With December only a day away, are you getting ready for the festive period? It’s a busy time of year and there can be a lot to think about, so we’re passing on some Christmas Countdown ideas to help you get organised;
First week of December
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Make a budget.
Set a ballpark figure for how much you can spend on gifts—it will help you stay grounded when the shopping gets frenzied.
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Start Christmas shopping in earnest.
Yes, you may already be picking things up here and there, but the more you buy ahead, the better—especially if you’ll be mailing gifts. If you have big-ticket items (like electronics) that go on sale the day after Thanksgiving, you may want to brave the crowds on Black Friday—you could save substantially.
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Do any online shopping.
Order gifts now so you have lots of time to wrap them once they arrive.
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Wrap gifts as you buy them.
Not only will this keep little eyes from finding out what Santa is bringing, it will save you time on Christmas Eve.
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Take stock of your decorations.
Get out your lights, ornaments, wreaths, and lawn ornaments. See if anything is broken and needs to be replaced. Is it time for an update? Find fun, festive holiday decor ideas here.
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Take stock of dishes and glasses.
Make sure you have the serving platters and wineglasses you’ll need for parties or special meals, in time to buy more, if necessary.
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Start addressing holiday cards.
It can take a while, depending on how long your list is.
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Mail cards.
If you’re too busy to get them addressed and mailed during the first week of December, consider putting them off until after the holiday rush. People generally enjoy getting a card a few days late, when things have slowed down and they actually notice the mail.
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Buy a live tree and decorate
This is a good time to get your tree, if you want it to stay fresh and retain its needles through Christmas. Same goes for fresh greenery or garlands. You may like to get decorating earlier, but by the first week of December, it’s time to get the house looking festive.
Two Weeks Before
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Make sure out-of-town presents are posted
Try to have gifts in the mail by December 10.
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Shop for nonperishable items.
Buy alcohol and any canned goods or staples that you’ll need.
One Week Before
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Deep clean your house.
You’ll enjoy those decorations even more if the floors are clean and the kitchen is organised. One important task: Clear out your refrigerator. Toss old leftovers to make room for big dishes and ingredients that’ll be piling up closer to the holiday.
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Buy batteries for children’s toys.
If you haven’t stocked up while Christmas shopping, make sure you have all the accoutrements necessary for that handheld video game or remote-controlled car.
Three Days Before
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Shop for fresh ingredients.
Hit the store for the last-minute vegetables or fruit you need for meals.
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Set the table.
So you use those gold-rimmed goblets only once a year? Enjoy them! Go ahead and set the table. Make it even easier on the big day by putting a sticky note on each platter that states what dish you plan to serve on it. (That also allows people to help you without asking 12 times.)
Two Days Before
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Start cooking.
You’ve probably stocked away some things in the freezer already, but now’s the time to prep main courses and make anything that can sit for a couple of days.
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Buy fresh flowers.
Whether they are for a party or a family meal, fresh flowers should always be purchased two days in advance. Blooms have time to open up, and they’ll still be lush and fragrant.
The Day Before
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Recharge the batteries on your camera or video recorder.
You don’t want to miss the reaction on a little one’s face because the battery ran out during the school pageant the week before.
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Finish last-minute wrapping.
And assemble toys that will be surprises from Santa.
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Finish cooking, and make a timeline for the next day.
Decide when you’ll be feasting, then count backward to determine when to put the turkey (or ham or roast beef) in the oven and what else needs to be cooked.
Finally, sit back, relax and enjoy it.