Christmas 2013- what will you do differently?

[disney212]

I was pretty happy this year until today. All gifts were purchased and wrapped by 12/10 due to our leaving for WDW on 12/15 and not coming back until the night of 12/23. Stuck to my list, stockings and everything were ready to go. Flash forward to today, I took my daughter to exchange 2 sweaters I had gotten her that didn't fit. She ended up getting 5 sweaters and a shirt for what I paid, on sale, for those two sweaters! Next year she will get a gift certificate!!!!!!

 

[pigletto]

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.

I am liking the idea more and more as I think of it. If I know now that's what I want to do I can really spend a year planning something fabulous. I have limited trip time with dd left as she's getting older, my husband is graduating and it will be my 40th. We could really plan something wonderful. A Disney Cruise would be delightful

 

[momof1princess]

next year, i will:

1. wrap gifts as i buy. this year, i felt like i had NO time to wrap gifts, and was scrambling to get them all done.
2. try to buy stocking stuffers throughout the year. it was hard to try to find enough things to fill DD15's stocking.
3. insist that my side of the family have a "real" Christmas dinner. my DGM (almost 84 yo) was complaining to me today that it didn't seem like Christmas because there was no "real" Christmas meal. she wanted turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, etc., and what she got was fajitas at my aunt's house...lol. i realize that no one wants to do the entire meal, but i think, between the 4 families, we can manage to make it come together.

 

[dreamin_disney]

next year, i will:

1. wrap gifts as i buy. this year, i felt like i had NO time to wrap gifts, and was scrambling to get them all done.
2. try to buy stocking stuffers throughout the year. it was hard to try to find enough things to fill DD15's stocking.
3. insist that my side of the family have a "real" Christmas dinner. my DGM (almost 84 yo) was complaining to me today that it didn't seem like Christmas because there was no "real" Christmas meal. she wanted turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, etc., and what she got was fajitas at my aunt's house...lol. i realize that no one wants to do the entire meal, but i think, between the 4 families, we can manage to make it come together.

dd's stuffing stocker included zebra nail clippers, animal print nail filers, animal print bath scruber pads, tic tacs, chap stick
so in order to fill it up I put a bag of bit o honey, a bag of her fav chips and someting lse I cant think

dh just got giftcard to 7-11 for his morning breakfast stops, pringles can with his fav kind, bag of ranch sunflower seeds, bag of chile lime sunflower seeds.

I didnt get a chance to buy his fav peaut M & M's

Dh and dd enjoy getting treats in their stocking

 

[carebee21]

Next year, I am cutting back on my baking. I absolutely hate baking to begin with, but my husband and son love sweets. We had 5 different types of cookies, 3 types of candy, gingerbread, white chocolate cranberry bread and a cake. We took plates of goodies to our neighbors, but we still had so much stuff for just the three of us. Plus I hated baking it and was so stressed out about getting it all done. Next year, I'm cutting it back to one batch of cookies, a cake for Christmas eve, a bread or muffins for breakfast and that's it!

I also want to really work on carrying over what I was trying to do this year. Instead of purchasing cheap garbage that shrinks or falls apart after it is used or washed, I'm trying to purchase items that are better quality and last, even if it is a bit more money upfront.

 

[mrssmith06]

I will set a budget and stick to it! I spent way too much this year!!

 

[eeyoresmom]

Christmas 2013 is on a Wednesday. I will do our big family dinner the Sunday before. It was hard working all day Monday, going to in laws for Christmas Eve( with homemade appetizers and desserts) then doing Christmas lunch for 20 extended family members at home on Christmas day. I was supposed to return to work on the 26th to finish the work week but ended up sick and it was not at all enjoyable to me. Next year will be different.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Next year, I am cutting back on my baking. I absolutely hate baking to begin with, but my husband and son love sweets. We had 5 different types of cookies, 3 types of candy, gingerbread, white chocolate cranberry bread and a cake. We took plates of goodies to our neighbors, but we still had so much stuff for just the three of us. Plus I hated baking it and was so stressed out about getting it all done. Next year, I'm cutting it back to one batch of cookies, a cake for Christmas eve, a bread or muffins for breakfast and that's it!

I also want to really work on carrying over what I was trying to do this year. Instead of purchasing cheap garbage that shrinks or falls apart after it is used or washed, I'm trying to purchase items that are better quality and last, even if it is a bit more money upfront.

This year baking kicked my booty. Next year If i do bake I will keep it to 1-2 items.
I was thinking of doing appetizers next year like a cheese ball and crackers and some type of spread for crackers

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I felt disorganized this year. I was tying ribbon onto presents on Christmas morning and kicking myself for it.

Next year, I will:

shop much earlier and wrap soon after and not forget where I put the presents

buy and send out Christmas cards in early December (oh, and knock off the people that have not reciprocated in the past two years, haha, I can take a hint )

plan out menu AND appetizers instead of freaking out Christmas morning when you realize there are no appetizers or pre-dinner snacks that help keep people out of the kitchen wondering when we're going to eat

clean and ruthlessly organize house before the madness begins

buy the cookie tins at the dollar store early on and only give out cookies to family members - it takes too much time baking to give them to just anyone - and please don't ship out any cookies next year - you say that every year and you don't listen, so listen this time!!!

decorate the house early to be able to enjoy it longer

set a $ limit for each grown child and grandchildren

buy the gift cards a little at a time during the year so that it doesnt' seem like such a big expense all in one month

take note of what people want/need throughout the year

try not to let it bother me when, every year, certain people never bother to acknowledge that you mailed them and their children gift cards and/or presents so that I have no idea if they even received them - well I guess that's another thread, lol

make that incredibly cute and intensely adorable snowman cheeseball you saw on the DIS
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46929445&postcount=11

and most importantly: DO NOT LOSE YOUR NOTES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR!!! Geez, I searched high and low and still have not found the bright red binder that I kept all my holiday hints and tips in from last Christmas. How's that for being organized!

Here's to a merry happy holiday next year!

 

[rebeccalb10]

No Christmas presents...just a trip to see Mickey. I've never been for Christmas. Takes to DD who will be 12 and she's ok with it.
Other than that, I'm going to start my cards early this year...since I try to hand decorate most of them.

 

[TnTWalter]

1) Buy slippers earlier!
I was scrambling to get slippers for their xmas eve christmas pjs present. It took 7 stores and me giving up and hitting CVS for a gift card to find slippers for my son!
2) volunteer more
Our family of 5 spent Xmas eve afternoon delivering meals for good Samaritans to shut-ins. It was great for us. I was too late to sign up for working at a free shopping trip for people at the local 4-H. I think it's important.

tip for getting xmas cards out: sams club black friday $15 for 100. Order online. They are ready sat or sun and you can grab stamps when you pick them up...first week of December out.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I hope to get sick at Thanksgiving and not at Christmas. LOL
We all have really bad colds, I guess it's a good thing we didn't go to Disney this year. So we didn't bake, didn't get Christmas cards done and we wrapped on Christmas Eve. Usually I'm done early and DH is still shopping on Christmas Eve but this year he actually finished way before I did.

Next year I hope to go to Disney with BFF from Indiana. Kids will get one or 2 things from Santa and stocking stuffers. This is what we typically do, but with Memere turning 95 and all 7 great grand children being home for Christmas, we opted to stay home.

I also use an App, Santa's Bag from Clay Pot. I like it because you can put pics in, the store, the cost and a budget. And it's free!!

Oh and this year we really stuck to:
One thing they want,
and one thing they need.
One thing to wear,
and one thing to read.

Including stocking stuffers I spent about $100 on each kid except for DS16, he got a Kindle fire but he also didn't get as much stuff but he knew that was going to happen. And the Kindle was the only thing I paid full price for.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

I'm trying to convince my family to go to Disney World for Christmas next year. We all love Disney and I hear Santa knows just where it is to deliver gifts to my nephews.

I have been trying to do this for years....Everyone wants to, except for my MIL. And if she doesn't go, none of us go.

The only thing I would change is to wrap as I shop. All thought this year my wrapping was done earlier then normal. Other than that, I wouldn't change anything from this year. In years past I have always spent $50-60 per niece and nephew(all 26 of them).And we buy for all the adults as well. This year I was laid off in March. We've lost $1,000 per month. So, needless to say, money has been extremely tight. I was so stressed about shopping this year, because we couldn't afford to shop like I used to. I became very creative in my gift giving this year. For the nieces and nephews, I cut my spending more than 1/2. And still was able to buy great gifts. The adults all got homemade items (relishes, pickles, jams, photo collages, cookbooks with my favorite recipes). These gifts were so well received. They were every ones favorites. I will continue this way of gift giving from now on. I will never get caught up in all the hype again.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

I hope to get sick at Thanksgiving and not at Christmas. LOL
We all have really bad colds,

I think the whole state has been sick. We're on our 3rd. go round with colds in our house. Started the day after Thanksgiving and hasn't really gone away. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[lonegirl]

Our christmas "dinner" is a honey b ham that we slice and put out with rolls, cheeses, various dips and chips, crackers and spreads, marinated shrimp, antipasti, and numerous other snacky/appetizers. Then there are tons of cookies. Each of the 4 women supply 2 appetizers and make a cookie plate from what we have been baking at home. Host family supplies the ham and shrimp that year. Casual, eaten on disposable plates sitting around Christmas tree In living room. Stress gone.

 

[dreamin_disney]

buy and send out Christmas cards in early December (oh, and knock off the people that have not reciprocated in the past two years, haha, I can take a hint )
I will also be cutting down my Christmas card list

plan out menu AND appetizers instead of freaking out Christmas morning when you realize there are no appetizers or pre-dinner snacks that help keep people out of the kitchen wondering when we're going to eat

I need to get a list of easy yummy appetizers. I love the snowman cheeseball and I dont know how I missed that. I need to fin some yummy cheeseball recipesmake that incredibly cute and intensely adorable snowman cheeseball you saw on the DIS
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46929445&postcount=11

I hope to get sick at Thanksgiving and not at Christmas. LOL
I hope your healthy for both holidays

I also use an App, Santa's Bag from Clay Pot. I like it because you can put pics in, the store, the cost and a budget. And it's free!!
Thanks for the name of the app I justdownloaded it

 

[momtosam]

I am not typically a Walmart fan, but this year something inspired me to try doing a layaway there. I loved it! You could price match while things were on layaway and Walmart sale prices automatically adjusted. I only started it in November, so next year I plan on starting one earlier to give me more time to pay it off.

 

[tarheel618]

I will set a budget and stick to it! I spent way too much this year!!

This and I will start putting back money every pay check starting in January. We had a lot of unexpected expenses this year and saving for Christmas was difficult and stressful. This year, I will put this money back first before I buy groceries. The Christmas money will come from my grocery budget (less junk food will be bought because of this, so hopefully we will be healthier in 2013 as well)

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Everything will be different for 2013. Our first baby will be 5 months old so we will have to change everything!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I think the whole state has been sick. We're on our 3rd. go round with colds in our house. Started the day after Thanksgiving and hasn't really gone away. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, I hope you guys do too.

I shouldn't google! LOL
WFSB or WTNH had the confirmed flu list out in their website, thankfully my town has zero cases so I'm hoping this is just bronchitis or a really bad cold. But of course I was all over the state looking for gifts.
I really hope the Dr's office is open Monday, and they have space to see all 5 of us.