Christmas countdown begins…
This blog is about Christmas planning and making sure you don’t have to worry about a thing because we will help you plan the best Christmas yet!
Best Christmas Countdown: Christmas Time Planner
Getting organized is the best way to ensure you’ll have more holiday cheer and less holiday stress. This Christmas time planner will help you keep track of the big tasks during the countdown to Christmas.
Christmas Countdown: 3 to 6 Months Before Christmas
While 2020 has been slightly different (and mostly guided by Covid-19 regulations), in general Christmas planning begins as early as 6 months in advance. In stores you will find Christmas Trees are up as early as September. So, you need to think early enough to plan it well. Think about where you are going to spend your Christmas Day.
Are you heading to your in-laws’ house?
Hosting everyone at yours?
Sit down with family members and decide where you’ll be spending the holidays.
Christmas Countdown: 3 Months Before Christmas
If you’ll be flying somewhere, get your plane tickets as soon as possible. If you need to make a journey, early tickets are best to snap a deal. Last minute tickets are soooooo expensive! Find deals and book your tickets early.
Christmas Countdown: 2 Months Before Christmas
October is the best time to get into the Christmas spirit up in your household and really start planning your Christmas holidays.
- Start A Christmas Calendar: As you find out when parties and school pageants are scheduled, write them on your Christmas calendar.
- Start Baking Things That You Can Freeze: Un-iced cookies, bars, and nut breads are good bets to make ahead. Check out my blog on money-saving Christmas gifts that you can bake in advance.
- Update your holiday card list:
- Make a Christmas gift list: You may not have every detail filled in, but at least make sure you list everyone you’ll need to buy for, and think about what they’d like. Have your children give you their wish lists.
Christmas Countdown: 6 Weeks Before Christmas
Now it all starts to get real. If planned properly, you can have the best Christmas ever without breaking your bank balance.
- Make a Christmas budget: Set a ballpark figure for how much you can spend on gifts—it will help you stay grounded when the shopping gets frenzied.
- Start Christmas shopping: Yes, you may already be picking things up here and there, but the more you buy ahead, the better—especially if you’ll be mailing gifts. If you have big-ticket items (like electronics) that go on sale the day after Thanksgiving, you may want to brave the crowds on Black Friday—you could save substantially.
Christmas Countdown: 1 Month Before Christmas
My advise for best Christmas shopping – Don’t miss the deals around Thanksgiving.
- Do any online shopping: Order gifts now so you have lots of time to wrap them once they arrive.
- Wrap gifts as you buy them: Not only will this keep little eyes from finding out what Santa is bringing, it will save you time on Christmas Eve.
- Take stock of your decorations: Get out your lights, ornaments, wreaths, and lawn ornaments. See if anything is broken and needs to be replaced. Is it time for an update?
- Start addressing holiday cards: It can take a while, depending on how long your list is.
Christmas Countdown: 3 Weeks Before Christmas
First week of December and it all begins. From advent calendars to Christmas cards and the Christmas Tree. It starts to look a lot like Christmas!!
- Mail cards: If you’re too busy to get them addressed and mailed during the first week of December, consider putting them off until after the holiday rush.
- Buy a Christmas tree: This is a good time to get your tree, if you want it to stay fresh and retain its needles through Christmas. Same goes for fresh greenery or garlands.
- Decorate: First week of December, it’s time to get the house looking festive.
- Finalize menus: If you’ll be serving the holiday meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members will be bringing. Start a master grocery list.
- Order a turkey or ham: Or whatever else is the centerpiece of your holiday meal—you don’t want to get caught short.
Christmas Countdown: 2 Weeks Before Christmas
- Make sure out-of-town presents are mailed: Try to have gifts in the mail by December 10.
- Shop for non-perishable items: Buy alcohol and any canned goods or pantry staples you’ll need.
Christmas Countdown: 1 Week Before Christmas
- Deep clean your house: You’ll enjoy those decorations even more if the floors are clean and the kitchen is organized.
- Clear out your refrigerator: Toss old leftovers to make room for big dishes and ingredients that’ll be piling up closer to the holiday.
Christmas Countdown: 3 Days Before Christmas
- Shop for fresh ingredients: Hit the store for the last-minute vegetables or fruit you need for meals.
Christmas Countdown: 2 Days Before Christmas
- Start cooking: My most favourite part of Christmas planning! Find really easy Christmas recipes here. You’ve probably socked away some things in the freezer already, but now’s the time to prep main courses and make anything that can sit for a couple of days.
Christmas Countdown: 1 Day Before Christmas
- Finish last-minute wrapping: Don’t forget to assemble toys that will be surprises from Santa.
- Finish cooking, and make a timeline for the next day: Decide when you’ll be feasting, then count backward to determine when to put the turkey (or ham or roast beef) in the oven and what else needs to be cooked.
Christmas Countdown: Christmas Day
Sit back and relax. Enjoy your family and friends and relish the traditions you share.
This Christmas, enjoy the time with family and don’t worry because this Christmas planner can save you time and money. If you want to learn how you can make homemade Christmas gifts and Christmas dinner recipes quickly in a Thermomix, just contact me : hello@rebelchef.co.uk
Stay tuned for more money saving tips, homemade Christmas gifts and Thermomix recipes only at Rebelchef.co.uk.
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