Your ultimate Christmas countdown checklist

There’s nothing like a well-thought-out and realistic checklist to ensure the festive season runs as smoothly as possible

Your ultimate Christmas countdown and planning checklist

by Angelica Daujotas |
Updated

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and while many of us see the festive season as a time for relaxation - those of us left to plan the day can crumble under the pressure. With so much to buy, clean and organise, finding the time to relax can be near impossible - but this is nothing a Christmas countdown checklist can’t fix.

If you love a to-do list as much as we do, you’ll be delighted by the news that we’ve compiled the ultimate Christmas countdown checklist. From when to buy your crackers to the all-important ordering of your turkey (or veggie alternative of course!), we've truly thought of everything to make your Christmas the best yet.

We’ve made sure to be realistic, as planning in October can't be sane for everyone, of course. Our Christmas countdown checklist is realistic and very much manageable, so if this is your first year hosting Christmas or one of many, this guide will be your helping hand to manage your time.

While sipping on a tasty eggnog drink, why not read and revel in our festive to-do list? Thanks to our Christmas countdown checklist at Yours, you won’t leave a Christmas card undelivered and there won't be a Christmas cracker forgotten.

The last week of November

• By now, you’ll hopefully know where you’re spending Christmas and who’s coming. This is the best time to get a list together of who you’re buying presents for and who you’re sending cards out for.

• Use this free time before the busyness of December to take out all of your stored Christmas decorations. This is also the best time to see if anything needs replacing like broken baubles or lights.

• Shop for your Christmas cards and all your wrapping accessories now, ahead of the December rush.

• Don’t forget the crackers! Christmas crackers are often forgotten, stocking up early saves you the worry of popping to the supermarket two days before to realise they’re all out of stock.

The best Christmas decorations to order

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Despite being shaped like snowflakes, these fairy lights will bring so much warmth to your home. Whether you hang these string lights around the tree, mantlepiece or stair bannisters, they're sure to add some festive cheer to your home.

Review: "Beautiful snowflake lights! A lovely warm white! Perfect for Christmas or just to brighten up winter evenings."

Whichever colour you decide on, this huge box of baubles is fantastic value for money. Go with a similar colour theme to the rest of your decorations, or switch up it by mixing and matching the baubles on your tree. Either way, there's enough here to decorate your tree to your heart's content.

Review: "AMAZING! A great variety of gold for my tree. All baubles came in a lovely box that would be great for storage for coming years. NONE of the baubles were damaged or faulty. I did drop a few whilst decorating but they are sturdy and just bounced and rolled. 10/10, Highly recommend!"

An expensive-looking garland can be used to decorate doorways or mantlepieces, and this one is complete with gold decorations such as flowers, pine cones, baubles and more. There's nothing like a traditional garland to add some spirit to your home, and they come in a variety of colours for you to choose from.

Review: "Absolutely delighted with this garland, just as pictured, looks stunning over my fireplace."

The first week of December

• Buy your live tree or get your artificial tree out of storage. Leave enough time for it to settle and drop before you decorate. Check out our article on the best alternative Christmas tree ideas if you fancy something a little less traditional.

• The 1st of December means it’s officially socially acceptable to have your Christmas tree and decorations up. If like this year, the first of December falls on a weekday, plan to decorate on the first weekend to give yourself enough time to get in the festive spirit.

• Get writing. The first week of December is full-on festive mode, get those Christmas songs on and start addressing all the cards you plan to send.

• Do any online shopping. Consider Christmas delivery times and get ahead of any shipping delays.

• Wrap gifts as you buy them. If your Black Friday shopping has started to arrive get wrapping and you’ll save yourself a whole load of stress.

• Order your Christmas turkey, ham or veggie alternative. Get ahead of the long waiting lists and the Christmas turkey supermarket rush.

• Now is a great time to stock up on your Christmas dinner frozen goods or Christmas hampers.

The best Christmas food to order

A delicious assortment of nibbles, treats, and alcohol to sample over Christmas. If you've left your Christmas food shopping until the last minute, M&S claim that this hamper is available for delivery until 23 December. There's a wide variety of luxury food to indulge in, from desserts to preserves and more.

Review: "Just brilliant- a great mix of contents and all excellent quality. Expensive but worth it."

For some, a Christmas pudding is a tradition that no table can be without. This Fortnum and Mason Christmas pudding is filled with dried fruits, rum and cognac for a spiced flavour. Why not take a look at the best Christmas puddings as chosen by us while you're at it?

Enjoyed on a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner by many, these Iceland pigs in blankets can be frozen and then defrosted, ready to eat the next day as part of your Christmas meal. Seasoned with subtle spices and wrapped in smoked bacon, they'll be a delight to eat.

Review: "Spot on, tastes great. You won't get much better from frozen pigs in blankets. I buy these quite a lot and will continue to do so."

These pork and onion stuffing balls are a festive favourite, blended with sage and parsley seasoning for flavour. Not to mention, you're able to oven-cook them from frozen within 25 minutes for total convenience, so they'll be ready to eat in no time.

Review: "I was pleasantly surprised with these. Nice flavour and balance between the pork and the stuffing. So impressed, have ordered more. Lovely."

christmas-countdown-checklist
Price: £1.50 (was £2)

www.iceland.co.uk

As included in our round-up of the best mince pies, these ones from Iceland offer a taste of luxury at an affordable price. They consist of all butter shortcrust pastry filled with vine fruit mincemeat containing brandy, port and cut mixed peel and they're highly rated on the Iceland websites.

Review: "These are the best mince luxury pies I have ever tasted."

The second week of December

• Post your Christmas cards. If you’re sending internationally, aim to have these sent by the 10th at the latest to ensure they arrive in time.

• Finalise your Christmas menu and make a list of all dishes you will be cooking. All non-perishables can be purchased now, of course, including all the alcohol.

• Do any last-minute Christmas shopping before it’s too late. If there’s an unexpected guest you now need to buy for, or you’ve seen something someone would love, buy it now!

• A great idea is to stock up on batteries if you’ve got any little ones coming round. These will come in super handy with their new toys.

The best last-minute gifts to order

christmas-countdown-checklist
Price: £14.99

With next-day delivery available just in time for Christmas, this sparkling elegant bracelet made from sterling silver and decorated with crystal stones makes for the perfect gift for sisters, nieces and friends alike.

Review: "Bought as Xmas gift it looks beautiful."

If you know a gin drinker, this gift set of miniature pink gins featuring flavours such as rhubarb and ginger, plum and vanilla, and wild berry will certainly go down a treat if they're looking to try out some new flavours.

Review: "Bought as a gift. Looks lovely, box intact."

christmas-countdown-checklist

Rrp: £29.99

Price: £27.99

A gift box of chocolates can never go amiss for any chocolate lover in your life. With milk, white and dark chocolate, as well as fillings of almond, hazelnut, raspberry, strawberry, pistachio, and coffee, they're sure to go down a treat.

Review: "The box was nicely packaged and perfect to give as a gift, the chocolates were I thought actually very good, my wife doesn't like ganache so she didn't enjoy those as much as I did, there were other varieties too and worth the price paid."

christmas-countdown-checklist
Price: £16.99

An essential tool, a good manicure set allows you to keep your nails in tip-top condition making it a fitting gift for all. This comes in a leather-style case that looks smart and allows them to keep all of their kit in one place.

Review: "It's a nice item lovely case too they come in."

If you know someone with a green thumb, this Grow Your Own Seed Box will be a welcome gift. With a hundred varieties of seeds, ranging from herbs, flowers and vegetables, they'll have a field day with this Christmas present. Check out our gifts for gardeners for more gift ideas.

Review: "Absolute perfect gift for a gardening lover."

One week before Christmas

• Now is the time to get your house guest ready. Do a deep clean of your home now so that you only do a quick one the day before. This should involve clearing out your fridge and freezer to make room for all your food shopping and leftovers from Christmas dinner.

• If you didn’t manage to order a turkey or veggie alternative in the first weeks of December, pop to the shops a week before to try your luck at catching one in-store before they’re all gone.

• Do your final wrapping. If you’ve left any presents unwrapped or bought new ones have them wrapped the week before.

• If you like to have your home decked out in fresh flowers for the festive season you can pre-order festive bouquets now for delivery right before Christmas.

The best festive flower deliveries to order

christmas-countdown-checklist
Price: £25 (was £30)

www.marksandspencer.com

A bestselling bouquet from Marks & Spencer, the Winter Wonderland Bouquet comes ready to arrange. Whether it's a Christmas gift for a lucky recipient or a bunch of flowers to decorate your home with, they'll look beautiful for the Christmas season. Including White Brassica, Red Ilex Berried, Red Alstro, Hemlock, Kiefer and Eucalyptus.

Review: "What an unbelievable Christmas bouquet! Really long lasting….I put the final berries, carnations and greenery in the composter this week! 4 weeks after delivery!"

Could these beautiful blooms get any more festive? With traditional colours of red, green and white, this bouquet features sixteen stems which include Lilies, Hypericum Berries, Pine, Eucalyptus, Limonium and Pussy Willow. They arrive in letterbox form, meaning they can be delivered through the letterbox with ease and arranged to their liking.

Review: "Having ordered flowers, plants and Christmas trees🎄on numerous occasions for family and friends. Everyone has been delighted! Thank you, Bloom and Wild for an excellent service. Highly recommended⭐️"

This delivery of the aptly named Robin bouquet from Bloom & Wild will certainly brighten up any winter's day. These arrive already arranged as a hand-tied bouquet, including twenty-four stems of Red Roses, Tulips, Astrantia, Eryngium, Eucalyptus and Hypericum Berries.

Review: "My Christmas flowers were received in wonderful condition and brought great pleasure to the loved one I’d sent them to. I will recommend Bloom and Wild to others and use them again."

Three days before Christmas

• Three days before is the best time to shop for all your fresh ingredients. Vegetables and fruit will still be at their freshest for Christmas day.

• Buy fresh flowers two or three days before if you haven’t pre-ordered for delivery, and decorate your home in wonderful blooms.

The day before Christmas

• It’s time for a quick spruce up of your home, your home should only need a quick clean the day before

• Prep your food. If you’re planning on cooking a feast, some sides and meals can be prepped the day before and reheated to avoid a queue for the oven.

• Set the table for Christmas dinner. Get the crackers out and your special plates, setting the table the day before leaving you less to do.

• And finally, time to relax… Get your feet up and enjoy the start of the festivities.

Christmas Dinner Table Arrangement
©Photo: Getty Images
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us