Christmas host checklist

December week 1

1. Update your Christmas card list
2. Make a gift list
3. Set up a budget spreadsheet
4. Start buying presents – especially children’s toys on the bestsellers’ lists
5. Start sending out Christmas cards (check postal deadlines here)
6. Check Christmas decorations - or make this wonderful foraged tree decoration
7. Buy new fairy lights, if needed
8. Plan your Christmas table centrepiece
9. Arrange beauty appointments for later in the month, eg, hairdresser, nail technician, etc
10. Perhaps take a trip to France to stock up on wines, beers and spirits

December week 2

1. Finish online food shopping by December 14
2. Set up a corner in the house where you can wrap gifts and tag them as you buy them
3. Plan your menus. Check with guests for dietary preferences, eg, is anyone following a special diet for medical reasons? Is there a vegetarian among you?
4. Buy your Christmas tree
5. Buy stocking fillers
6. Buy or make your Christmas wreath
7. Drop off items you need to have dry cleaned
8. Carry out small repairs and touch ups to your home
9. Check if you have enough chairs for guests
10. Make sure you have enough tableware as well as serving platters and serving spoons

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December week 3

1. Give the spare room/s a good clean
2. Check and clean bedding
3. Buy or borrow air beds, put-you-ups etc, if needed
4. Launder spare towels
5. Make sure you have toilet rolls, kitchen paper, cling film, foil, batteries, etc
6. Launder tablecloths and napkins
7. Work out what you’re going to wear on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, make sure it’s all clean and ready to wear
8. Have carpets shampooed, if necessary
9. Buy non-perishable items like nuts, crisps, mixers, etc
10. Take a moment to sort out your Christmas CDs/playlists

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December week 4 – Christmas week

1. Got some difficult personalities coming for Christmas? Read our tips on defusing tension
2. Clean and polish silverware and glassware 
3. Make mince pies
4. Pick up pre-ordered Christmas groceries
5. Buy perishable goods such as fruit and vegetables
6. Final tidy up of house
7. Fill up your ice cube tray, and when the cubes are frozen, empty it into a bag and store in the freezer so you have extra cubes handy. Check you have non-alcoholic drinks for drivers or anyone who's teetotal
8. Pack away as many of your own coats and outdoor paraphernalia as possible, to leave room for guests to hang up their coats
9. Are you hosting a multi-generational do? Plan some party game ideas to keep everyone involved
10. Pre-prepare what you can the day before the meal

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