November is the month where everything starts to speed up. Before you know it, Christmas will be here, and you’ll be knee-deep in wrapping paper, tangled fairy lights, and half-eaten candy canes. But getting organised early means December can actually feel joyful instead of stressful.
Last year, I noticed that my husband and I were so busy trying to get all the pre-Christmas household and outdoor jobs done, as well as the load the festive season plonks upon all of us, that we really didn’t enjoy the lead up to Christmas the way we usually do.
Lesson learned. I do not want this year to be a repeat of last year. I don’t want to miss out on the enjoyment of taking my time selecting a special gift, wrapping it in bright paper and then watching my children ogle the parcels with the delicious anticipation of finally seeing what’s hidden inside on Christmas day! Or if you are like my daughter she guesses it correctly before she opens it and I have no poker face… eep!
So how will I make time for everything this year? Do some of it early of course!
It’s close enough to Christmas now that you’re able to get in and get some of the big jobs done without all your efforts disappearing before your family and friends arrive.
1. The Toy Cull/Spring Clean
We have a little secret operation going on in our house. One of our girls is getting a little bit older, most of her toys we hide away for her little sister but some of stuff is well… crap. But If i suggest to ‘give to other children and donate or recycle’ it becomes the most favourite toy that she never wants to part with.
So, I sneakily tuck a few things away, and if she doesn’t asks about them for a few weeks, they’re usually good to go, especially all those annoying happy meal toys and those sneaky dollar store treats from the grandparents!
NOW I don’t love the idea of just throwing toys away, the ones that are good enough to pass on I donate to charities, the ones that are past their’ played with’ date I drop to Big W recycling. Big W Toys for Joy is such a good initiative for recycling toys, where you can drop off old plastic toys into one of the big bins at the front of the store.
The spring clean isn’t just the kids toys its a time for me to go through my wardrobe, appliances, electronics and see what I’m not using and time to get rid of! Last years novelty presents I never used, books I’m done with, wardrobe cull or refresh!
I honestly love the feeling of a spring clean/cull it’s just actually doing it that I hate. I think about doing it and procrastinate, not this year!
2. Sell Unwanted Goods
While sorting through our toys and personal items I bundled up several items at an affordable price, knowing another family would appreciate them.
Since we’re done with the baby phase, I decided to part with some baby gear, which found new homes quickly on platforms like FB Marketplace & Gumtree. Marketplace can be an intimidating place if you haven’t used it before, but I recommend putting clear guidelines on your listing so you don’t have people stuffing you around.
For example I always put an HONEST couple of sentences of the condition of the item I’m listing, if anything has markings/tears/stains I take a picture of it and say refer to picture. Lastly, I always say cash only and pick up only! Some people will ask you to drop your items to their house, no thanks!
Items I sold include prams, baby monitors, swaddles, baby carrier and even the trusty snot sucker were snatched up in no time.
I also took a peek inside my room, rifling through cupboards and drawers to find items I no longer use, contributing to the clutter. I’ve made it a habit to list new items on FB Marketplace once a week, not only decluttering my home but also saving the cash I earn for our family Christmas celebrations.
3. Sort Out Your Christmas Budget
Ew budgeting, I know. But it is completely necessary. Many families have expressed on majorly cutting back this year!
First you need to establish a guideline for how many people you are buying for and how much to spend on each. This has been my rule for the last few years:
- Teachers/Coaches: $10-$15
- Nieces/Nephews: $30 – $40
- Siblings/ Parents: $50
- Grouped present: (both parents or family present ) $100 – $150
When creating the budget, this was the time I realised we simply can not afford to buy for all the adults and children this year, but I’m no grinch…
So we are doing Secret Santa with the adults this year.
We did this for a few years and it really didn’t work because it took all the joy and surprise out of Christmas because everyone would just message each others partners and would get exactly what you wanted, without any thought. We have created rules this year!
No one knows each other Secret Santa, no messaging partners for ideas and no buying for someone who isn’t yours (You feel me mums I have refused to buy for my husband’s Secret Santa). We settled for the budget for Secret Santas between $30-$100. The smaller the budget the more funny/interesting the presents are. If you aren’t afraid to leave shopping to the last minute I would have your lists ready and buy all your presents for Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales. This is how I’m saving $$$ this year.
Tip: Use a simple spreadsheet or a budget app to track spending. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to stay on top of things when you see the totals in front of you.
4. Plan the Menu
This falls under the budgeting umbrella. Unless you have people that have strictly advised you they want to host and to not bring anything I would be offering to bring a plate or two to Christmas this year! Even if you aren’t bringing a plate make sure to bring snacks + drinks.
We always pretty much have the same thing for Christmas, but now I have my own family I’ve started taking on more responsibilities for hosting and planning Christmas, and I love food. I think about food all day everyday so planning the menu is exciting for me!
First, count for how many people you are hosting for and then plan accordingly. We usually do 1-2 baked meats, a potato dish, 2 x salads and then 2-3 x desserts. Knowing the menu can help budget and leading up to Christmas, you can grab non-perishables to hide away. Grabbing chips, lollies, alcohol when and popping them in the linen cupboard can make that big shop before Christmas day lighter on the wallet. I have popped below a few inspo Christmas meals, desserts + drinks:
- 16 Best Christmas Party Foods For Your Festive Do
- 15 No Bake Recipes To Enjoy This Christmas
- 28 Hot Christmas Nibbles and Starters
- The Best Holiday Food Platter Inspirations On The Internet
- The Ultimate Christmas Dessert Guide
- 50+ Christmas Side Dish Ideas Perfect for Christmas Day
- 21 Refreshing Cocktails and Mocktails to Impress for Christmas
Last but not the least, If you’re hosting this year, assign dishes to family members or guests to share the workload.
5. Plan The Space and Check Your Decorations
If your spare space is limited, you may have done a bit of rearranging before the extra bodies arrive for Christmas lunch. It doesn’t necessarily mean moving your entire lounge onto the veranda, but stashing a couple of beanbags and toy boxes in the cupboard for a week or two might give you the little bit of room you need.
This is the time to reach out for people to bring extra tables, chairs, mattresses, table cloths, serving plates, cutlery. Not ideal running out of cutlery for Christmas lunch.
Speaking of room, if you have a spare one or a foldout chair, make it up much earlier than you’ll need it. You may not be planning to have guests overnight, but in the event of Aunty Bev having a couple of um, bevvies, it might be just the ticket…and no one wants to be flicking out sheets for your tipsy Aunt any night let alone Christmas!
If you have a guest room or fold-out bed, get it ready early—just in case Aunty Bev has one too many and needs a place to crash.
And because Aussie Christmas often comes with a side of summer storms, have a quick storm plan ready. Know how to secure things like trampolines and outdoor furniture so nothing takes flight mid-barbeque.
6. Create a Calendar
December fills up fast. Lock in events, double check dates and the time. Book haircuts, nail appointments, and kids’ Christmas events early so you’re not scrambling for time slots.
Add every event, party, and end-of-year activity to your calendar now. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s coming and can plan around it.
7. Make time for self care
I know everyone’s December calendar looks different, but whatever your plans are, there’s something very common for us parents: we tend to ditch some self-care during the festive madness. Between the cooking, cleaning, and catching up with everyone, healthy habits often take a back seat.
So, this November, let’s keep it real. Take casual strolls or maybe give yoga a shot. If you’re not already on the vitamin train, hop on. Treat yourself to a fresh hairdo and catch those Zs.
And here’s a genius idea: squeeze in some healthy meals between all the Christmas and New Year’s shenanigans. It’s the secret to avoiding a junk food overdose.
I know budget is tight, but in November I try to eat as healthy as much as I can and I specifically avail of subscription meals during these hectic months.
Garden of Goodness has a beautiful range of organic and nutrient-rich products that make healthy eating simple, even when life’s hectic. It’s an easy way to get back to balance and feel your best heading into the festive season.
Take care of yourself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—so you can actually enjoy Christmas instead of running on fumes by Christmas Eve.
8. That’s A Wrap!
So, I really want to wrap presents as I buy them (they’re on the list so I don’t forget the contents) and actually enjoy the process of wrapping each gift instead of doing a speedy, crazy, massive bulk-wrap the week before Christmas and doodling all the names on in sharpie marker.
My plan is to stay organised by keeping all the supplies— paper, ribbons, tags, scissors, and tape—in one easy-to-reach spot. A wrapping caddy or storage tub makes the job simpler and stress-free. The caddy can even be laundry basket or large storage tub that’s decorated for the holidays. That should be fun! Easy, tidy, and festive.
While some people have perfectly coordinated wrapping themes (thanks to their child-free aunty who sets the standard), I reckon it’s okay to keep things simple. I will not aim for Pinterest worthy gift wrapping but to wrap gifts as soon as I buy them, to enjoy the process, and avoid the last-minute wrapping rush right before Christmas.
We all love seeing the pressies under the tree, with it’s pretty lights on, and how nice it will be to be able to appreciate it a bit longer…if I can just get myself organised a little earlier this year!
November is your secret weapon for a stress-free December. By doing a little each week—shopping, cleaning, and organising—you’ll glide into Christmas feeling calm, proud, and ready to enjoy every twinkling light and mince pie.
What are your tips for an organised Christmas?
Very tasty, thankyou!