Too many of us have ourselves a stressful little Christmas, with successive panics over decorations, present buying, and that centrepiece of festive anxiety, Christmas dinner.
Well, now you can relax as our week-by-week festive checklist takes the stress out of deep midwinter.
Heather Young, Ideal Home’s editor in chief, shows us how to avoid last-minute chaos and get super organised with just over four weeks to go….
Make a final guest list for the Big Day feast
Once you know how many to cater for, you can plan shopping lists and finetune budgets, making sure there’s no overspend.
Think about the Christmas menu
Are you plumping for a traditional turkey with all the trimmings and do you need any vegan or vegetarian options? Find out if any guests have allergies or special dietary requirements and cater accordingly.
Grab an online supermarket delivery slot now!
These tend to get snapped up super quick as they are so convenient for adding to and amending your order (especially bulky items) as the weeks go by.
Write a present list
For the mega organised among us, the gift buying might be done, dusted and ticked off. If not, get online and order – this is the week to keep your eyes peeled for any budget-saving Black Friday deals.
Stick to your list and don’t get carried away buying extras that you can’t afford and end up paying for well into the New Year. Remember that more popular items tend to sell out quickly and larger items may take longer to be delivered.
Make an early assessment of your decorations
Putting up the Christmas decorations is getting earlier each year. Even if you’re not quite ready for full blown festivities, it’s never too early to do a quick trimmings audit. Check all the Christmas lights are still working and that stockings and festive cushions are in tip top condition.
Order in your Christmas tree early
If you’re switching to a faux Christmas tree this year – or your artificial fir is looking a bit worse for wear – shop around for a new one now. There are so many different styles and materials to choose from to create the perfect festive centrepiece.
Check out more Ideal Home Christmas ideas
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