How To Get Organised For Christmas Without Breaking A Sweat
It's the most festive time of the year and we just have two more weeks to go until the big C word. Christmas was never a huge thing for me growing up, but I love making it a big deal now that we have Isaac, Christmas is definitely more magical with kids!
Every year, I try to get organised way before December hits as the month is usually a whirlwind of parties, dinner gatherings and festive outings, and the next thing you know the big day arrives and you don't know how you managed to survive a whole month of craziness.
I want to share some tips on how to get organised for Christmas without breaking a sweat, this is what I swear by since having a child and when time is just not on your side.
1) Shop The January Sales
This only works if you have ample storage space in your home, for us this is our loft. Every January, I pick up rolls of wrapping paper, Christmas cards, cute tree decorations and other Christmas decors for a fraction of the price. Same goes with presents; last year I ordered a load of toys from Mothercare online for children that I knew I would be buying for at Christmas, and when they arrived I put the child's name on it and started a spreadsheet to keep track! Most of the toys were reduce to 50-80% off the original price, so you might as well save and get organised at the same time.
2) Keep Lists Online
I use Google docs to make lists which just gets amended yearly. I have a list for Christmas Presents (who I've bought for and what the item is), Christmas Cards and Christmas Food Shopping. Referring to lists is such a time saver and you just tick or score off as you go.
3) Buy All Presents Before December
Hitting the shops as the festive window displays take over are a lot of fun but panic-inducing if you have to fight your way through the crowds to buy presents. I try to buy most of the presents on my list by the end of November, and come December I will just buy food presents like fancy biscuits tins and chocolates for the adults. This way, I get to do fun Christmas shopping but without the pressure and stress.
4) Online Shop And Deliver Direct
I have family and friends in Hong Kong and all around UK that I send presents to, and this mean trying to post everything by the first week of December. This year, I used Moonpig* to choose lovely presents and send direct to the recipient so that was one less packaging and queueing job at the Post Office. Everything is posted 1st class and I had delighted friends and family thanking us for their present!
5) Make Present Wrapping A Fun Night In
Moonpig sent me an amazing hamper of Christmas goodies to help me make the most of a shopping night in and the unavoidable chore of gift wrapping and card writing. I got my Christmas jumper on, lighted a Christmas scented candle, cracked open a glass of bubbly and munched on chocolates and mince pies, as I spent a good 4 hours one evening wrapping and buying presents online! It was far more fun doing this by making an event out of it and all my presents and cards were done by the first week of December.
Moonpig caters for everyone. I picked up toys for Isaac and my nieces, and also got lots of lovely biscuits to give. I also used their direct delivery service to send chocolates to friends who live far away and to Isaac's modelling agency to say thanks for all the opportunities!
With 2 weeks left until Christmas, I can now focus on taking Isaac out for fun Christmas outings and all I have left to prepare is the Christmas food shop and cooking.
Are you an early bird or last minute Christmas person?
*These items were gifted to me. All opinions are my own and unbiased
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