We’re into single figures now – just 9 weeks until Christmas 2023. These handy tips will help you with your Christmas planning!
Planning is the key to any great event, and Christmas is no exception to the rule. 9 weeks might feel like plenty of time, but the days will tick away quicker than you think. So if you haven’t already started planning Christmas, this is the week to get things underway.
You still don’t need to go full on into festive mode, unless you want to, of course… Just ticking a few jobs off your list now will take the stress out of the final weeks before Christmas.
And at a time when everyone is watching their budgets a little closer than usual, this can give you more opportunity to find the bargains and keep spending down.
So here are a few simple things that you can do this week to help make planning Christmas 2023 easy.
Start shopping for gifts
If you haven’t already already started, it’s time to get cracking on your Christmas present shopping. Starting early will help to make this task feel less stressful. It also gives you more chance of avoiding any supply problems that crop up before Christmas.
Try to buy any items that might sell out quickly first and then you can leave buying stocking fillers for later. My Christmas gift guides have plenty of gift inspiration, and I’ll be sharing more ideas over the next few weeks.
By the way, if you haven’t created your Christmas budget yet, it’s not too late to make a start. My guide to planning a Christmas budget will lead you step by step through the process to help you avoid overspending and stay in control of your Christmas planning.
Pick out wrapping paper
The other good thing about starting your gift shopping now is that you can start wrapping presents now as well. This helps to avoid the panic of last minute wrapping Christmas presents late into the night on Christmas Eve.
(Yep, been there done that on more than one occasion…)
Even if you’re not ready to start shopping just yet, wrapping paper and tags are available in shops and supermarkets now. So it’s worth thinking about how you want to wrap Christmas gifts this year and picking up supplies, then you can wrap presents as you buy them. It also helps hide them away from prying eyes!
Just don’t forget where you’ve hidden them, so you don’t have to go on a Christmas present hunt on Christmas Eve…
Book in for a haircut
This is a nice quick job to tick off your to-do list this week.
Hairdresser appointments tend to get snapped up very quickly in the festive season, so get booked in for your pre-Christmas appointment. It will also double up as a nice relaxing treat in those last stressful days.
And if you have a dog, don’t forget to book them in for their own pampering session. Doggy grooming appointments also disappear very quickly at this time of year!
Start your Christmas supermarket shopping list
Hopefully you got your Christmas online shopping slots booked and ordered your Christmas dinner centrepiece last week. If you didn’t, then make sure you get that job ticked off your list as soon as possible. The Christmas delivery slots will get booked up very quickly!
Now it’s time to start putting together a list of all the food, drink and other groceries that you will need over Christmas week.
You can either use a Notes app on your phone, a spreadsheet or a notebook but whichever you choose, keep it close at hand at all times. That way you can add things whenever they pop into your mind.
Because you don’t just need to add the obvious food and drink items like fruit and veg or bread and milk, you also need to think of all the little things that make Christmas run smoothly. So don’t forget to add things like extra wide turkey foil, matches for lighting candles and the right batteries for any toys and gadgets you might be buying.
Make chutney for Christmas gifts
Most home-made foodie Christmas gifts need to be made last minute, as they only have a limited shelf life. But if you’re thinking of making any pickles or chutneys to give away, now is the time to get started.
Chutneys always taste better after they’ve had chance to mature for a couple of months so you don’t really want to leave it much later than this week. They’re also easier to make than jams so they’re an ideal gift for beginner cooks to make. This chutney recipe is really simple.
Buy ingredients for your Christmas bakes
One more job for your list this week. It’s time to get started on your Christmas cake, and it won’t be long before it’s time to mix up the Christmas pudding.
These two treats and home-made Christmas Mincemeat all use similar ingredients, so stock up on them this week. That way, you’ll have everything ready when you want to get cooking.
If you’d like to win a gorgeous Advent calendar, I’ve got a fantastic competition going on right now. My Yankee Candle calendar giveaway is still accepting entries until 3rd November 2023, and it would make a lovely treat for yourself or a loved one. Good luck!
Tick these jobs off your list this week and you’ll be on the right track for a fabulous Christmas 2023. What jobs are on your to-do list this week?