| I'm always really busy at Christmas with business | | | | - Register with a money back site like Quidco as |
| and social events so over the years I've learnt | | | | this can give you money back on several online |
| that if I want a perfect, stress free Christmas it's | | | | purchases - but do check that the overall price is |
| best to start planning way back in September. | | | | still the best deal! |
| I've put together a useful checklist of things you | | | | - If you'll be staying away from home and you |
| can be doing in September to help get you ready | | | | need to book a hotel room see if you can get an |
| for Christmas. | | | | early booking discount. Even if you can't get a |
| - Update or create Christmas card and gift list so | | | | discount it can be worth booking to secure the |
| you have a clear idea about how many Christmas | | | | room you want so that you don't end up paying |
| cards and gifts you need to buy. | | | | for a more expensive room at the last minute. |
| - Set your overall budget for cards, gift wrap, | | | | Check the hotels cancellation policy, most let you |
| presents, food and drink for Christmas. If possible | | | | cancel the day before if your plans change but do |
| try and break this down month by month so that | | | | check their terms & conditions carefully. |
| you can spread the cost of buying your | | | | - If you plan to travel by train, don't forget that |
| Christmas presents over the next few months. | | | | the rail operating companies scale back their |
| - Start buying your Christmas presents looking | | | | operations over the Christmas and New Year |
| out for special offers and promotions in the end | | | | period, taking the opportunity to carry out |
| of Summer Sales - this will not only save you | | | | essential maintenance and upgrades. It's worth |
| money but will help you avoid the crowds nearer | | | | checking early if the train you want will actually be |
| Christmas. | | | | running and if it is reserving a seat. |
| - If you need to send a parcel internationally via | | | | - If you want to grow Hyacinths, Daffodils or |
| surface mail the cut off for some parts of the | | | | Amaryllis so that they are in flower for Christmas |
| World can be as early as the end of September / | | | | Day you need to prepare to get them planted in |
| beginning of October. Check the exact dates early | | | | mid September to early October depending upon |
| to avoid having to upgrade to the more | | | | the variety. Visit garden centres now to see what |
| expensive airmail option, but it's always best to | | | | is available and make a note in your diary so that |
| post early at Christmas to avoid any backlogs. | | | | you plant the bulbs on time. |
| - You can spread the cost of Christmas a little by | | | | - It is possible to make Christmas puddings and |
| buying ingredients for your Christmas Cake and | | | | cakes as early as September. They need to be |
| Christmas Pudding, Pickles, Mincemeat etc a few | | | | kept in cool, airtight containers but with careful |
| at a time each week, rather than all at once. | | | | storage the flavour will develop nicely if you make |
| Make a list of everything you're going to need and | | | | them well in advance. |
| start ticking off the items as you buy them. Just | | | | I hope you find this check-list helpful and wish you |
| don't be tempted to eat them before Christmas. | | | | a perfect Christmas. |