Combat Christmas stress!

4. Online Christmas gifts
Listing your little darlings' dearest gift wishes online may seem a tad cold and calculated but it is a brilliant organisational tip. We do it for weddings, so why not Christmas? iVillager esandstead explains:

'I've just found a site which looks like it's going to make Christmas present organisation for my three kids much easier. I just don't think I can stand another Christmas with one toddler arguing over the other one's Action Man! So I'm going to try this site - www.whattogive.com

I've added a small Christmas present list for each child - that way, mine and hubby's parents (both on the other side of the country) plus other relatives and friends who buy for my kids can look online and see what to buy for who. This means that I don't have to keep track of who is getting them what and my friends and family can choose something that my children will really love and there will be no doubling up of gifts'

• Check out the iVillage gift guide for more present ideas

5. Food - be prepared!
Christmas usually means a house full of hungry guests at various points throughout the festive season but this year we say - be prepared! iVillager melbal34 says the following couple of tips make coping with the hungry horde a doddle:

'Freezing is the way to go. I like to prepare and freeze lots of comfort food like stews, soups, nibbles and cakes that can just be defrosted and heated up in the microwave in the run-up to Christmas. These are especially good for when friends come over in the weeks before.

It's also a good idea to start stocking up on essentials like loo roll, napkins, bread (to freeze) and cling film etc way before the big day. That way you can just squirrel this stuff away in the cupboard, the cost of the big Christmas shop is spread across the weeks before and you're prepared for anything. It's also a good idea to get in the paracetamol, cough and cold remedies and also maybe some Resolve for the inevitable Christmas party hangovers!'

• For more great Christmas food ideas, why not visit the Quick & Easy Cooking messageboard