Now it's all over...

stokegal

What would you do differently?? What went really well??

Last year I vowed to have a budget for DS and not to worry about the size of the pile. I did do this nearly and only had a last minute panic the week before Christmas where I bought a few things in eBay.

Next year... I will dedicate a day for wandering around the shops getting to feel all Christmassy (safe in the knowledge that I've already bought my presents cheaper online)

I will definitely visit the German Market again

I was very impressed with my Turkey having never roasted one before (thanks Delia) I will definitely do this again but will join the savers club at my local abattoir.

What would you do next year??

SugarSpun

I would not buy the Thorntons hamper deal. We ended up with absolutely no emergency gifts to give and I now have four huge boxes of chocolate, three chocolate oranges and the Hotel Chocolat tasting club boxes from the deal earlier in the year. And nine million cookies, one large and 22 small cakes, 15 spinach and feta muffins and in general I am all baked out. ARGH.

I will also buy my DD less next year and focus on HM things for her. She had far too much stuff.

kingfisherblue

I am going to keep my list of stuff in my present cupboard up-to-date. I will also write down ideas for presents as they occur to me or as others mention them, then it will help me when I haven't a clue. It will also help my elderly mum, as she relies on me to help her choose appropriate, but not too expensive, presents.

I will write my Christmas cards early next year (yeah, right :rotfl:)

I will sort out all my clutter and have a lovely tidy and organised bedroom next year, with space for presents. I won't have to climb over bags of stuff - honestly

determined_new_ms

We decided to "give up" Christmas. I didn't really buy gifts, well I did but I didn't go crazy. we sat around and ate, drank hm liqueur and ate a massive turkey dinner and laughed. Really enjoyed it! Will do the same next year!

I really like the idea of keeping a list of gift ideas as they come to you. Not just for Christmas but in general seems like the most sensible thing to do!

MrsTinks

I have started a Christmas list on my iPhone note pad....With names and ideas/note if bought And I've put a box in the loft marked Christmas 2013! (Husband looked at me like I'd REALLY lost the plot this time...)
This way I will know what I have stashed away and for whom And no "where the heck did I put that for safekeeping????" in December!

stokegal

These are some fab ideas - I'm intrigued what the Thorntons hamper was- although from what you have said, I'm glad I didn't see it I have had a Christmas spreadsheet every year from 2006 and I mark what I bought v budget, where i bought it and I also put what sort of reaction I had to it so that I know to get them some similar the following year. The only person who frustrated me is DS - he's currently 3 and changes his mind daily about what he likes. He liked trains until 6 months ago and then it was all pirates - 2 days before Christmas he decides Pirates are ridiculous (his exact words) and that it was all about Bob the Builder!!!

I've decided for this year everyone is getting hampers with homemade gifts in (jam, chutney etc) - so things I can make in advance and that the teenagers are all getting £15 in a card so will put that up in the next couple of weeks. OH also thought I was crazy buying a new Christmas tree yesterday in the sales for next year but I managed to get it for £10 instead of £40

bossymoo

Too much chocolate and treats here. And too much leftovers from dinner. Just of much of everything, really.

pinklady1985

Next year there's a few things I won't do/do differently

No Xmas dinner here only me and my eldest enjoy eating it, instead we will have party food on the table so they can help themselves throughout the day

No selection boxes for our 5 children between them they received about 25 from relatives, friends so the ones we bought really weren't needed!

No gift tags! Will use the stickers instead as most fell off or were pulled off by the baby so got a bit muddled

daffodil

What went really well:?
No relatives to invite or go to and pretend to be happy all the time
No party hats to wear
No stuffing myself with too much food and drink
No exhaustion
Lots of nice presents and choccies
No Queens Speech
No repeats on tele

What went badly?

I decided to give up smoking, I hadnt even planned to do it - just decided on Xmas day in an instant when I was out walking our dogs with my daighter.
God knows why, I must be insane - not had one for 48 long painful hours.
I blame The Hobitt really, went to see it Xmas eve and lasted 3 hrs without a fag and it was easy.
Yes have decided I am not normal!! who in their right mind would pack it in on Xmas day??:A

Trouble is I cant start again because I would have to go through the last 2 days again - not sure if my children would survive let alone me.
Cant go forwards - cant go backwards.

Muppet81

Had our 1940s theme Christmas Day. Wonderful! No costly turkey and nice small, useful gifts. Wonderful lunch but using wartime recipes. Played games. HM drinks. Will definitely do again next year. Thumbs down to commercialism.

lushlifesaver

Out whole day was, in general, perfect apart from bf's little nephew...he can be a right so and so and he's only three...although we shouldn't be surprised as his mother and at times his father (bf's brother) are exactly the same. The small one managed to scratch bf's eye and cut his nose with a remote control helicopter on Christmas day!

This year we opened our presents at home just the two of us, then went to my parents (half hour drive away) for breakfast, presents and a wonderfully nice few hours then we drove back to his parents (just around the corner from our house) for Christmas dinner, presents and (once middle brother and his bunch had left) a lovely relaxed evening.

Next year it will go: our house just the two of us, his parents, then to my parents for Christmas dinner then back home - possibly via his parents for a few drinkies...OR we will ALL be flying to America to spend it with him if he's been sent to play there for a season- all depends I guess