8 Ways Parents Can Get Organised For Christmas

Get organised for Christmas in advance, by planning ahead of time you’ll feel less stressed and more organised. You’ll end up saving money and having more time to do the things you want to do and buy the presents which you know your family and friends will love.

Even though we know exactly when Christmas is, it always seems to sneak up on us and we usually end up running out of time, we scramble to get things done as we get closer to the big day.

We think we have plenty of time to get organised for Christmas and we make jokes about how soon the shops are selling Christmas wrapping paper. But then we’re shocked once December arrives and we only have a couple of weekends to organise everything!

This year I’m even more keen than usual to get organised for Christmas. We’re expecting our first baby this November, and I have no doubt that Christmas is going to be even more of a last-minute job! But by doing some of these things in advance, I can feel more organised in the run to Christmas day, and just enjoy spending time with my baby.

1. Make a bucket list of things you want to do

The first thing you will want to do to get organised for Christmas is to make a list of all the things you actually want to do in the build-up to Christmas. Here are some things you might include on your list:

• Ice Skating
• See a musical
• Visit Santa
• Meals out with family or friends
• Make a gingerbread house and decorate it
• Watch Christmas films
• Go Christmas tree shopping
• Donate presents to charity
• Donate to a food bank
• Visit a Christmas market
• Host a secret Santa night with your friends
• Bake Christmas treats
• Book a pedicure, manicure and haircut

2. Make a list of people you plan to buy gifts for

I always like to write a list of the people I plan to buy Christmas gifts for, and how much I want to spend. There are always a couple changes each year, so it is worth making a list to avoid last-minute panic shopping.

It’s worth noting how much you plan to spend as well, that way you can budget your money and make sure you don’t spend more than you wanted. Having a budget doesn’t mean you can’t give thoughtful presents, in fact, it will actually help you think more creatively and come up with gift ideas which are more personal but don’t cost too much. This leads me to my next point…

3. Set a budget

Set a budget of how much you intend to spend on Christmas gifts to avoid feeling stressed and help you plan out what presents you want to buy. Setting a budget will also help you get creative and think of some DIY Christmas gifts. Here are some DIY gift ideas to get you started:

• Homemade treats
• Knitted items such as scarves, hats, blankets or stockings
• Scented candles
• Plants – take cuttings of your house plants
• Hampers – creating your own food hamper box is much cheaper than buying one ready-made

4. Cancel plans that you don’t want to attend

Now you might be looking at your lists and feeling a little overwhelmed. With so much to do, so much to buy and so many people to see. All while trying to stay stress-free and enjoy the build-up to Christmas.

It might feel like you don’t have enough time to get everything done and if that’s the case then have another look at your list and remove anything which isn’t worth the stress. At Christmas we tend to get invited to a lot of events, suddenly everyone you know wants to catch up, but you don’t need to say yes to every single invite. If you have nights out planned but would rather spend that time at home with your family, wrapping presents and watching Christmas films, then cancel your plans and do what makes you happy.

5. Buy and write out Christmas cards

Sometimes it can be hard to buy Christmas presents in advance, especially if you’re loved ones usually give you gift ideas or write a Christmas list. But something which you can do in advance is buying and write out your Christmas cards. You don’t need to post them yet, but having them all written out and ready to post will save you the stress and time later on.

6. Buy wrapping paper and gift accessories

Similar to the Christmas cards, another thing you can do early on is stock up on wrapping paper, bows and labels. Even if you haven’t bought any presents yet, you can still buy wrapping paper and other bits in advance.

7. Buy Christmas snacks in advance

If you can resist eating all of your Christmas snacks before Christmas, then save yourself time by buying your treats in advance. Buying items with a long expiry date means you can tick them off your shopping list and tuck them at the back of your cabinet to avoid temptation.

If you’re planning on doing a lot of baking in the build-up to Christmas, it might also be worth buying your ingredients in advance.

8. Enjoy your Christmas

Lastly, enjoy your Christmas! Christmas should be a magical and memorable time to spend with your friends and family. If you’re finding the build-up to Christmas stressful, then re-evaluate how you’re spending your time. If you’re having too many nights out but would rather be at home watching Christmas films, then make that a priority instead. It’s okay to decline invitations if it will cause you stress.