The Countdown to Christmas is Here: Your Pre-Season Checklist

Christmas seems to come around quicker every year. One minute you’re soaking up the sun in August, the next you’re breaking out the cards, crackers and Christmas tree lights.

Not that this is a bad thing - Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.

With the countdown to Christmas underway, the time has come to start planning. The following checklist is far from exhaustive but could nonetheless help you get started on some of the essentials:

1. Start shopping around for special offers right now. Make use of Black Friday sales and discount deals online.
   
   
2. If you plan on buying clothes or shoes for anyone, make sure you have their current sizes noted down.
   
   
3. Reduce the cost of the Christmas dinner by buying and storing long-life items ahead of time.
   Make sure you’ve got enough crockery and cutlery to serve everyone you intend to invite over.
   
   
4. Stick a calendar of events on the fridge to make sure you don’t ‘double book’ yourself or forget any important engagements.
   
   
5. Start making travel and transport plans right now, as tickets get way more expensive closer to Christmas.
   
   
6. Go through your Christmas decorations and get rid of anything you either don’t like or haven’t used for years.
   
   
7. Make the countdown to Christmas a little more magical by creating and printing your own custom advent calendars.
   
   
8. Bring even more magic into the Christmas countdown by organising a personalised letter or video message from Santa Claus.
   
   
9. Don’t underestimate the festive power of a classic Christmas sweater - get yours ordered today if you don’t already have one.
   
   
10. Check how much left over wrapping paper and gift tags you have so that you don’t buy more than you need to.
    
    
11. Don’t make the mistake of buying your tree too early and risking it looking dismal by Christmas day.
    
    
12. Start giving your home its annual Christmas clean one room at a time, rather than attempting to tackle the whole thing Christmas’ week.
    
    
13. Plan some festive activities with the kids, which may include visiting centre, ice skating, carolling and so on.
    
    
14. Download a Christmas ring-tone to inspire (or annoy) your friends, family and colleagues.
    Consider batch-cooking anything you can make now, freeze and simply reheat when you need it.
    
    
15. When the lights start going up around your neighbourhood, take a festive evening stroll and get inspired for your own display.
    
    
16. Make a list of everyone you intend to send a Christmas card to and check it twice to avoid missing anyone out.
    
    
17. Plan a different Christmas story or Christmas movie for your kids for each day of advent running up to the big day.
    
    
18. For something a little different, why not create your own personalised advent calendars this year? Far better than the generic store-bought alternatives.
    
    
19. Most importantly of all, try to remember what Christmas is really about. Fun, games and enjoyment and spending memorable times with family and friends. As long as you have a fantastic time in one another’s company, that’s really all that matters.