Tips for Planning a Merry Christmas

Even though Christmas is considered a joyfull time of year, the truth is that it can also get really stressful. �Especially for Mums as we are the ones usually stuck with all the buying, organising and cooking.

We (and I mean Mum’s) USUALLY are expected to plan and pull off an amazing Christmas and to make sure everyone else is satisfied. �By the end of the silly season,�many of us are left feeling drained and glad the holidays are finally over. And really, it’s a shame if it has to come to that. But there’s a silver lining to every piece of bad news, and there are a number of things you can do to make your Christmas and as stress-free as possible.

Christmas Gift Giving Ideas

For parents, the main concern is probably appeasing your children with gifts. No one wants to be unable to give their child what they asked for, but sometimes we’re just thrown in over our heads and have to resort to cutting corners. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. If your main issue is not having enough money, simply try online shopping”�for just about every outrageous price, there will most likely be a seller willing to give you what you need for even less. �There are lots of bargains to be had on coupon sites too – so check them out!

Below are some of our gift giving articles designed to help you out of Christmas meltdown mode.

• 100 Gift Giving Ideas
• 100 Christmas Gifts Under $10
• Unique Gift Wrapping Ideas
• Best Christmas Presents for Girls
• Best Christmas Presents for Boys
• Christmas Gifts for Kids
• Christmas Gifts for Grandparents
• Christmas Gifts for Babies
• Christmas Gift Ideas for Teachers
• 100 Gift Ideas for Dad

Christmas Dinner Ideas

Planning dinners is even more stressful for some. There is no online shop that you can use to purchase a complete meal for your family and guests. So you must carefully plan ahead on this one”�how many people are you going to have over? Will you have any help in preparing the food? The best way to get this sort of thing done is to have multiple people working on it. Have your relatives help you buy the ingredients if you’re strapped for cash. Another good idea is to have a potluck where each guest is encouraged to create and prepare a dish. This way, everyone is equally responsible for the dinner and you don’t have to worry about cooking every single thing. And the more guests, the bigger the meal!

Be sure to check our Christmas Recipes section for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert ideas.

Here are some of our Christmas organisation ideas to help plan a Merry Christmas:

• Planning Your Christmas Shopping
• Frugal and Thifty Christmas Shopping
• Get Organised this Christmas
• Christmas Money Saving Tips

It may seem like a lot, but if you plan ahead and choose things carefully, Christmas can be just as fun for you as it is for everyone else. �When in doubt, make sure there’s wine!

And don’t forget to download our FREE Christmas eBook to help you along the way!

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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