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Advance planning is the key to a smooth-running Christmas. Find out how iVillage members and experts get ready for the big day
1. Cash in your rewards
My tip is to save your supermarket savings stamps! Now that most supermarkets do more than just food; it really is worth filling up some cards with stamps through the year and saving loyalty points so that in November and December you can go on a spree with "free" money, and obviously get more of what you want/need!
raecheybaby
2. Get cracking!
I buy my crackers just after Christmas when they are all reduced, and usually get a couple of really nice boxes of luxury ones dirt-cheap. I then put them away with my Christmas decorations for use the following year. The same also works with tableware (papercloths, napkins etc).
dippyhippy
3. Remember what you've bought!
If you buy presents through the year like I do, make sure you keep a list of what you've bought and who it is for. This saves buying a present for someone you've already bought for.
fiona881
4. Get sprout and about!
Last Christmas we did our food shopping in the early hours of Christmas Eve morning (we'd been to the cinema and everyone was wide awake!). The place was empty, the staff were chasing each other with silly string, and it was a dream of a shopping trip. Of course this only works if you've got older children and a 24-hour supermarket near by! Certainly beats fighting for the last bag of sprouts on Christmas Eve morning!
cl-goddness_thrin72
5. Cut costs the easy way
I save all my Christmas cards from the previous year, get a pair of pinking shears and cut up the cards to make instant gift tags!
cl-divineretribution
6. Make a list
Avoid a stressful supermarket scrum by planning ahead. Make a list and try to buy non-perishable items on a normal shopping trip in advance. Things in tins or packets will happily keep in the cupboard. Making a list is the best shopping tip.
Cooking Coach, Terry Farris
7. Sneaky shopper
We cook the Christmas cake in November and buy most of the non-perishable food, chocolates, tape, cards and paper throughout the year. We don't see most of the family until after Christmas so we can shop in the Boxing Day sales and nobody knows!
cl-jj.jazz
8. Military operation
I hate Christmas shopping and treat it like a military operation. Last year I compiled a gift list noting which shops to get them in, and even planned my route to ensure that the heaviest items were bought towards the end of the 'spree', to avoid carrying stuff around unnecessarily! I might sound completely obsessed but I did get all my Christmas shopping done (including wrapping paper, bows etc) in under three hours. I then took myself off for a celebratory glass of champagne.
iVillager Dorothy
9. Festive brainstorm
Brainstorm all the Yuletide jobs you need to do, then put them on your noticeboard. Mark them off as you do them, or add if required. Have a countdown with final dates too, and always give yourself an extra day to get everything done.
cl-letoile2002
10. Shop online
Buy your children's Christmas presents online. I find it hard to shop with my little boy in tow. By shopping online there's no way he can see his presents! Plus I can't drive so it saves time having things delievered.
cl-supermumuk
11. Homemade advent calendar treats
I get my children involved with the Christmas experience by digging out all the child-friendly utensils such as small wooden spoons and Christmas biscuit-cutters. We spend an afternoon making little edible goodies to go into the advent calendar.
iVillage Nutritionist, Wynnie Chan
12. Collect boxes
All year I save interesting, useful-shaped and plain but beautiful boxes to use for present wrapping. I refuse to buy expensive Christmas boxes.
iVillage, Dr Howard Lee
13. Early bird
I shop for the small stocking fillers ahead of time - even as early as the January sales. I stick them away in dark cupboard so the kids can't find them!
cl-murerrol
14. Stock up
Always buy plenty of indigestion tablets and cold remedy - and a few small extra presents for the people you forget! And for the perfect Christmas, always have a smile at the ready!
cl-letoile2002
15. Luxury tip
I always buy luxury Christmas cards just after Christmas and every year friends remark how expensive they look. I just grin and say nothing. This year I don't mind sharing my tip!
iVillager Lydie
16. Stitch-in-time
I make cross-stitch decorations throughout the year. I always plan my gift list and budget well in advance. I try to shop as early as possible - last minute shopping for me is in November - and always wrap all the presents as soon as I get home, so I'm not temped to give them away before Christmas.
cl-cazf77
17. Avoid the big shop
From late September onwards I start stocking up for Christmas. I buy extra loo paper, bread rolls, cling film - anything that can be bought in advance. This way I avoid that really big Christmas grocery-shopping nightmare.
cl-crystalmoonstar
18. Puddings with a punch
Start making your puddings and cakes now so you've plenty of time to keep topping them up with alcohol.
cl-bird4747
19. Save the date!
I make a date in the diary at the end of November for writing Christmas cards. On the day, my husband and I sit down with the cards and a motivational first glass of the season's sherry.
Couples Counsellor, Susan Quilliam
20. Freezing - a cook's best-friend
I like to prepare and freeze lots of comfort food like stews and soups that can just be defrosted and heated up in the microwave in the run-up to Christmas. These are especially good to eat after a late night shopping trip when you don't want to come home and cook. I also like to make and freeze individual treats like souffles and sticky toffee puddings in one-portion sized ramekins - for Christmas Eve, or when friends come over in the weeks before. Freezing is the think-ahead-cook's best friend.
Cooking Coach, Terry Farris
21. Perfect gifts
I go blank for present ideas at this time of year, so every time someone mentions something they like throughout the year I write it down. This way I avoid the panic of trying to think of things at the last minute.
stinny
22. Overseas posting
Send all your overseas parcels by mid-November. There's nothing worse than standing in the post office queue on the last day of overseas posting. Alternatively buy your prezzies online - that way you avoid all the hassle of postage.
iVillager June
23. Book a day-off
Save a day's holiday for December and use it to finish off Christmas shopping and treat yourself to a lie-in or haircut. The streets are much emptier in the week than on the weekend. Take off Christmas Eve to get in the mood.
iVillager Cat
24. Stock up with power
Buy a stack of batteries - especially if you have children. There's nothing worse than not being able to get a new toy going because you forgot the batteries!
iVillager Leigh
25. Use cook's cheats
Cook as much as possible in advance - and don't be afraid to use convenience foods.
Susan Quilliam, Couples Counsellor
26. Buy wine
Buy plenty of wine! The only reliable way of being prepared for Christmas is to have large quantities of wine to hand!
cl-kate10101
27. Recycled Christmas cards
I buy so many Christmas cards that I generally get by with what I have from previous years. I keep the cards I send my friends abroad separately from the one's to friends at home - so I can switch them around the next year... Boy am I cheap!
Emily Ross Brown
28. Advance ordering
I order a Christmas dinner hamper in advance from the milkman, which I pay for over the year. I also save up the discounts from my regular mail order catalogues and use them to order big presents for kids. This year I've managed to save up £80 on each catalogue.
cl-brit2001
29. Treat yourself
Beauty stuff keeps me cool during the festive season and I've already scheduled a leg wax, pedicure and manicure along with a full body massage, for a few days before Christmas Day.
Couples Counsellor, Susan Quilliam
30. Closing Christmas tip
I pick sloes from the hedgerows while walking the dogs and make sloe gin that will hopefully be ready for Christmas. A tipsy cook is a happy cook!
Cooking Coach, Terry Farris
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