Mrs Bee's Emporium: Shit just got real… Is it safe to mention… ...the ‘C’ word yet?

“Why is Christmas just like a day at the office? You do all the work, and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.” Anonymous

Autumn is officially here and, love it or hate it, that means that Christmas is coming. Unless you’re planning to spend the next three months in solitary confinement, there is no avoiding the build-up. Christmas cards are already on sale. The obligatory tubs of Heroes and Celebrations are in the supermarkets. Parents are already feverishly hunting down the elusive ‘must have’ toy of the year (have you seen how terrifying that doll is?!?). Furniture stores are advertising how you can order your new sofa now and have it in your home in time for Christmas.

Christmas Creep, as it’s known, annoys plenty of people. Hell, Selfridges and Harrods have had their Christmas shops open since July (surely that should be illegal)! Who wants to shop for decorations and mince pies in October? But, while it does seem ridiculous, perhaps there might be some benefits to it. Maybe.

You can’t convince me it’s a good thing...

I’m sure I can.

You see, the thing is, while Christmas is supposed to be fun, we all know that it’s stressful. Traditionally, we started shopping in December. That gave us 24 days to get organised. Traditionally, it was enough. But times change. We are busier than ever, and have more to think about than ever.

Fitting in shopping, Christmas cards, family, food, travelling, decorating and everything else Christmas related on top of our normal, day-to-day life, can feel nigh on impossible. And who wants to spend the big day too frazzled and exhausted to enjoy it? Perhaps then it is a good thing then that we can start preparing a bit earlier, even if July does seem a little excessive.

So, taking a deep breath and overcoming our objections, what can we do to make the festive season less stressful?

Plan, plan, plan!

What’s that saying? ‘Fail to plan, plan to fail.’ Okay, that’s probably an exaggeration here, but planning will make your festive season so much easier. Not only will you feel less stressed and more in control, but the chances of you forgetting something important will be much reduced.

Where do I start?

Ok, there’s a lot, as I’m sure you know, so let’s break it down.

Firstly, join our Organising Christmas group over on Facebook. The aim is to provide encouragement and accountability (as well as links to all the bargains) so Christmas 2017 is your best yet.

● The big one: where are you spending Christmas, and who with? Do you want the extended family around at yours? Or would you prefer it to be just you and your significant other? Are you staying at home, or going abroad? Perhaps you’re putting off making a decision because you know it’s going to upset someone. There’s another saying: ‘eat a frog for breakfast’. Not literally, obviously. If you haven’t come across the saying, it simply means getting the stuff we’re worried about done and dusted. In the long run, it’s much less stressful than fretting about it.

● Budget: we all know what that Christmas debt hangover feels like. If you’ve promised yourself never again, work out what you can afford in advance - and stick to it! Most of us would struggle to pay for Christmas just out of December’s wages, so put aside a small amount each week or month. If money is tight, why not look at making gifts. If you’re not crafty, a hamper of some of their favourite foods is often a welcome - and personal - gift.

● Gift lists: start planning - and making - your purchases as soon as possible. This will help spread the cost and, if you’re going to the shops, it’ll also cut down on queuing time, and prevent frazzled nerves. Once you’ve got them, wrap them. Wrapping can be a long process, so get it out of the way, plus it stops prying eyes spoiling their surprise. Just remember to clearly label them and don’t put them in such a ‘safe’ place that you don’t find them again until July!

● Your home. We all want our home to look gorgeous for Christmas, especially if we have guests coming. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about decluttering, re-decorating, or creating a different look for your tree. Again, start early. No-one wants to be glossing the door frames at 10pm Christmas Eve.

● Decide on your Christmas menu. If you shop online, get your delivery slot booked as soon as you can. While you can add a few items to your basket to begin with, to keep your allocated time open, make absolutely sure that you check everything out. You don’t want to open your door on Christmas Eve expecting your Christmas dinner only to find that all you’ve actually ordered is twelve bottles of champagne and a box of tampons (true story!).

● Christmas cards. Make a list of everyone you need to send them to and dig out your address book. Writing cards can be tedious, so do a few a night. And, obvious as it sounds, make sure you put stamps on the envelopes before posting (again, a true story). Your friends and family will not be impressed at having to pay the postage!

If you’re wondering how to keep track of all of this, there are some great apps for your phone, and websites where you can find print-outs - I like to use Trello and Pinterest, as well as the trusty spreadsheet. I am a visual person, and being able to see each child's haul at a glance just makes my life easier. Of course, there is also the more traditional notebook or diary, which will do the job just as well. Whichever option you choose, let’s not put it off any longer.

See you soon

Click here to join the Organising Christmas group - members get a permanent 10% discount from everyone on sale at Mrs Bee's Emporium!

We're starting to list our Christmas lines over on the Etsy shop this week. Keep an eye open! In the meantime, everyone knows a unicorn fan, right? Here are 3 of our best selling unicorn items.