I!

I save up each month throughout the year a little bit, so that come December I have enough money for Christmas presents without going broke! I don't start shopping until December but I write a list of all the people I need to buy for, and write a vague idea of what type of gift to get and what budget for each person.

Xx

Lists! And I start buying quite early and wrap as I go for ease. I've picked up some good tips here about cooking and freezing food for the run up too.
Also I order all the Christmas food online to avoid the shops on top of the big day

We keep everything simple. As a family we don't tend to bother with presents as they're just not necessary or part of it for us. The children of the family get plenty, the adults all feel it isn't needed. It keeps costs down and makes it easier to just buy some nice food and organise some films, games and books for festive quality time!

I write out a new list every day for the run-up to Christmas so nothing is forgotten ...

I don’t 😢

List of tasks helps to keep organised.

Lists lists and more lists

Reverse Advent Calendar - as well as opening a door each day on our traditional advent calendar, we have a homemade "calendar" - A3 monthly planner and we all do 1 job together for Christmas per day e.g. make some food for freezer; wrap presents; put up tree etc. We also add on little outings such as visiting the Christmas Market or going to see the Christmas Lights etc The whole family sits down together at October half term to prepare the calendar so we all know what we're doing and when. I think it's so important for us to spend lots of family time together.

I love to be organised, so I start thinking about xmas gifts beginning of November but I wait until i see offers online before I buy. I prefer online shopping it is less stressful and easier to compare products and read reviews. I keep a note of everything I buy so I dont go over budget or forget what I already have. On the run upto xmas we have our family traditions such as the elf on the shelf, weekend xmas baking and decorating. Card writing, winter walks and every xmas eve me and the kids go to a local animal shelter with donations for both animals and workers.

Starting the proces early! I often buy gifts in the boxing day or January sales to store in my cupboard until christmas, I do online shopping and then I can plan to be at home for when the items arrive. I also make a shopping list and often buy the snacks and drinks early since they have a longer expiry date. Decluttering the house, to make room for the christmas tree and gifts, asking the children if theres any toys they do not want anymore and give these to charity. These are just some of my tips to stay organised over the festive period!

Lots of lists and lots of delegation.

I have two lists one for food and eating treats and the second for presents.
The food list get ticked off over several weeks as the food is purchased and put to one side, the presents list is done on one shopping trip granted my list is small but as I exchange most of my gifts in November at the family get together they all need to be sorted wrapped and tagged early.
So far it's worked well for me and not had to rush out Christmas eve for forgotten items.

I love to make lists! other than that i strt buying two food items a week starting in october, i have a cupboard in the kitchen specially for them, i do the same with christmas presents. ill start cooking the week before and freeze in batches its so much easier to cook them when needed

Buy a few extra food bits per weekly foodshop to put away for Christmas day

I forgot to say - I do as much as I can in advance - I make and freeze braised red cabbage and apple sauce (we have goose) and blitz up breadcrumbs for the stuffing and bread sauce, and freeze those too. I have already made stock from a duck carcass, that will be the basis of the gravy - that is in the freezer.

make lists and never leave things to the last minute