How to plan Christmas backwards from the 25th
It is somehow already Christmas, every year. Working back from the day itself turns one big deadline into a handful of small ones, in the right order.
Why backwards works
Planning forwards ("I'll start soon") leaves everything to collide in the same fortnight. Planning backwards from the 25th gives every job its own latest date, so you can see what has to happen this week and what can wait.
Six to eight weeks out: the budget and the list
Write down everyone you are buying for and set a rough amount for each before you browse. A number per person is what stops December costing more than expected. Then add the other costs people forget: wrapping, cards, postage, the food and any travel.
Four to six weeks out: gifts in waves
Buy in two or three waves rather than all at once. Start with anything that needs posting abroad or making to order, then the hard-to-buy-for people while there is still time to think, then the easy ones last.
Two to three weeks out: posting and delivery dates
Check the last recommended posting dates for your country and your carrier, and work back from them, not from the 25th. Online orders need the same treatment: note each shop's last order date for Christmas delivery.
One to two weeks out: the food
Book the supermarket delivery slot or butcher order early, because popular slots go fast. Decide the main, the sides and who is bringing what, and write the shopping list from the menu rather than from memory.
The week itself
Wrap in one sitting, not five. Defrost anything frozen in good time, following the packaging. On the day, work back from when you want to eat and give everything else a start time.
Keep it all in one place
Flairmingo's Christmas planner keeps the gifts, the budget, the key dates and the dinner together, so the whole season sits on one page and next year starts from what you did this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start planning Christmas?
Six to eight weeks before is comfortable for most households: set the budget and the list first, buy gifts in waves, then work back from the last posting and delivery dates.
How do I stop Christmas costing more than expected?
Set an amount per person before you browse, and add the forgotten costs (wrapping, cards, postage, food and travel) to the budget at the start.
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