They say that the Christmas countdown seems to come earlier every year and while for many this might be a point of contention, why not instead see it as an excuse to prepare yourself for the best Christmas ever? Few people are going to remember Christmas 2020 fondly but Christmas 2021 could be the saving grace we all need after 2 years of misery.
So, let’s get into the Christmas spirit and explore a few tips and tricks to getting ahead of the holiday season and preparing for the festive celebration we were denied 10 months ago.
Make a list and check it twice – Start by simply making a list of everything you need to get done before December rolls around. That way you’ll be able to tick things off as you go and won’t miss out anything important.
Plan your budget -The earlier you set a budget the more likely you are to stick with it. Give yourself a firm maximum spend by the end of October and you have an entire month to make the most of that budget before the season starts in earnest.
Know who you’re buying for – You don’t need to buy presents for everyone in your life but you want to know exactly who you are buying for as soon as humanely possible. Set aside an individual budget for each person but don’t be afraid to go a little over or a little under on your Christmas list. Spending EXACTLY £20 on everyone is going to be almost impossible, after all.
Hit the sales – From the end of November, you’ll find the sales start to wind down as retailers gear up for the rush of the Christmas season. From the end of November, you’ll find the sales start to wind down as retailers gear up for the rush of the Christmas season by selling various decorations and festive ribbons. So get a drop on them by hitting the sales before they close.
Finalise your travel plans – Booking your train tickets and maybe even plane tickets in advance is always going to save you a pretty penny and it will cut down on so much stress too. If you’re hosting Christmas, meanwhile, you might have been put in charge of planing everyone else’s travel arrangements and the sooner you can get a jump on that unenviable task, the better!
Get the decorations ready – Climbing up into the loft and sorting out the tinsel from the dozens of dusty old boxes is often a laborious task and it can make the joy of decorating seem like less of a joy and more of a chore. That’s why we’d recommend getting all the decorations ready in the weeks beforehand. That way, on December 1st, when it’s socially acceptable to do so, you can start decorating with wild abandon.
Finalise your Christmas Day menu – Who is coming and who has certain dining requirements that need to be considered? It’s always best to plan ahead for everyone if you want to make sure nobody is going hungry on the big day.
Finally, remember to relax a little and let your hair down. That’s what the Christmas season is all about, after all.