My usual pre christmas cleaning routine

My festive cleaning routine

Does anybody else have one of these? Every year on the run up to Christmas (normally the start of December) I have a huge binge cleaning day.
Here is what I get up to

IN THE MORNING
Living room:
Strip the sofa of its covers & cushion covers, pop them in the wash.
When the sofa is put back together I add extra cushions and throw blankets on to keep cosy.
 Add a festive plug in air freshener to the room

All rooms:
Spot clean the carpet, then go over the whole carpet with skake n vac and/or baking soda. Hoover up after an hour.
 Take down all curtains and nets and give them a wash, wipe around all window seals and clean the windows.
Pull out all units and hoover behind them, taking everything off and dusting as I go. Clear off any junk that shouldnt be there.

Bedroom:
Hoover of the matress
Dust my daughters memory area
Tidy my dressing table and bin any rubbish
Sort out the bedside table and clothes draws
Add a festive plug in air freshener to the room

Bathroom:
Do my usual all bathroom clean

Kitchen:
Do my usual kitchen cleaning routine
Bleach the sink and clean the drain
Vinegar the washing machine to keep it clean and running well
 Pull out all oven racks, soak them and scrub the innter oven with vinegar and baking soda
Vinegar in the kettle for a boil to clean

This will take me all morning and some of the afternoon. Around 4 I will start putting the Christmas tree up, lights and holly wreath on the door. Get the home very fresh and festive.
That evening I most likely wont feel like cooking so will order s takeout.

How we will be budgeting in a lovely Christmas this year

How we will be budgeting in a lovely Christmas this year.

June: Plan what we will buy and when. Make a food and drink list, decor list and gift list ready.

End of the month we will make our first purchauses.

I will be buying some meat joints to freeze and some drink.

July: More alcohol will be bought and taken to store at my mum in laws home. I will be taking advantage of any online deals with the body shop or boots to buy a few gift sets in.

 At the very end of July I will pick up our new tree, lights and decorations. These are all very cheap online at the moment as it is off season and there is no demand.

August: Buy main christmas prezzies for family.

September: Buy all remaining meats and freeze them ready for December. Also start buying goodies for the festive time. Pringles, chocolate fingers and all those goodies and non perishables. I will grab them when they are on offer and just pop them away.

October: Some new candles, throws and cosy homewear.

November: Buy eachothers gifts and load up on Champagne and finishing touches.

Complete my usual pre-christmas home clean.

December: Buy fresh ingredients needed and advent goodies.

Its all pretty simple. The costs are so spread out that we can spend a bit more than usual and not go beyond our means or get into any debt. Ready to start the new year with all bills paid and behind us.

December is mostly going to be filled with sorting out place settings and decorating for christmas.
Its going to be nice not last minuite shopping hoping to find bargains and having to make cut backs.

Last year we started in september I think, and we still managed to get in debt and put £££ on the credit card. Well fingers crossed, not this year.

Christmas 2015 - Planning already!

Some may think I am crazy, but here in mid June I have started preparing for Christmas.
Truth is, Christmas is an expensive time of year for most families.
I figure, if I start early, I can arrange a beautiful festive season and spread out the cost over half a year.
We lost our daughter a couple of years ago, so it is just me and my partner living at home. Id like it to be a classy adult couples Christmas this year.

I am thinking beautiful chunky knit throws around, candles and holly in crystal glass jars and a beautiful colour scheme of white, silver and blue.

Spreading our costs is helping me include lots of little extras we wouldnt normally have the money or time to include.

 

We will certainly be following this beautiful candle design. We already have the fish bowls and jars ready. I would love beautiful bits like this scattered around the living room.

Our living room is all whites and blues now, so this will fit in perfectly.

 

We are going for a large tree this year, around this size, maybe a little bit smaller. We are having it white which is a little untraditional, but if done right, I know it can be classy and perfect for a young couple.

 We will be having a holly wreath on the door to our appartment, same colours I think. It is rather beautiful.

Beautiful living room. Ours is becoming similar to this but with blues in the mix.
I love the chunky knit throws and candle box.

Will be having an artifical fireplace going on our new tv this year. Add a touch of classic and crackle background noise.

Little touches here and there will really make the run-up extra special.

xxx