What will you be doing differently for Christmas 2018?

Loughc

So what would you change from Christmas 2017 than can help improve next Christmas?

Did anything go wrong? Any mistakes that we can learn from? Do you have any tips to help others have the best, most stress free Christmas yet?

Was there something that worked really well that you would recommend others to do?

Phil.x

I'm under orders that we're staying at home and not visiting anybody on Christmas day 2018.

She also wants to spend a night or two in a hotel on new year's eve......not really liking that.

Heroditas

We squeezed a bit too much into the days leading up to Christmas including catering for 30 family members in the house on the 23rd and also going to Causey Farm on the 22nd.
Several days of preparation went into the 23rd so we were exhausted by the time Christmas Day arrived.
It'll be another family member's turn to host the event next year so at least we'll have all the fun but none of the work.
Apart from that we tried to plan as little as possible because we wanted the kids to enjoy themselves with their new toys.

Posy

I'm going to come back later with a list! :pac:

One thing is that I will be aiming for the 25th November to have my decorations ready to go, and all my presents bought and wrapped. That way I can go into December with no trepidation and stress.
Like Heroditas, I was wrecked coming into Christmas this/last year and want to be relaxed and organised for this Christmas.

Posy

Oh- and as I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm going to have all the decorations put away neatly with all the ones I don't use or that have passed their sell by date, already thrown away.

I am going to buy a few new decorations in August when the Brown Thomas Christmas shop opens and that should be all I need.
This year, I bought a new stairs garland, pop-up tree for my kitchen, a Christmas village scene in Woodies and a new wreath and two boxes of crackers (one for next year) that were below half price in Debenhams, so that reduces what's needed next year.

I am going to buy all my icing and marzipan at the same time as I buy my Christmas cake ingredients, and I will wrap my presents as they are bought, so I don't end up with one big pile of wrapping.

I'm also going to try and put away a tenner or so a week into a Christmas savings fund, so I'll have a few hundred to kick start proceedings by the time winter rolls back around.

Heroditas

Posy wrote: »

I'm also going to try and put away a tenner or so a week into a Christmas savings fund, so I'll have a few hundred to kick start proceedings by the time winter rolls back around.

I'm seriously considering doing the same!

Fann Linn

Trying to convince the other half that we spend Christmas abroad in warmer climes.

razorblunt

More time just chilling at home.
Stockpile the presents throughout the year.

Move the tree from the corner to the middle of the window.

mel.b

I'll be making sure that any gifts that need to be sent to Australia are sent in Nov. I sent one at the start of Dec, before the last posting date for Australia and it didn't arrive until 2 days after Christmas

tickingclock

More time at home on the couch in front of the fire just the three of us munching on chocolate and watching Christmas films.
All presents wrapped by the time the tree goes up. I love having presents under the tree.

OldMrBrennan83

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Loughc

Patww79 wrote: »

Really considering not buying anything at all and booking into a hotel from the 24th to the 27th. Was something I'd never have contemplated but anyone I've talked to that has done it has loved it.

We met a lovely couple who did just that this year. They booked into a hotel from the 24th to the 27th. Her birthday was the 24th and his birthday was the 27th of December, they were 44 years married and just
Lovely to talk to.

They raved about staying in the hotel for Christmas. Personally it wouldn’t be for me but they seemed very happy.

Toto Wolfcastle

I'd love to go to a hotel for Christmas some year but I'd only do it if it was somewhere really incredible like Adare Manor.

Next year I'll do Christmas morning breakfast better. When we're at home I have a carby, chocolatey breakfast but because I wasn't home this year I ended up having a fry. (It was delicious but it's not really my thing.) Next Christmas I'm going to bake a chocolate swirl bread and turn it into french toast.

Also on the breakfast theme, I bought some organic oranges to make truffles because they were unwaxed but I ended up not using them. I brought them with me to my parents' house and they used them to make mimosas on Christmas morning. They were the best mimosas I've tasted. The oranges were super sweet and really tasted like orange. (Weird, but some oranges can be bland.) I'm not sure if it's because they were organic or not but I'll definitely pick them up again next Christmas in the hope that the result will be the same.

OldMrBrennan83

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baby and crumble

I wish I had more appreciative people to cook and bake for. I was disappointed in my Christmas dinner this year it was so blah but that’s what the guests want so there you go. I’d actually love to not cook but good luck with that.

I’d love to have a nice breakfast but with just the two of us for breakfast it seems pointless when I’ve to be starting the dinner anyway. I’d love to have an evening dinner to make the day a little nicer and more festive but again, family wouldn’t be up for it I’d say.

Otherwise I’d like to pay some visits in the run up to Christmas or maybe host cocktails or something the week before.

I’d love to decorate the house more but I honestly can’t see the point because of cats playing with anything that remotely dangles and having to make sure we’ve no trip or bumping hazards for family.

I think my best plan is just to enjoy the run up to it because actual Christmas Day and the bits around it kind of annoy me these days.

CheerLouth

For me, I'm not cooking a big dinner on New Year's Day. To hell with it! I cook dinner every other day of the year & normally I feel obliged to ask the outlaws over for New Years Day as we don't go to them on Christmas cos we have my folks. For 2018, I'm going out for dinner and they can come along if they wish!

Also going to try do the buy and wrap thing too - not going to have great expectations on that front though!

Will start my Christmas Club in the butchers next week.

freshpopcorn

I don't think I could ever do the hotel thing for Christmas myself because it would all be to formal, food would be another issue and I'd find it un-relaxing but some people love it.

Whispered

Not doing Christmas dinner. No point. I don't eat it, toddler couldn't care less and husband always finds something to complain about.

Going to go away 27-30. Just somewhere in Ireland, with a warm pool, a spa and room service.

Less *stuff*, the amount of things and packaging that came into the house is huge this year.

DvB

We agreed that we definitely wont be hosting on Christmas Day 2018, the work that went into it, including all the housework etc. was huge. We were knackered from Stephens day onwards & thats no doubt a factor in the Mrs & the 2 kids all coming down with flu (& still struggling with it now)
The in-laws have been talking about going to a hotel for dinner this year but I think I'd prefer to stil have it at home with just the 4 of us if no one else takes on the hosting duties, theres something about christmas & home that is unbreakable IMO. We'll see how that develops over the year, but I suspect if you were planning that you'd need to book early as I believe they can book out quickly.

OldMrBrennan83

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seamus

Stay at home.

We took the five year old and 11 month old out of the house after lunch to sleepover for Xmas at the in-laws. Neither slept properly that night, as a result we couldn't properly relax at any stage and were exhausted the next day. We were supposed to spend 2 nights there but we aborted and headed home after dinner on Stephens's Day and both kids went down much better (and longer!) at home.

Never again, that's the end of spending Xmas in anyone else's house unless we go down 3 or 4 day in advance and get everyone settled. And that would make no sense since the in laws only live ten minutes down the road.

I don't mind bringing them out to say hi for an hour or two, but fnck this crap of stressing out over packing bags and loading up cars and trying to convince the kids that they can sleep in a weird bed.

We did Xmas in our house last year and I actually kind of enjoyed doing the cooking; gives you something to do instead of hanging around the kitchen feeling like you should be doing something but also feeling like you're in the way.

Postgrad10

Patww79 wrote: »

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We did that twice in Ireland and once in the U.K. I'm going to be honest , we stayed in two very upmarket hotels in Ireland, one was lovely and we were overfed but it was very regimented as in they packed our day from arrival until departure. The second the food was terrible and to be honest i didn't like the atmosphere caused by fellow guests at meal times ( drink and lots of unsupervised children). Very over priced for sub standard service.

The UK trip was fabulous , from the quality of the food to the hotel atmosphere. Would highly recommend it.

OldMrBrennan83

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jr86

Will definitely be finishing my shopping in November. Don't have many presents to buy but will still be a huge weight off the shoulders

Had a quieter 2017 Christmas than usual which was just what the doctor ordered as it turned out. Am planning a big trip in January 2019, so will be an even quieter 2018 but in recent years the pubs and streets have just gotten unbearable around Christmas time so no loss to me

Looking forward to a relaxed 2018 edition, spending time with family

gifted

Posy wrote: »

Oh- and as I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm going to have all the decorations put away neatly with all the ones I don't use or that have passed their sell by date, already thrown away.

I am going to buy a few new decorations in August when the Brown Thomas Christmas shop opens and that should be all I need.
This year, I bought a new stairs garland, pop-up tree for my kitchen, a Christmas village scene in Woodies and a new wreath and two boxes of crackers (one for next year) that were below half price in Debenhams, so that reduces what's needed next year.

I am going to buy all my icing and marzipan at the same time as I buy my Christmas cake ingredients, and I will wrap my presents as they are bought, so I don't end up with one big pile of wrapping.

I'm also going to try and put away a tenner or so a week into a Christmas savings fund, so I'll have a few hundred to kick start proceedings by the time winter rolls back around.

A few years ago I bought one of those savings tin from a €2 shop, the type that you have to use a tin opener to open. Told the missus that we'll put a tenner a week into it for Xmas. She told me it was a waste of time. 48 weeks later I opened it and €480 was counted out. Herself was delighted, she buys the tins now lol lol. Goes a long way towards the xmas food.

Creative83

Ye are all mad!

Loughc

Creative83 wrote: »

Ye are all mad!

Yes we are all mad festive y’all. Thanks for the mad props dwag.

mano79

My things to do/not do or improve on for Christmas 2018:

Tell family what is on kids Santa list or ask them what they are getting for the kids - my inlaws bought our little boy the same present as his main Santa present and gave it to him on Christmas Eve. We said nothing but we were so disappointed when we got home and thought about it. He didnt notice as he is too young but it wont be happening again. If he was a few years old this could have being a Christmas morning disaster As long as present opening happens with them on Xmas eve they will have to be told when Santa is bringing or they need to tell us what they are getting.

Put away €10 per week to help towards present buying. My credit card is terminally ill after the Christmas and I don't want a repeat of this again.

I will not go the Next sale on St Stephens morning - the size selection in my town was terrible, I didnt get the kids clothes I wanted so wont be doing it again. I was also wrecked for the rest of the day having to be up at 5am and q in the cold for dam all gain.

Spend less time jumping through hoops visiting everyone and just take more time to laze around the house in our pjs playing with the kids. Maybe if we dont arrive some of them might get up of their buts and come visit us!!

Make sure we secure another invite to Christmas day dinner!!! - my sister and bil hosted this year, the dinner was delicious, we helped where needed but we had none of the stress of housework, shopping etc before it. It was such a lovely day and with another baby having arrived by next Christmas we are bound to get invited somewhere lol:)

Go back to doing New Years Day dinner for both families - we did it in 2016 but couldn't do it this year as we had a NY Eve wedding. Its nice to return the favor when someone else feeds you for most of xmas.

Make time to bake a bit more - I bought all the ingredients but never even managed to make a mince pie. I suppose I should have kept a day or two holidays and finished work a bit earlier to do more preparations.

freshpopcorn

mano79 wrote: »

I will not go the Next sale on St Stephens morning - the size selection in my town was terrible, I didnt get the kids clothes I wanted so wont be doing it again. I was also wrecked for the rest of the day having to be up at 5am and q in the cold for dam all gain.

I never heard of people getting much use out of the next sale to be honest!

BuilderPlumber

I had a lovely Christmas overall and there are a few keys to doing so. First off, avoiding bad TV is a key. Putting up with substandard fare because someone else in the house is watching it can be a real downer. If someone else likes a programme and you hate it, let them watch it while you find something different to do.

Another key is do have some nice things to do after Christmas as well. Have something nice to do around the 6th of January and to remember Christmas lasts until then! In general, try and do things by your own rules and have something nice to look forward to.

mojesius

Might get outta here and spend it in Spain with the in-laws next year.

Loughc

mano79 wrote: »

I will not go the Next sale on St Stephens morning - the size selection in my town was terrible, I didnt get the kids clothes I wanted so wont be doing it again. I was also wrecked for the rest of the day having to be up at 5am and q in the cold for dam all gain.

Spend less time jumping through hoops visiting everyone and just take more time to laze around the house in our pjs playing with the kids. Maybe if we dont arrive some of them might get up of their buts and come visit us!!

Make time to bake a bit more - I bought all the ingredients but never even managed to make a mince pie. I suppose I should have kept a day or two holidays and finished work a bit earlier to do more preparations.

Anyone who I know who's gone to the Next Sale have always complained about it being useless. I honestly believe half the bargains people claim they got are exaggerated to save face.

For me Stephens Day is Christmas Day part 2. I'm happy to stay at home.

I 100% agree with you about jumping through hoops visiting everyone, there's nothing like having some quality time in your own surroundings.

Baking is something I didn't get to do this Christmas at all, despite plenty of trial runs before Christmas.

I think this year Christmas calls for me lazing around and baking.

CheerLouth

gifted wrote: »

A few years ago I bought one of those savings tin from a €2 shop, the type that you have to use a tin opener to open. Told the missus that we'll put a tenner a week into it for Xmas. She told me it was a waste of time. 48 weeks later I opened it and €480 was counted out. Herself was delighted, she buys the tins now lol lol. Goes a long way towards the xmas food.

That's a great idea! I save all year round in the butchers. Every week, I just throw a few euro on - if I spend 15, I tell him to put 5 in the book etc and it all adds up! Haven't had to fork out for a turkey and ham in the last three years! Plus there is normally enough left to cover the meat for January too!

Anyone who does their shopping in Tesco - you can keep your clubcard points until Christmas! I did it this year for the first time and got nearly 60euro in vouchers! Was delighted with myself!

Loughc

CheerLouth wrote: »

Anyone who does their shopping in Tesco - you can keep your clubcard points until Christmas! I did it this year for the first time and got nearly 60euro in vouchers! Was delighted with myself!

Wow, i never thought of that! That's a really good idea. And makes sense as the vouchers have a good expiry date length on them.

CheerLouth

I only copped on to it this year. Think you have to ring up the clubcard people to ask them to hold the points but it was a really great help! I used mine for my big shop so was grand, only had to put like 50 quid towards it instead of the whole shebang! You can top it up with extra money too if you like! I kept meaning to do that, but never did! Will put it on the list for this year!

BuilderPlumber

Loughc wrote: »

Anyone who I know who's gone to the Next Sale have always complained about it being useless. I honestly believe half the bargains people claim they got are exaggerated to save face.

For me Stephens Day is Christmas Day part 2. I'm happy to stay at home.

I 100% agree with you about jumping through hoops visiting everyone, there's nothing like having some quality time in your own surroundings.

Baking is something I didn't get to do this Christmas at all, despite plenty of trial runs before Christmas.

I think this year Christmas calls for me lazing around and baking.

A lot of the commercial aspects of Christmas and post Christmas are a downer too. I always treat St Stephen's Day as Christmas Day part 2 as well. Nice dinner and wine. NYE, NYD and the 6th of January I also do similar. Going out for a nice meal is lovely around this time of year and one avoids all the mad parties.

The pushing of the sales and of diets and fitness are two downers and are the anti-Christmas. I ignore these and I have seen less in your face fitness promotion this year plus an extension of Christmas spirit instead. People are learning to acknowledge that Christmas lasts until at least January 6th again.

Loughc

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

The pushing of the sales and of diets and fitness are two downers and are the anti-Christmas. I ignore these and I have seen less in your face fitness promotion this year plus an extension of Christmas spirit instead. People are learning to acknowledge that Christmas lasts until at least January 6th again.

While I certainly agree with you on the fitness promotions, they've certainly seem more scaled back this year, I've only noticed the opposite issue about January 6th, less and less people seem to be keeping to that tradition.

DvB

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

People are learning to acknowledge that Christmas lasts until at least January 6th again.

Unfortunately I'd have to disagree with that.
As mentioned in another thread here with the Christmas season starting earlier & earlier I find that by the time January comes around people seem happy to get the tree & decorations down & get back to normal well before the 6th. I'd say that comfortably 80-90% of the decorations in our area were already down yesterday & there's little if any christmas feeling left anywhere I've gone since Tuesday. Not being bah humbug either, id love it to be the opposite.

IMO the commercialisation of the holidays which has driven the season starting earlier has most people fatigued by the whole thing by NYD & the religous/traditional aspect of the 12 days & little christmas appear to have been completely obliterated/forgotten by the overwhelming commercialisation juggernaut that is christmas nowdays.

Postgrad10

Noticed that the next sale wasn't up to scratch a few years ago. They actually bring in stock especially for the sale that never was in the store to begin with. The quality of clothes has deteriorated too.

freshpopcorn

On my drive into town and the walk I go on they are only two trees gone this year at the moment. Most people are traditional enough about it in my area about taking stuff down on the 6th/7th.
I do find people who might be into religion(even slightly) are more likely to keep them up.

BuilderPlumber

DvB wrote: »

Unfortunately I'd have to disagree with that.
As mentioned in another thread here with the Christmas season starting earlier & earlier I find that by the time January comes around people seem happy to get the tree & decorations down & get back to normal well before the 6th. I'd say that comfortably 80-90% of the decorations in our area were already down yesterday & there's little if any christmas feeling left anywhere I've gone since Tuesday. Not being bah humbug either, id love it to be the opposite.

IMO the commercialisation of the holidays which has driven the season starting earlier has most people fatigued by the whole thing by NYD & the religous/traditional aspect of the 12 days & little christmas appear to have been completely obliterated/forgotten by the overwhelming commercialisation juggernaut that is christmas nowdays.

The commercialisation has ruined a lot of things. I've noticed in the middle of October, there were Christmas related items and santas everywhere alongside Halloween stuff. Halloween too has been commercialised as have all major traditions.

It's a downer for many to hear all this talk of diets and fitness and thankfully there was less of it. I have thankfully seen some people willing to expand Christmas and hope the real spirit of Christmas will grow. A horrible overcommercialisation of Christmas and post Christmas has occurred and is turned on and off like a switch. I feel that nicer things should be done for the post Christmas period.

mitresize5

this year was our turn to go to the in laws for dinner. Everyone cooks something and brings it where it is all assembled.

Sister in law had a baby last Jan so she made a unilateral decision that dinner was brought forward from the usual time of 5pm to 2pm to fit in with the babies nap time, as obviously all our worlds have to shift to fit in with the 11 month old. Told us this too on Christmas eve which was nice.

So in and out of my parents in an hour missing a lot of siblings/cousins and dinner 4 hours after a breakfast fry up.

Never again

CheerLouth

Sounds stressful, Mitresize! My sister in law told me last year at my daughters birthday party on Dec 27th to give her kids water instead of diluted juice "because Christmas is over" :eek::mad: Think they are all crazy lol!

mano79

Ya thats me and the Next sale finished. I really love the 26th and actually enjoy it more than xmas day as its more relaxed so im not sacrificing it again. I used to go in with my sister to the sale years ago when it was on the 27th and she used to kit out 3 boys for the year at it and get good quality at a reasonable price. Those days seem to be gone. I returned a few bits today and the shop assistant asked me did I get on well at the sale. I said no but I dont know was it because there were too many ahead of me in the line or that the sizes I wanted were never there - she said straight out the sizes weren't there. Ill stay in my cosy bed any more and shop in Penneys!!

Postgrad10 wrote: »

Noticed that the next sale wasn't up to scratch a few years ago. They actually bring in stock especially for the sale that never was in the store to begin with. The quality of clothes has deteriorated too.

Posy

CheerLouth wrote: »

Ayone who does their shopping in Tesco - you can keep your clubcard points until Christmas! I did it this year for the first time and got nearly 60euro in vouchers! Was delighted with myself!

I might do that this year with my Boots card and keep any points earned to spend on beauty sets, make up, hand creams and other such stocking fillers.

freshpopcorn

We also did the Christmas thing with the Tesco Clubcard. I think we got €70 in vouchers and €50 in what we saved.

SarahLil

Christmas 2017 was a success I learned from 2016,
2016 was enjoyable on the day itself but I put myself into pieces for the whole season for no thanks trying to please others who were down right bad for my health and my mothers health
I decided to disconnect myself from them in 2017 and I haven’t looked back, obviously you lot don’t want to disconnect from family but circumstances differ
I am very happy with whom is in my circle now
2017 we had dinner in our home for the first time our 2nd time cooking Christmas dinner my mother came to stay for a week, we went to a hotel on the 28th for 2 nights my mother came along and my OH folks too we had a great time
In the whole run up to 2017 I did a lot that suited me I put the tree up the week before the Toyshow to take the pressure off, I went for afternoon tea, watched lots of movies each week just chilling with my mam or himself, had pals visit, met pals for dinner, went to town to soak up the athmosphere

We forgot to set crackers on the table over Christmas so I’ll keep them for this year
I’ll probably get the TV in the kitchen set up properly as there was too much sport on, himself loves every type of sport and he didn’t get a game of golf in over the break
myself and my mother are partial to watching kiddish family movies so I would like more of those memories
2018 I hope will pretty much be the same
The OH Folks want to come for dinner this year as there is only 4 in their house and only 3 of us including my mother I said ok so they are full of suggestions for us all to muck in I’m happy if they look after the ham and some starters or dessert we will do the rest
I’m starting earlier on my Dunnes Stores saving stamps, I’m going to pick up one of them savings boxes too I seen them in Dealz that would be handy to
have
Definitely we will book to go away on the 28th again it breaks it up nicely

Cherrycola

Not get sick! I’m going to load up on vitamins and echinacea next December so I don’t end up in bed sick for most of Christmas.
I started a new job in catering last October with a family member, it was meant to be a few hours here and there(as I have young kids) but due to unforeseen circumstances it ended up being 7-8hr days on my feet all day, and I worked myself into the ground, missed the whole run up to Christmas and then once we stopped for holidays I got sick. Only starting to feel normal today, still wrecked, but not starting back until Tuesday, taking Mondays off now, and only part time hours, thank god!
I won’t be running myself into the ground next Christmas!

OldMrBrennan83

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freshpopcorn

Patww79 wrote: »

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That would be fear as well regarding getting a Christmas dinner out. We got one a few days before Christmas last year and a ready meal from Aldi would have being better.

Loughc

freshpopcorn wrote: »

That would be fear as well regarding getting a Christmas dinner out. We got one a few days before Christmas last year and a ready meal from Aldi would have being better.

Same. I went to a hotel for Christmas Eve dinner last year and it was generic bland food. I was so disappointed I will be sticking to the tradition of the Christmas Eve take away in future.