Christmas 2013- what will you do differently?

[skeettafic]

Our biggest change next year will be scaling back. We are going to Disney in November and I'm going to explain to the kids that the trip is going to cut in some on the presents they will be getting. I do a ton of bargain shopping, picking things up on sale, etc so both kids ended up with huge piles of stuff plus piles of stuff from my parents so there will be plenty of gifts regardless. And Santa will still come but they aren't going to be getting 20+ presents each (I know, I have a sickness!)

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I am going to plan better. We did well on controllin spending but I spent really unevenly for the kids. More than would be typical and we forgot stockings altogether. I got the flu on December 14 and so all the little last minute stuff was missed. It didn't ruin Christmas or anything but I kept saying "I forgot this and I forgot that" next year I am graduating college so I really need to line up all my ducks.

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[diznee25]

I planned way too many baking/craft projects; half made candy sleighs still sitting on the kitchen counter, and gingerbread cookies that were never made. DH and I are eating away at the sleighs, what was built of them anyway!

Next year might be our "splurge" Christmas. That's when we buy a joint gift between DH and I, and just do a few stocking stuffer gifts on the side.
The joint gift will be iPhones!

diznee25

 

[tavettava]

We will not be buying for dh's ungrateful nieces, nephews, sisters and their husbands.

 

[LadyBeBop]

1) Probably buy fewer presents for my DGD. We say that every year though.

2) Send out Christmas cards earlier. Every year I promise to get cards out by the first week of December. And every year, I don't get the cards out until the 19th or 20th.

Other than that, I don't know. To me, I much prefer wrapping all presents at once, so I won't have to dig out the wrapping paper every time I have to wrap a present. I don't like to buy too early and miss out on the Black Friday/Christmas bargains. And we've had a Christmas account for years. In fact, this year we didn't even have to tap into it. I worked so much overtime this year, that I just used the overtime money for Christmas. Will roll over to next Christmas.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I was happy with how early I finished my shopping this year. Plus, I did most of it online so stuff just showed up at my door. I did very little shopping in stores and it was great.

My biggest problem is that Christmas Day is exhausting. I host my family for dinner and my mom insists on having turkey. My brother and sister don't eat turkey so I made them salmon. If I stayed home all day, it would be fine, but I don't. First, we open present at home with our boys. Then we go to my parents' house and open presents with my family. Then by the time we get back home it's time to start prepping for dinner. I feel like I'm cooking and cleaning up all day long. This year my parents both fell asleep at their house and didn't come over until 6:30. We told them dinner was between 5:30 and 6:00. It kind of sucks to cook a whole dinner and then have no one show up.

Next year, we're getting take-out, or doing something I can prep in advance. I would be fine with hanging out on Christmas night and having pizza.

 

[windycitymom]

I revamped Christmas breakfast this year by making an egg casserole ahead of time and serving it with bagels, fruit and Costco cheesy potatoes. Easy and delicious.

No more whole turkey's in the oven that take 4 hours to cook! I will just buy a large turkey breast instead so I can cook other items at the same time. The turkey takes up my entire oven. I don't pick the bird apart and make soup afterwards. I'll go with less side dishes too. The clean up took forever! I will still use my good china and eat in the dining room (the one day we do that


"Keep it simple" and "good enough" is my mantra for the upcoming year.

 

[::danielle::]

I'm going to make 2 changes for next year. First, I'm going to set a cut off date for family. After that date they cannot ask me to do any Christmas errands for them, ask for any more gift ideas, or change their mind/finally decide what they want for Christmas. After December 15th I will no longer make myself crazy for someone outside my immediate family.

The second is that I am going to save all year to hire a cleaning lady to come on December 23rd. We host a big Italian dinner on Christmas Eve. My parents and MIL stay overnight. I keep the house tidy but I feel like it needs to be super clean so I spend hours making everything perfect. Every year I stress out about getting it done.

 

[runwad]

Next year I'm going to just give my teenager her christmas money to go buy her own gifts and then I'll wrap them up. I'm tired of my well thought out gifts not being appreciated. I wouldn't like to only get what I said I wanted, how boring. But next year that is what I'll let her do. We'll see how she likes Christmas morning then.

My other two I will continue to pick a few things off their lists and improvise when I see other things they will like. They are fine with it. There has to be a difficult one in every bunch.

 

[budafam]

I am going to wait to buy everything. I started buying for this year last January. I bought the bulk of all the toys in July at Targets 75% off sale. I got $1000 worth of toys for $200. My kids had WAAAAAAY too much to open this year and then they got a ton from everyone else. Next year we're getting them 5 gifts each and that's it.

Oh yeah, we're going to Disney too so that's our main present. I wish I could just do that every year!

 

[Suz D]

I have this problem with being TOO organized. I go out and buy gifts as I see them early, knowing I can give them for Christmas. But I always forget how good the sales can be close to Christmas. I was done with my shopping on Black Friday and yet I kept seeing so many good sales on Amazon and elsewhere that I ended up buying more than I planned. I am thinking that next year I might not start until later so that I don't fall into the trap of buying more than I really need.

I completely agree with this. I fall into that trap every single year. I am NOT going to shop year 'round, instead I'll start my list in January and as people mention stuff I will put it on the list. If I see something incredibly perfect for someone at a great price...wait a minute, I'm already going down the path I said I wouldn't follow. Yikes!

Definitely wrap as I buy. I got my nieces origami earrings early in Nov. some itunes cards, and a book. Of course they were all bought at totally sep. times. Thank goodness for gift bags!

Would love to do a trip Christmas week, but not sure if we are there age wise yet. Another year or two.

I think wrapping as you buy is a great plan. That is one change I'm making for next year.

Your right, I already do those things but let me share something else that organized my gift buying.

If you have a smart phone there are apps for organizing gifts. I found a free Christmas gift organizing app and I make profiles for everyone I buy for, then as I buy a gift I add it under the person's name with the cost. The app eliminates forgetting about what you bought or if your standing in a store trying to remember what you bought for someone's stocking just look on your phone.

I'm excited about this app! Thanks for posting.

2) Send out Christmas cards earlier. Every year I promise to get cards out by the first week of December. And every year, I don't get the cards out until the 19th or 20th.

I am going to wait to buy everything. I started buying for this year last January. I bought the bulk of all the toys in July at Targets 75% off sale. I got $1000 worth of toys for $200. My kids had WAAAAAAY too much to open this year and then they got a ton from everyone else. Next year we're getting them 5 gifts each and that's it.

I know exactly what you mean. When I get such a great deal instead of pocketing the savings, I feel like I can spend more. Then we just have WAY too much under the tree.

Here are some things I'm going to do...
1. Not travel before Christmas. Although a December 14-22 Disney trip was great, I felt like I was running like a crazy woman on the 23rd & 24th. Didn't really enjoy it.

2. Actually send out Christmas cards.

3. Loved our Christmas morning breakfast and Christmas Eve dinner this year. Take out Chinese on Christmas Eve and hardboiled eggs, Rhodes butterscotch "monkey" bread with pecans, and a fancy peach/orange/mango juice for Christmas breakfast. Easy and delish!

4. I might try to follow the four gift rule. Something to read, something to wear, something you really want, and something to play with. We had fewer gifts under the tree and Santa brought less because of our Disney trip. It was wonderful and our youngest played with everything she got.

5. Give experiences instead of things. We got symphony tickets for my in-laws plus dinner gift cards, a package of fancy nuts, and a CD. BIL who has been out of work for 3 years and lives with in-laws got $75.00 in gas gift cards and to big things of beef jerky to take with him when he goes birding.

6. Do more decorating. I'd like to put up a Disney tree and some outdoor decorations next year. We are traveling for Thanksgiving which I know will put a damper on things, but it's our daughter's 18th BD so we're going on a cruise. Coming back the day after Thanksgiving so hopefully we won't be too far behind if I follow all of the great suggestions here on the Disboards.

7. I LOVE the idea of saving $$ to have someone come clean!

 

[Colleen27]

It took being sick for it to happen, but I pretty much nailed 2012. We wrapped as we bought and stored presents in our foyer, which we don't use during the winter because it is so drafty. I went with a very low-key menu that was simple to throw together, and I didn't fall into the "just one more gift" trap because I didn't feel like going anywhere. The trick for 2013 is replicating all of that without the hacking cough from you-know-where!

There is one thing I hope to do better next year - I procrastinated on holiday pictures and then with everyone in the house passing this bug around we didn't get around to the usual family picture or cards at all this year. I won't put those off next year.

 

[Chelley00]

4. I might try to follow the four gift rule. Something to read, something to wear, something you really want, and something to play with.

We've done this for the past 8 or so years (want, need, wear, read). Rocked my world. It's so much easier to plan what to buy, the kids know exactly what to expect, it alleviates the "well, so and so has 5 gifts and the others only 3 so I have to go buy 2 more presents" etc. It's honestly saved Christmas because I'm so much less stressed.

We had an odd month: DH has surgery, DS8 had pneumonia and DS17 was in a serious car accident, so I found so many of my regular Christmas things not happening (baking, Christmas cards, presents for friends, a lot decorating and crafts) and realized I was okay with it. I did all my shopping and wrapping and we had the tree decorated before DH's surgery on the 6th and we were looking forward to just enjoying the holiday season with things done. DS's accident didn't really let that happen, but had we skipped that bump in the road, I would have had plenty of time just to soak it all in. Next year I finish early and just enjoy the season with a scaled back version of what I feel I have to do.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Your right, I already do those things but let me share something else that organized my gift buying.

If you have a smart phone there are apps for organizing gifts. I found a free Christmas gift organizing app and I make profiles for everyone I buy for, then as I buy a gift I add it under the person's name with the cost. The app eliminates forgetting about what you bought or if your standing in a store trying to remember what you bought for someone's stocking just look on your phone.

whats the name of the app you used??? This will come in handy.

I have quite a few ideas kicking around in my head.
This Christmas wasn't too unorganized. I always wrap as I shop. Dh and I have a few nights where we throw in a movie and sit downstairs and wrap after the kids go to bed.
We wrapped on Christmas Eve after the kids went to bed ONCE. We felt sick we were so tired from 4 hours sleep on Christmas morning. It cured us of ever doing that again.

Things I am kicking around..

A trip instead of big gifts. I don't know if my family is there yet, but I would love to just get them 4 or 5 smaller presents to open (books or jammies etc) and then surprise them with a cruise. They have been pretty resistant to the idea so far but my husband and I feel there is enough "stuff" in this house and it's the way to go.

Either way, I think a Christmas account is a fabulous idea. If it ends up being a Christmas trip account.. even better.
Next year dh graduates a program he's been working on for 3.5 years in December. I will be a month away from my 40th birthday and I think it would be a perfect trip year. Not over the actual holiday because I would miss family but just before or after.

Only one year did I have everything bought and wrapped. That was 15 years ago. I was preggo with dd and knew i'd be going into labor around the Dec.6th. She was my first baby so I didnt know what to expect. Good thing i got everything done and wrapped because I ended up having a c-section and was told no driving for a month.

A trip would be nice as part as a christmas gift. We did that earlier this year, 1st week of Jan. We went on a cruise. We were just so burned out from christmas plus were all had colds. I dont thinkt i would do another trip before or right after xmas to much for us.

I am already thinking about this.
next year I am making small Christmas tree money holders..
kind of like this one
that way they can happily shop the day after Christmas and maybe get a few bargains.



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dd14 would LOVE this tree-lol!

one other thing i'd like to do. Dh always gives out giftcards to his family which doesnt save us any money. Hopefully I can get him to buy a few gifts instead of giftcards.

 

[pigletto]

This is worth mentioning for those of you looking for an easy Christmas breakfast. I hosted Christmas Eve brunch for 13 of us. The issue was my brother came down with his wife but was leaving to go see her family on Christmas Day. I on the other hand had to go to my inlaw party Christmas Eve and couldn't get over there in time. So the idea of Christmas Eve brunch was born so that we could all have a meal together this year.
My sister made a French Toast casserole and brought it over. My husband made 4 or 5 packages of breakfast sausage. I added a fruit tray, yoghurt and toasted many English Muffins.
We made scrambled eggs (28 eggs worth) in THE OVEN. I found a recipe, took the risk and it was the easiest thing EVER. Also, everyone raved about them. They were fluffy, not too wet or dry and tasty! Success!

So here is the recipe for Scrambled eggs if anyone ever needs it. I will never mess with 4 pans and 3 different types of eggs for a big meal ever again.
http://oneperfectbite.blogspot.ca/2009/11/oven-baked-scrambled-eggs-outdoor.html

(instead if the butter I used a low fat non-hydrogenated margarine, and low fat sour cream as well. Tasted great.

 

[albertamommyof4]

This year i just wasn't feeling it. It was a rough year and is still gonna be rough next year or even more. But i will have a plan.
I will make a list of everything, including what to decorate. if i need more decorations, also who to give christmas cards too, the gifts and also the stuff i am making and what i need for them
I also will be sticking to a very tight budget and will be looking for the best price and not buy something just because
Also i love the idea of the 4 gift rule i might try this but i also do a 1 gift each kid from santa and a stocking.
I also love the idea of wrapping after you buy as i let the gifts pile up in the closet and wrap at once, takes so longé
I also like the idea of making sure there is a place for everything so keeping the stocking stuffers all together etc instead of all over my bedroom lol. Think i may start in Janurary with the lists and keeping track of the things the kids want

 

[lllovell]

I would highly recommend the trip instead of more things under the tree. We are doing our second year of that (we travel in FEbruary over "winter break" from school). Santa comes and also we do stockings for the adults, but no gifts from us to each other in our immediate family and it is great. The kids get plenty of stuff from Santa and their grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc and they actually play with their stuff on Christmas morning instead of wanting to rip through gifts and not stopping to appreciate them.

 

[fun4me]

I'd really like to do the 4 gift rule for the kids. Although I have a hard time resisting some of the good deals.
I am going to plan out the stockings and buy it all closer to Christmas. This year I bought all year long when I found clearance junk. I had so much junk that we stuffed it all in there and then some of it in other presents for nephews and nieces.
I'm going to plan out my cooking, like gingerbread houses and fudge to a couple of weeks before instead of waiting for the last minute.
I'm not going to get sick the weekend before Christmas.
I'm going to buy or make Christmas PJs in October/November.
Any presents I plan to make will be done before Thanksgiving.
Take family pics for Christmas cards and send out Christmas cards.
By myself more presents.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I won't be cooking another big meal. I'll keep it smaller and add dessert.

I want to make Christmas cookies. I didn't have time this year and missed it.

I will be cutting down on more decorating. Each year I seem to reduce my decorating and it's getting easier.

Love how I did gifts this year. I want to continue the tradition of one big gift and only 3 smaller ones. Plus stockings for my kids. It kept spending in check.

Have my husband become responsible for gifts for his family. Ended up doing it a bit when he wanted to add gifts to visiting inlaws and I told him he had to get them. I also told him he had to buy his own assistant at work a gift instead of me doing it for him.

That's it off the top of my head. I'm looking forward to a more stress free 2013 Christmas.

 

[dreamin_disney]

2011 I bought 2 tubs with lids and hands that lock the lid to tub so it doesnt pop off. I put all my birthday stuff like bags, tags, tissue paper, tape,
and the 2nd tub has all my xmas giftcard holders, tissue paper, xmas cards, xmas tags , xmas bags etc. I plan on buying a 2nd xmas tub to put all the xmas stuff we bought at the after xmas sale xmas boxes, cardboard mini cupcake holders, table cloth, treat bags etc

I have all my xmas decoration outside in the shed so I use to put all my stuff in those tubs and would have to wait for dh to take everything out. The smaller tubs in the closet makes it much more easier


My goal is to have the outdoor lights/decortaions , indoor decorations/tree up the day after Thanksgiving or that weekend and cards mailed out the weekend of thanksgiving or that Monday after it.