Christmas 09 Debrief...what to do different next year?

[AnyDream]

How did your Christmas logistics go this year? What mental notes have you made to do things differently next year? (Planning to revisit this thread in Nov of next year)!

For me -
I will choose my colour theme much earlier and *after* seeing what's in the shops.

I'm planning to make better use of online shopping and in particular some charity sites - esp for family members - rather than leaving it all to the last minute and trawling around on foot.

I'm going to buy the premium cherries instead of the cheap ones, and remember to order a ham!!!

I will shop for the girl's christmas dresses at the start of the summer season and not leave it until Dec.

I'm going to make my own rum balls or white christmas and if I don't I'll be sure to buy 2 packets of the shop-bought ones...one isn't enough with several lots of visitors.

[*LovemyKids*]

Great idea!!

I will NOT be having christmas at my house so that DH family can sit on their BUTTS and watch me do EVERYTHING. Cant even put their own rubbish in the bin, just leave it all over the table and I will do it all for them!!!!!!!!!!

I WILL be sitting on my BUTT and doin NOTHING at DH family house!!!! next christmas!!!

I WILL NOT be buying MIL anything special next year as anything we get her is NEVER good enough!!!! SOAP it is!!!!

I will not be supplying food, drinks, towels, togs, suncream for IL's. Even though they know we have a pool and clearly you would think they would bring their own stuff!!!!

OOOPPPPSSS Sorry about that it was a bit of a vent but these are the thing that I will DEFINITLY will NOT be doing next year!!!!!

Hope eveyone had a great christmas!!!

[Trillian]

ICK Nikki! Even right down to the togs? That is the laziest thing they could have done

[Tinks]

Next year I won't be going to the IL's house. We'll have Christmas lunch here and if they want to come they are more than welcome to.

[Fleur]

I will start my Christmas shopping in February
No seriously... I always leave it till the last minute & stress out & spend too much & have to send parcels express post.. not next year!!

I will plan Christmas lunch a little earlier than that week - not that it was bad, everything was good, but I bought waaaay too much cause I didn't really know what I was doing.

I will NOT be sitting up until 1am wrapping. I will wrap as I buy, or at least throughout the week or two before.

umm... so basically, I will be organised

ETA - it's not my fault, really. I am sure this year was on fast forward, or Christmas came early, or something....

[BekZ]

I will be putting money away regularly for Christmas as of our next pay.