It’s less than a month until the festive period officially begins in December, so now is the perfect time to get ahead! Then come December you can sit back with a mince pie and relax.
Follow our 5 great ways to plan and organise, for a stress free and chilled out Christmas.
1. Create a Christmas food calendar
It is estimated each year we spend £200 just on food for Christmas Day itself!
To help you spread the cost as well as save time, start collecting cupboard food you will need for the festivities.
Download a printable monthly calendar for October, November and December. Work backwards and decide what you will need to buy just before Christmas (like the turkey!) and plot on your calendar when to buy each food item you have on your shopping list.
Packets of things like nuts, breadsticks and chocolate selection boxes can be bought now and will last you until the festive season.
TOP TIP! Hide any sweet treats away in a secret spot, so no-one gets their hands on the choccies before December. You included!
2. Do your research and come up with ideas as a team
Hands up who knows someone that starts their Christmas shopping in the January sales! We all want to be organised, but if you’re busy juggling lots of things, it’s easier said than done.
Start by making a list with 3 columns: who you need to buy gifts for, your budget for each person and jot down some notes about what each person is interested in.
If you know your teenage niece is a beauty junkie then why not get her one of our gorgeous makeup bags Fill with a couple of her favourite nail polishes and lipsticks.
3. Wrap your gifts as you buy them
Keep your Christmas Eve free and wrap your gifts as you buy them!
For a rustic look, keep it minimal with brown paper and twine. You could even add some fresh foliage nearer to the day for a simple yet stunning finishing touch. Or for more of a fun and quirky effect, use red ribbon and some candy canes!
If you really can’t stand wrapping presents, then why not let somebody else do it for you? Search for a gift wrapping service near you (yes that’s a real thing!)
4. An ornament box will make your life so much easier
Whether you like a traditional red and green colour scheme, a Scandi white and grey theme, or go crazy for colour, you can never have too many baubles! But to avoid buying more of what you already have, spend an afternoon sorting through your decorations.
Divide your Christmas collection into piles: keep, bin and donate. Get rid of any old broken pieces and take any decorations you never use to your nearest charity shop, so they can be rehomed. Then don’t forget to test the fairy lights so you know they work!
Once you have done all this, it’s time to get yourself a Christmas ornament box. Hobbycraft has a great option. You can fit up to 64 baubles inside and all for just £6! This makes sure all your decorations are kept safe and secure and you can easily find them year on year.
TOP TIP: If you like to change your Christmas décor style regularly, then have one box per theme.
5. Book your hair appointment now before they’re fully booked
Dressing up in sparkly outfits and getting glammed up is a key part of the Christmas party season.
If you want a trim before Santa arrives, or your roots need jazzing up, then don’t forget to book your hair appointment in plenty of time, before they get booked up.
If you fancy a change, why not try out the latest trend? Red tones were everywhere on the A/W 17 catwalks. Go for a bold all over bright hue, or for a subtler nod to the trend, have a few warmer copper tones put through your hair.
What are you waiting for? Get started now and kick of the Christmas countdown!
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