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Getting organised for Christmas using lists

11th November 2016 by Organisedjo 57 Comments

Christmas is coming, and I havent written any lists yet! This is not good and I’m starting to feel panicky. So I thought I would use this post to give myself a shove and start writing them. For me having christmas lists not only helps get my head around what I need, it also helps break it all down into smaller manageable chunks. I know this post is more for me but I hope it’s of some help to you too.

Christmas is coming and there is lots to do and buy. This is when I start to make a lot of lists. Take a look at what Christmas lists I write to help me g through this busy time.

So lets start!

Food

We are yet to finalise where we are going to be for Christmas Day but I don’t think we are cooking. So this list is going to be all the nice bits and bobs we want around the house to feast on:

– Christmas cake – I need to bake one so these ingredients are going on the next shopping list. According to the husband it needs to be well fed with alcohol so it needs to be baked now.

– Nibbles – I’m going to start adding these to the weekly shopping list to spread the cost. These are things like nuts, crisps and of course the  Christmas chocolates.

– Christmas treats – probably won’t start buying these now, this is more for the beginning of December because of their use by dates. These include mince pies, stollen, Christmas chocolate logs etc. Oh and don’t forget the cream!

– Cold buffet things/condiments – another favourite in our house is leftovers and what goes with it. Every week I’ll start to add these to the shopping list. Things like mayonnaise, pickles, chutneys, crackers and so on. I’ll also get the biggest bag of frozen chips too, leftovers and chips is the best.

Presents

I have already started the present shopping but still have a way to go. Over the next week I’m going to write a list of who I need to buy for  along with how much I want to spend on each of them. I need to do this otherwise my heart rules my head and I spend way too much! Once it’s all written down I’m going to pick a couple to buy every week.

I am also going to start writing my wish list so I’m ready for when/if I’m asked. I’m also going to encourage the hubby and girls to do the same. I need ideas for them so this will help. We already have the girls stocking pressies sorted it’s just their main present left.

Other Christmas bits & bobs

This list is for things like wrapping paper, tags, ribbon, Christmas cards (from us and from the girls for their school friends) and advent calendars.

Again this week I’m going to go through my stash of present wrapping and see if I’ve got anything left from last year or if I need to get anymore. The same with Christmas cards. Once I know what I need I’ll add bits of it to my shopping list each week.

I’m also going to start looking at what ocal Christmas events are taking place, book places if need be and in to the diary. I don’t know about you but our diaries get filled up so quickly, especially with school things going on too.

I think that’s it for now. Sorry, this was a bit of a think and dump post but it always helps me to write everything down. I’m sure I will add a few things as we go and I’ll try and update this post if I do.

At the moment I use a notebook for writing all my lists in. I have seen Christmas planners though and think I really need to invest in one. If anyone uses one please let me know what they are like. For now though I am sure I will also make the most of our large blackboard.

How are you doing with your Christmas lists? Are they written yet or are you like me and having a panic? Good luck with getting ready!

Lets get organised for Christmas.

Jo

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Comments

  1. Luce says

    11th November 2016 at 10:40 am

    I am doing the list thing too, saves my sanity! Also making a list for Christmas Events and dates really helps. Great post 🙂 x #PicknMix

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 7:20 am

      Thanks for your lovely comment Luce. Just writing everything down for me just really helps. X

      Reply
  2. Leri says

    11th November 2016 at 3:33 pm

    Love this list! I can’t wait to start my own list for Christmas! Thanks for sharing. #TheList

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 7:21 am

      Thanks for popping by and commenting Leri. X

      Reply
  3. Becca Farrelly says

    11th November 2016 at 5:37 pm

    A Christmas Planner?! I need to find one of those! Sounds amazing! I normally start thinking about xmas around the end of October but we are moving in Jan and my brain is filled with moving things so I haven’t started present shopping yet! I have a small list of xmas food and my xmas cake was started in sept so that’s ‘ticked off’! 🙂

    #PicnMix

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 7:22 am

      Well done for sorting your Christmas cake so early, I still need to get mine done! Good luck with the move in January. X

      Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:51 pm

      Hope everything is going according to plan with your move. I still haven’t got my Christmas cake baked, I need to get this sorted now! X

      Reply
  4. Amie says

    11th November 2016 at 8:12 pm

    I need to get all of my Christmas bits out and have a little look at when I need to stock up on too. I hadn’t even put a thought to the food yet! I think I need to steal this list haha #picknmix

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 7:23 am

      Feel free to steal away! Enjoy your Christmas planning. X

      Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:52 pm

      Steal away, always happy to help. Thanks for stopping by. X

      Reply
  5. Gina Caro @ Gypsy Soul says

    13th November 2016 at 4:05 pm

    I’m a list writer too. I have lists for everything! Slowly working my way through the Christmas presents list at the moment. 🙂

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:53 pm

      I’m a bit slow in the present buying this year, but my two girls have had so many birthday invites over the last month I feel like I’ve been buying presents for ever. X

      Reply
  6. Emma T says

    13th November 2016 at 10:42 pm

    I need to get sorted out. I’ve got a couple of present ideas, but otherwise that’s all that’s organised. Ooops. #thelist

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:54 pm

      Don’t worry you are not alone. My family have been terrible about letting me know what they want but have been wanting to know what the girls and we want from the beginning of November! Thanks for popping by. X

      Reply
  7. Sarah Howe @runjumpscrap says

    14th November 2016 at 7:21 am

    Nope not a dump and thanks for my lost motivation . We are at home this year and have decided not to go mad with food. Still got all my pressies to finish yet though xx #marvmondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:55 pm

      Glad to hear it helped. Is it too early to say enjoy your quiet Christmas? Thanks for stopping by. X

      Reply
  8. Fran Back With a Bump says

    14th November 2016 at 8:29 am

    Love a good list and nibbles are definitely an essential for Christmas! We’re only having a quiet Christmsd but still need to start planning our food!! Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 7:24 am

      Thanks for popping by Fran. I love nibbles too, my waistline doesn’t but hey, it’s Christmas and I can live in baggy jumpers! X

      Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:56 pm

      Nibbles are the best. But I am so worried about getting them in to earlier because I’ll eat them all! Just like all the Christmas chocs!! X

      Reply
  9. Angela Watling says

    14th November 2016 at 3:06 pm

    Great approach. I need to start doing this so might start adding some to my journal later. I especially like your idea of spreading the cost over the coming weeks! I didn’t make a Christmas Cake last year but I’m really tempted to make one this weekend now! Will have to get my OH to get the cake bits out the loft… #MarvMondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:57 pm

      Did you get around to making your Christmas cake? I still haven’t done mine . Thanks for commenting. X

      Reply
  10. Helena says

    14th November 2016 at 4:30 pm

    I’m in a panic about everyone but the girls! #PicknMix

    Reply
  11. Poppy Reflects says

    14th November 2016 at 9:38 pm

    I love a list! I’m surprisingly organised this year and have even finished the wrapping. We have a new baby due anytime though and I wanted to be all ready so we don’t have any extra stress once he’s born and I would feel awful if my toddler missed out on anything. x #MarvMondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 10:58 pm

      Wow! Well done for getting it sorted but totally get why with the imminent arrival of your little one. Enjoy your first Christmas together. X

      Reply
  12. Jane Taylor says

    14th November 2016 at 9:39 pm

    Hi Jo, I’m in denial!!!! I’m usually quite organised but this year I’m tempted to wait until the very last minute when the sales are all on so I get everything half price…Problem is, I’ll spend my time thinking about the fact I haven’t bought any presents so it will be preying on my mind!! I’d love to be able to just go into town the day before and just buy everything in one day…

    The best thing I did was get a Christmas List App, I use it every year. It keeps track of what you’ve bought for everyone and gives you a running total. Its in my post about lists from earlier in the year. Here. Honestly, I can’t tell you how useful it is… http://maflingo.com/i-love-lists-im-a-listaholic/

    #MARVMONDAYS

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:00 pm

      Right I am straight into that app! I am always forgetting what I brought everyone the year before, thanks for the tip. X

      Reply
  13. Kat says

    15th November 2016 at 6:26 am

    I think this is the most organised I’ve been as I’ve already got all my christmas presents and wrapped most of them too. We’re eating at my mums Christmas day so won’t need to worry about cooking and like you we just add a few extras to our regular shopping to cover our two week holiday we all have off. #MarvMondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:01 pm

      Wow, that’s impressive, and I’m jealous! My family are really not helping me with ideas this year which is most frustrating. X

      Reply
  14. Helen Costello says

    15th November 2016 at 10:25 am

    I couldn’t live without my diary and my,lists for the rest of the year, never mind at Christmas. I’ve never thought of including things like wrapping paper and tags though. Time for a new list?

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:02 pm

      There is always a reason to start a new list. Thanks for stopping by. X

      Reply
  15. Helen Costello says

    15th November 2016 at 10:26 am

    Forgot to add #MarvMondays sorry!

    Reply
  16. Claire says

    15th November 2016 at 12:06 pm

    I love lists and this year I’ve been using a bullet journal to keep them all in one place. I must start on my Christmas ones. I’ve got one in my head! I need to make our Christmas cake too. #marvellousmondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:03 pm

      Thanks for popping by. I have seen a lot of people start bullet journaling this year, do you find it really helps to keep track of everything? X

      Reply
  17. Cherry - The Newby Tribe says

    15th November 2016 at 3:25 pm

    I haven’t even begun to think about Christmas as yet – I can’t quite believe that it is already the middle of November – but thankfully I am pretty good last minute so hopefully that’ll work again this year! #marvmondays

    Reply
  18. Natasha Mairs says

    16th November 2016 at 9:12 am

    I love making lists! I have so many different Christmas lists already, just easier to keep everything organised #BloggerClubUK

    Reply
  19. Amy Treasure says

    16th November 2016 at 12:56 pm

    I’m not organised at all to be honest. Eeeek! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x

    Reply
  20. Chelsea says

    16th November 2016 at 1:43 pm

    I started Christmas shopping a while ago but I still feel super unorganised! A list definitely helps though x

    #MarvMondays

    Reply
  21. Laura - dear bear and beany says

    17th November 2016 at 6:43 am

    I’m normally so organised, but this year with us moving house in a few weeks I’m so behind. I’m going to make a few lists today, that will help me and it will feel more achieveable. Thanks for the push 🙂 X # bloggerclubuk

    Reply
  22. Kimberley | Oh Just My Little Blog says

    17th November 2016 at 7:01 am

    I love this! I love Christmas and really don’t want to let it stress me out. I’ll start writing my lists now! x #SharingtheBlogLove

    Reply
  23. Gina says

    17th November 2016 at 8:27 am

    I need to take a leaf out of your book! I’m the most unorganised person at Christmas time. Now would be a perfect time to start getting it together I think!! Great post 🙂 xx #SharingtheBlogLove

    Reply
  24. Becky, Cuddle Fairy says

    17th November 2016 at 12:59 pm

    I’m a big fan of lists – I haven’t made mine for Christmas yet but I will be soon. I even list out dinner & times to start cooking each item or else I’d totally botch it on the day! Thank you for sharing your post with us at #BloggerClubUK xx

    Reply
  25. Lucy At Home says

    17th November 2016 at 2:18 pm

    Oh I always do lists. I have lists for everything. I am sharing yours to give people lots of inspiration for their lists (especially as there were a few things I spotted that I’d managed to leave off mine, advent calendars being the big one! Doh!) #SharingTheBlogLove

    Reply
  26. Amy | All Things Amy says

    17th November 2016 at 2:54 pm

    I always do lists, but then make lists for lists and end up losing them! #SharingTheBlogLove

    Reply
  27. Stephanie says

    17th November 2016 at 8:27 pm

    I’m trying not to panic that I’m not even vaguely ready for Christmas still eek …. I think tomorrow I need to at least write a list of what I need to buy still!

    Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix lovely

    Stevie x

    Reply
  28. Crummy Mummy says

    17th November 2016 at 8:39 pm

    If I added nibbles to weekly shopping lists they’d be gone by Christmas!! #picknmix

    Reply
  29. Laura - dear bear and beany says

    18th November 2016 at 6:33 am

    Just popping back to say thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove. I’ve made my lists, yay!! X

    Reply
  30. Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons says

    18th November 2016 at 8:20 am

    Oh gosh, I’m totally unprepared for Christmas this year! Thankfully we’ll be at my parents for Christmas Day, so don’t need to worry about too much food, but the rest of it definitely needs preparing for. I’m like you, I get a bit panicky if I’ve not sorted my list out, so this is really useful for me – must get on it asap! Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:04 pm

      Thanks for the comment Katy. Have you started your lists yet? Christmas Day at the parents is great, hope you have a fab time. X

      Reply
  31. Sam says

    18th November 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Oooh I love a good list. I think they are the best way to get organised. I’ve nearly finished buyimg presents for Xmas so I am quite prepared this year. I’m usually last minute. ha.
    #SharingtheBlogLove

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:11 pm

      Wow, that is fab that you are nearly all ready. Lists do rule, they make me feel so much more put together. The problem comes trying to get them ticked off! Thanks for stopping by. X

      Reply
  32. char - our life as we see it says

    18th November 2016 at 9:31 pm

    Love me a list, I’m not hosting this year so food is pretty fun for us but I do really need to get my bum in gear with everything else!! #MarvMondays

    Reply
  33. Emily says

    19th November 2016 at 12:54 am

    Oooo I love lists, this is the perfect post for me so ive tabbed it so I can keep checking back! Thanks for sharing.

    Emily / Babies & Beauty / #marvmondays

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:13 pm

      Glad to hear it could be of some help. Thanks for stopping by. X

      Reply
  34. Liane says

    19th November 2016 at 9:51 am

    I love lists! I write them for everything 🙂 #MarvMondays

    Reply
  35. Carolina Twin Mom /Mary Peterson says

    20th November 2016 at 9:42 pm

    Ah, thank you for breaking this down into bite-size pieces! Getting ready for Christmas can be a tad overwhelming, but I’d like to try some of your ideas. Thank you! #sharingthebloglove

    Reply
    • Organisedjo says

      21st November 2016 at 11:15 pm

      Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment and glad you found the post useful. X

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 10 tips to help your Christmas Day run smoothly - Organised Jo says:
    17th December 2017 at 11:36 pm

    […] managing to tick things off your lists? I am slowly working my way through mine, you can see them here if you want to be […]

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Who is Organised Jo?

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my blog Organised Jo. My name is Jo, a 40 *cough* something year old married working mum living in sunny (ish) South Devon. I live with my lovely and very understanding hubby and our two daughters, who are aged 9 and 6. During the day I work for the local Council as a Communications Officer. I don’t work full time or part time but inbetween doing 30 hours a week. I run Organised Jo alongside my day job and what started as a hobby has now really become a huge passion of mine. Read More…

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