The Countdown to Christmas

Ok, so summer can seem a little early to start even thinking about Christmas - but a little planning can go a long way in relieving stress, saving money and spending more time enjoying the festive season. You don’t have to wait until the last minute to start planning. Here's some tiny steps you can take to make it all a little easier...

Month		Action
JUNE		Start Saving! To help the big spend this Christmas it could be a good idea to start putting pennies aside to make pounds and make it a little easier on the purse strings. A good way to do this is to save the savings you have have made on your weekly shop e.g. by buying deals. Saving just £4 a week could give you £120 in December to do the Christmas food and drink shop!
JULY		Presents! Make a list of everyone you want to buy presents for this year - write down their names and keep the list handy. This way, when the summer sales are in full force you can pick up any bargains there might be to bag - not all gifts are seasonal!
AUGUST		Who's Cooking? Ok, so it may seem early but everyone is so busy these days, with work, family, holidays and other personal commitments. It's definitely worth discussing what your plans are for Christmas with those around you. It will help you plan your time effectively and also prevent any potential disappointments.
SEPTEMBER		Dinner Reservations? If you're planning to sit back and let someone else take care of Christmas dinner this year, or planning any Christmas parties, restaurants and hotels will now be promoting any special packages they have on offer this festive season. Be an early bird and book early to avoid disappointment!
OCTOBER		Tickets Please! If you have anywhere to travel, now would be a good time to book and reserve tickets. Or make sure the car is ready for any long distance travel you need to do.
OCTOBER		Order Online! If you're one to avoid the rush on the high street and shop online then October would be a good month to get ordering to ensure everything you order is delivered on time. And it's not just presents - book your grocery home shopping delivery slot online and there's some great discounts on personalised Christmas cards ordered this month!
NOVEMBER		Cake! If you're making your very own Christmas cake this year (and we have some great recipes for you) now would be a good time to get out your oven mits. Mid-November is ideal as it allows plenty of time feed and nurture the cake with some yummy brandy and cover it in marzipan before it needs to be iced closer to the big day!
NOVEMBER		Defrost! November is a great time to defrost the freezer - get rid of anything you don't need and has been there a while use the much-needed space any meats, treats, Christmas cake and home baked bread to be used over the festive season. Have a look at your cupboards while you're at it too!
DECEMBER	Week 1	Christmas Cards! Start the festive season by getting everyone in the mood and sending out the fabulous cards you've chosen this year. With all the cost-saving this year, how about spending a little more and sending out great personalised Christmas cards with a charitable donation. Don't forget to check the last postage dates in time for Christmas - for home and abroad!
		Local Produce! If you have a local farm shop or local supplier of meat and poultry get your order in early as there is always extra demand over the Christmas period. You can now afford to forget it about it until your order needs to be collected.
		All Wrapped Up! Make a start on wrapping the presents you've been accumulating over the last few months. It's one less thing to worry about as the evenings get busier and the party invitations are coming in thick and fast. The sooner they're wrapped - the sooner you can get them into hiding places before anyone notices!
December	Week 2	O Christmas Tree! Ok, so officially it should be next week, but I never can get past week 2! Head down to your local garden centre, or pull last year's tree out of the loft, dust of the decorations and get started. We've come up with some fabulous ideas for homemade decorations which look and taste great!
		Shopping List! By now, you'll know who's coming to dinner which means you'll be able to put together your grocery food and drink shopping list. All the extra space In the freezer and cupboards you made in November is bound to come in handy now!
		Say Cheese! Make sure your cameras and camcorders are all in working order! May be worth getting extra batteries, film, memory cards to capture those perfect Kodak moments!
December	Week 3	Be On Time! Whether you're heading out or having Christmas at home, make a time plan to help you work out what needs to be done and when - this will prevent any last minute panics and means you have less thinking to do and more time to have fun with everyone else!
December	Week 3	Relax! Be safe in the knowledge that you have planned everything you can to a T! Stay calm if you're cooking dinner and make sure that your family and friends help out - and above all, enjoy yourself!