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Christmas All Wrapped Up
Instead of saying Bah Humbug this Christmas,
prepare, plan and welcome Santa
into a stress-free home.
After all it ‘Tis the season to p6 be jolly’!
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Ho-Ho-Ho!
Christmas Presents - make a budget and stick to it. Don’t be affected by what everyone around you is spending, there is no point being bankrupt for the whole of 2018 if you overspend. Think of the adages ‘it is the joy of giving’ and ‘it’s the thought that counts’ and if you plan ahead, you can grab some bargains in the sales or on Black Friday. Don’t forget to buy loads of batteries so that the gadgets, games and camera work.
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Christmas comes but once a year but it still seems to take us by surprise! In the good old days it seemed that it was the thought that counts but now with Secret Santa at work, presents for the teachers, a London Fashion Week outfit for the Christmas party and a turkey dinner worthy of Jamie Oliver, there has never been a better time to start planning than now. We’ve got some handy tips that will ensure you don’t get your tinsel in a tangle.
Christmas Decorations - whether you prefer more subtle decorations or like having the house lit up like a Christmas tree, dig out the decorations to check they work or whether you need to buy new ones. If you are buying a real tree, why not search out the nearest tree farm so you can go and cut it down together as a family to get you in the festive spirit?
Christmas Cards - they always take longer to write than we expect especially if we feel the need to write war and peace inside each one. Why not set yourself the goal of writing 5 each weekend between now and Christmas and you’ll find it will be a much more enjoyable experience - remember there is no time like the present. Don’t forget to check the Royal Mail website for last posting dates and save yourself some money using second class stamps.
Work Christmas Party - the high street will be fitted out with a wide choice of outfits to make you look glam and sparkly so our key piece of advice is if you are going to wear heels that look more like skyscrapers than stilettoes, practice wearing them. There would be nothing worse than going for a fall or rubbing blisters within 5 minutes of arriving. We know it’s hard but try drinking one glass of water with every glass of alcohol, it will stop you throwing Ed Ball shapes on the dance floor or getting loose lips later on in the night.
Christmas Dinner - it is supposed to be a special time when the family gathers to celebrate and indulge so don’t leave the peeling and icing until Christmas Eve. You can make and bake many parts of the dinner a few weeks in advance and freeze them. If you’re working right up until the holidays start, book an online shop at the beginning of December and beat the last minute mayhem. Keep an eye out in October and November for any deals on your favourite wine and fizz, your bank balance will thank you.
Secret Santa at Work - not the easiest of tasks as in all likelihood you probably don’t know the person you have got to buy for very well. You need to ensure you don’t offend, break the budget or look like Scrooge so our suggestion is to buy a charitable gift that will be well received and helps a good cause. Oxfam offer a wide range of gifts including soap for £5, feed a family for £7 or safe water for a family of 10 for £10. Check out your favourite charity to see what they offer.