RULES for next years xmas

Wig

1. IF you think you need to, make an xmas wishlist at a site called thingsiwant. Hopefully thi will reduce the chance of getting something you don't want

2. Always as far as possible buy your presents for others with cash and incude the receipt with the present. If it is a mail/internet order buy it sufficiently close to xmas so that there is a chance it can still be returned.

3. include reciept especially with all electronic goods, and buy within the stores returns period.

4. If buying early for xmas, always ask what their xmas returns policy will be, and if they say it will be ok to return it after xmas ask them to write that on the reciept, and put their name and job title. I did this in B&Q before I ordered a cloakroom suite - if I hadn't got it agreed and written on the reciept I doubt they would have exchanged the sink -long story- which was my intention, because I had it written on the reciept they had no option but to honour the deal.

5 For anyone who will not be getting their presents until the next time you see them after xmas, consider waiting till the sales. Tesco ALWAYS puts the chocolates and boxed biscuits and boxed set christmas gift things (like Gordon Ramsey's cookbook and box of chocs) to halfprice on the 27th Dec. And Tesco always has some cheapo DVDs in stock which they put out after xmas.

6. Anyone got some more rules?

Stompa

Wig wrote:

6. Anyone got some more rules?

Yes. Don't buy anybody any presents!

kathyd_2

I keep a Christmas book with the following information:

Christmas Card List
Present Giving List
Grocery Shopping List (start buying about end of September)
Frozen Foods List
Fresh Foods List
Drinks List
Food preparation instructions
When to remove food from freezer
Christmas 20.....

Christmas Card List - self-explanatory
Present Giving List - self-explanatory
Grocery Shopping List - everything that can be bought and stored - I use this list to check I have everything I may need even, salt and pepper, gravy browning, foil etc.
Frozen Foods List - everything that can be bought and stored in the freezer ie ham, mini sausages, bacon, turkey, prawns etc.
Fresh Foods List - everything which will be bought on the last shop before Christmas.
Drinks List - including beers, spirits, wines, juices, pop, mixer drinks.
Food Preparation Instructions - Successful baking/sweet making/stuffing recipes etc. How to prepare and cook turkey/ham etc.
When to remove food from freezer - Useful for the last few days before Christmas as a reminder when to take turkey, ham, bacon etc., from freezer.
Christmas 20.... - I use this section to remind myself what I have bought for next (ie 2007) Christmas. Just bought reduced Christmas Crackers and Christmas cards today, so I will make a note where I have stored them. If I buy presents throughout the year, what I have bought (even if I haven't decided who is to get what, at least I know what I've bought) Also useful if I have bought too much/not enough of something. Do I need new decorations, lights etc?

If I should be incapacitated, for whatever reason, I know Christmas won't come to a standstill. All the instructions are in one place

earthmother

kathyd wrote:

I keep a Christmas book ...
If I should be incapacitated, for whatever reason, I know Christmas won't come to a standstill. All the instructions are in one place

I do something very similar - I keep mine on a spreadsheet on the PC, that way I can easily keep a running tally of what's been spent where, and I have a record of what presents have been bought in previous years so I don't duplicate anyone.

elmer

Thats way too scary and organised, although a good idea as I have just found 3 unopened boxes of xmas decs that disappeared before Xmas.

Mind you I also "lost " my DH's presents so maybe organisation is not my thing !!!!

Elmer xxx

Happy new year

victory

So do I , all my lists are on the pc, easily accesible so that I cannot forget anyone/anything to buy/do/send. etc as each year is pretty much the same what needs to be done for xmas it comes in handy and even more so when the shopping for food as the list is there, ready prepared and it just gets ticked off as each purchase is made.
Xmas on a list-easy!!! xxx

liz.._4

Stompa wrote:

Yes. Don't buy anybody any presents!

nice one! I'll second that!

jellycat40

elmer wrote:

Thats way too scary and organised, although a good idea as I have just found 3 unopened boxes of xmas decs that disappeared before Xmas.

Mind you I also "lost " my DH's presents so maybe organisation is not my thing !!!!

Elmer xxx

Happy new year

This also happened to me!!!!
Louise

nearlyrich

I am just making a Christmas Book to make it easier next year, Christmas card list, food shopping, how much to buy etc.

amyandoli

I keep an excel spreadsheet with everyones name against birthdays, easter, anniversaries and xmas. I write in what I've bought for people, or intend to make for them at the start of the year so I know where gaps are.
I also keep a handwritten list of people still to buy for and any cards/wrap I need. I've got all women sorted for 2007, just a few hard to buy for blokes left!

Queenie

- Buy your Christmas pudding *now* - they're all half price and some have an expiration date of March '08 so will be ok for next Christmas.

- make your Christmas Cake at Easter (they used to do this in the olden days because that's when eggs were cheap) You can *feed* it throughout the year and it will be beautifully mature ready for icing in December

- buy all your wrapping paper and cards in the Jan sales (I actually buy up lots of boxed gifts too) If you can bear it, buy up any decorations in the sales too.

- make a note of all the things which *didn't* work for you this year before all the decorations are put away. For me this year, the decorations looked naff!! I've made a note what I didn't like and what I shall do differently next time.

- set up a Christmas budget now! A bit squirrelled away during the year comes as less of a shock on the December bank balance.

- *luxury* type tinned foods can be bought throughout the year and kept in a box out of the way. Adding a couple of those items onto your regular shopping throughout the year means less to fret about nearer the time.

- if you have a particular hobby that you can put to use to make up gifts, make a plan *now* and spend the year slowly but surely making the things you can.