Christmas Countdown

Do you celebrate Christmas? Left it rather late to start your preparations? Consider following our Christmas Planner for a relaxing Christmas break. If joining in part-way through, just check back over the previous weeks and allocate necessary tasks between the remaining weeks. You may wish to keep your lists etc. in a Christmas planner notebook. This isn’t exclusive, so do read down as we may have not included something that is important to you.

Plan your Christmas budget. Make a list of people you will provide gifts for and allocate your budget accordingly. Purchase gifts as soon as possible. Remember to allow plenty of time for delivery on orders.

Don’t rely on credit cards, catalogues with delayed payment plans etc. You will suffer well into 2010. Check to see if you have funds in old, forgotten savings accounts. Can you sell items on ebay? Could you become a representative e.g. for Body Shop or take a temporary second job in a restaurant or bar for a few weeks for Christmas? Could you make gifts, sweets, cakes etc. as economical but thoughtful presents? Offer a time pledge in an attractive Christmas card e.g. for babysitting, taking someone on an outing, DIY or similar. With children and teens, pick one thing they really want, don’t try to buy all eight! You can top up with inexpensive stocking fillers. Where possible, use voucher codes for a discount plus cashback sites if ordering on the internet and special offers in shops. Could you swop items e.g. toys for toddlers, with friends for gifts for your children? Could you agree a maximum price for gifts of, say £5.00 or £10.00 with family and friends? Or try a Secret Santa where everyone in a group pulls a name out of a hat and purchases a gift for just one person in the group.

Check charity shops for children’s toys and other gifts in new condition. Our local Scope often have great buys.

Pick any flowers and branches you wish to dry indoors for Christmas. Pop them in vases to dry out for a couple of weeks, then spray with gold or silver canned paint (do this outside on a still day).

Book any restaurant tables required over Christmas and the New Year.

Check postage dates for parcels and Christmas cards abroad. Write them in your Christmas notebook.

Order meat required for Christmas. Write the order number if applicable with delivery/collection details in your Christmas notebook. Purchase your Christmas cake if required or buy the ingredients and make this weekend if you haven’t already. Oxfam sell Christmas cakes and puddings so you can buy your cake and help out too. Consider whether you require a vegetarian option for your celebrations and make a note in your Christmas notebook to organise this.

Check the dates from which you can place orders and book delivery slots for internet grocery shopping for Christmas. Make a note in your Christmas notebook of the dates.

Plan your Christmas menu. Make a list of ingredients required to order or purchase.

 Purchase Christmas cards and stamps. You are in time this week for UK second class postage. Write your Christmas cards out over this week. If you are holding an event for Christmas or New Year, plan dates now as you may wish to pop invitations in the same envelope as your Christmas cards. Keep one bag containing cards, stamps, list of cards, address book so you can access everything easily. If you don’t want a long stint, 15 minutes a day should complete the job without it becoming too tedious.

Post or deliver your cards.

Plan pre Christmas visits to relatives. Make phone calls to confirm dates and times.

Over the week, pick one room a day. Spend 10 minutes de-cluttering that room ready for Christmas. Have a charity bag as well as a rubbish bag. Recycle when applicable.

If you have children, involve them in a clear out of their rooms (no clear out and Santa won’t visit usually works). Keep it short, say half an hour. Make a point of cleaning unwanted toys together and taking them to a charity shop.

Check the conditions of your Christmas decorations. Give unwanted, good condition ones to charity or give them away on freecycle. You may wish to make a few decorations yourself, especially if you have children to involve. (see the star on our Kids’ Keep Active page on www.looklovely.net ). Put up your decorations over the weekend or spend ten minutes a day putting them up over the week (excluding real trees as they may drop before Christmas).

If you’d like to donate to charity, send your donation.

Oxfam and other charities have gift cards as presents. Obtainable on-line, through catalogues and in some charity shops such as Oxfam.

Consider pre-cooking, then freezing, a few dishes for use over the Christmas period.

Purchasing wrapping etc. Make up a box with Christmas wrapping paper, tape, bows, ribbons, scissors, gift tags etc. so you have everything to hand. Begin to wrap your gifts. Try 15 minutes a day over the week.

Organise your Christmas tree.

Wash any Christmas table linen and iron so that it is ready. Check your table decorations are ready. Ensure you have sufficient wine glasses, cutlery, plates, baking trays etc. Remember turkey foil, toilet rolls, milk and bread.

Do you have an elderly or disabled neighbour who may need help with shopping or appreciate a pre- Christmas visit this week?

Do you need to order milk, papers or bread or cancel them if going away ?

  Hopefully, there should just be a few last minute preparations left now. Ensure you have a couple of boxes of chocolates, gift vouchers, bottles of wine or similar tucked away for unexpected visitors who arrive unexpectedly with gifts or as a back up in case you have accidentally forgotten someone. Gift bags with labels are also handy for if you need to produce a quick gift.

Continue to wrap any remaining gifts, 15 minutes a day or have a big gift wrapping evening with carols playing and mince pies to encourage you (don't leave this until the 24th).

Check over your Christmas menu. Ensure you have all the ingredients organised. Do you have non-alcoholic drinks available? Is your vegetarian option organised if required?

Ensure clothing is clean and ready for the day. If you wear tights, do you have spares in case of a ladder or snag?

If collecting, remember to pick up your turkey or Christmas meat. If it's frozen, check the defrosting time. This can take days!

Do you plan to attend a church service? Check out the days and times.

Have a think to see whether there is anything else you need to do that hasn't been covered by this list.

Spend time on you. Pamper yourself with a face mask, long baths, a hair do or whatever helps you to relax.

Happy Christmas!