Start Planning Christmas 100 Days Before The Christmas Day
I'm always really busy at Christmas with business and social events so over the years I've learnt that if I want a perfect, stress free Christmas it's best to start planning way back in September.
I've put together a useful checklist of things you can be doing in September to help get you ready for Christmas.
I've put together a useful checklist of things you can be doing in September to help get you ready for Christmas.
- Update or create Christmas card and gift list so you have a clear idea about how many Christmas cards and gifts you need to buy.
- Set your overall budget for cards, gift wrap, presents, food and drink for Christmas.
If possible try and break this down month by month so that you can spread the cost of buying your Christmas presents over the next few months. - Start buying your Christmas presents looking out for special offers and promotions in the end of Summer Sales - this will not only save you money but will help you avoid the crowds nearer Christmas.
- If you need to send a parcel internationally via surface mail the cut off for some parts of the World can be as early as the end of September / beginning of October.
Check the exact dates early to avoid having to upgrade to the more expensive airmail option, but it's always best to post early at Christmas to avoid any backlogs. - You can spread the cost of Christmas a little by buying ingredients for your Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding, Pickles, Mincemeat etc a few at a time each week, rather than all at once.
Make a list of everything you're going to need and start ticking off the items as you buy them.
Just don't be tempted to eat them before Christmas. - Register with a money back site like Quidco as this can give you money back on several online purchases - but do check that the overall price is still the best deal!
- If you'll be staying away from home and you need to book a hotel room see if you can get an early booking discount.
Even if you can't get a discount it can be worth booking to secure the room you want so that you don't end up paying for a more expensive room at the last minute.
Check the hotels cancellation policy, most let you cancel the day before if your plans change but do check their terms & conditions carefully. - If you plan to travel by train, don't forget that the rail operating companies scale back their operations over the Christmas and New Year period, taking the opportunity to carry out essential maintenance and upgrades.
It's worth checking early if the train you want will actually be running and if it is reserving a seat. - If you want to grow Hyacinths, Daffodils or Amaryllis so that they are in flower for Christmas Day you need to prepare to get them planted in mid September to early October depending upon the variety.
Visit garden centres now to see what is available and make a note in your diary so that you plant the bulbs on time. - It is possible to make Christmas puddings and cakes as early as September.
They need to be kept in cool, airtight containers but with careful storage the flavour will develop nicely if you make them well in advance.