Christmas is quickly approaching, which is very exciting… but it can also be a little stressful, especially if you have a tight budget! There are so many things that need sorting out, from buying presents to cooking Christmas dinner to seeing family and friends, so it can all feel a little overwhelming – but thankfully we are here to help.
We have lots of tips and tricks to make sure all our readers are prepared for the festive season. We’ve been sharing a tip a day on Instagram however realise life isn’t always that simple so here are five tips to help you get organised for Christmas.
1. Order The Food Early
One great way to reduce stress is by ordering food well in advance. There can be issues with items running out, especially in the week before Christmas, so we suggest ordering the bulk of the food well before the 15th. This means that you should be able to get everything you need without much stress, and everything will still be reasonably priced.
And you don’t need to worry about finding fridge, freezer and cupboard space for everything you buy; with most online supermarkets you can choose a later delivery day, such as the 23rd. So everything will be new and fresh, ready to be cooked!
2. Have A Pre-Christmas Clear Out
It can also be useful to have a pre-Christmas clear out, especially if you have young children. There are two reasons for this; it means your house will be clean and tidy for any guests that visit, and there will be lots of room for new toys for the kids.
Of course we aren’t suggesting you throw away any toys without your child’s consent – doing this is likely to make your Christmas much more stressful and unpleasant! Instead sit down with them and ask if they have any old toys that they would like to donate to less fortunate children. After all, many children are happy to donate their old toys to children with less (and this is also a great way to teach them about the giving spirit of Christmas!).
3. Plan Your December Social Calendar
If you plan on seeing lots of people in December you may want to plan your social calendar in advance. This is because many people struggle to find time to see everyone, especially if they have a young child who will be performing in a Christmas play, concert or fete. So make a cup of tea, sit down and figure out when you will see people over the festive period in advance.
4. Find Pockets Of Free Time
If you have children or a full-time job (or both!), it is likely that you are struggling to actually find the time to plan in advance. If this is the case, we suggest that you find small pockets of free time whenever you can. For instance, if you have young children you could order the Christmas food during nap time, or you could plan your Christmas decorating ideas during your commute to work.
Christmas doesn’t have to be stressful if you plan in advance. Use our tips to make sure that you don’t have to deal with food shortages, a messy house or any upset friends (or children!) over the Christmas period.
