Christmas is a week away, the most exciting, wonderful time of the year!!
However, it can also be a very stressful period. Running around trying to sort out dinner and gifts, from forgetting the smallest details that cause last-minute stress. But do you know what the key to a truly enjoyable, stress-free Christmas is? Smart planning and having a well-thought-out checklist. This simple guide will help you stay organised and cover all the essentials and the easy-to-forget extras to ensure your Christmas runs smoothly.
1. Set the Vibe for Your Christmas
The most important and vital part of Christmas is deciding the theme. It is a cosy, small, intimate gathering full of movies and comfort food. Or a large social gathering, with a full Christmas dinner, alongside family traditions and games. Setting the vibe earlier helps avoid going the extra mile when not necessary.
2. Set a Budget to Avoid Overspending
The Christmas period is a very expensive time, and the last thing you want is to be stressing over money. Having a clear, precise budget is therefore a must. This will cover items such as gifts, food, travel if you’re visiting family, decorations and other extras.
Ensure that your budget is realistic and something that you can afford to do. Remember that thoughtful doesn’t mean expensive. Track your spending so you don’t start the new year.
3. Plan your Christmas Food
Food is central to the festive seasons. I mean, who doesn’t look forward to a good Christmas dinner? However, it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Finalise your menu early so that you can create a precise shopping list of what you will need. Next, prep what you can ahead of time to avoid the stress and busyness of Christmas shopping.
4. Get the Essentials Done Early
Start off with the basics. The things that are needed to make Christmas work. Have your gifts sorted early. This includes cards, wrapping paper, gift bags, tape, scissors and labels. Although it may appear obvious, many people forget the smallest things – especially sellotape.
Next up are food essentials. Beyond the main meal, remember the little ingredients you need to prepare dishes and to keep guests satisfied. Stuff like milk, tea, coffee, sugar, and gravy. These everyday items disappear quickly when guests arrive. Additionally, ensure that you have food for Christmas breakfast too.
Last but not least, Christmas dinner causes a great deal of mess. So ensure you have household supplies, such as toilet roll, kitchen roll, washing-up liquid, sponges and hand soap.
5. The Last-Minute Things Everyone Forgets at Christmas
These are the items that have people panicking on Christmas Eve. Batteries, tissues, paper plates, napkins.
In regard to food, most people remember the turkey but forget the seasoning. Ensure you have salt, pepper, herbs, gravy or stock cubes. Additionally, sauces like cranberry, bread sauce, mustard and ketchup are always getting forgotten, yet are highly requested.
And we can’t forget the dessert now. Ensures that sides that go with desserts are well stocked up on. This includes cream, custard, chocolate sauce and mince pies.
Drinks are another important area that people neglect. Think beyond alcohol, especially if you are hosting children and non-drinkers. Soft drinks, juice, squash and ice are essentials. Don’t forget lemons and limes for drinks. Additionally, extra cups and glasses are essential if you’re hosting a crowd.
Christmas is the day you want to be as prepared and stress-free as possible. No one wants to be panicking when all your guests have arrived because you realised you forgot a small yet important component.
Conclusion
On Christmas Eve, do one run-through to make sure that everything is prepared. Gifts wrapped, food prepped, house is clean and well organised. Remember, Christmas isn’t about perfection but about making memories with your loved ones. It’s a day to relax and enjoy. And the way to ensure you can do this stress-free is by preparation. A little planning means less panicking and ensures that you have a Christmas that actually feels like Christmas.
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