countdown to christmas: xmas preparations

I thought it might be fun (and helpful) for everyone to share their hints, tips and tricks they use to help make preparing for Christmas easier.

I know you may all be thinking, "it's a holiday, it's supposed to be fun, not require military precision!" to that I say, yes it is fun, but Christmas can lead to the biggest spate of suicides each year, namely two weeks into the new year when all those credit card bills arrive, people freezing as they have put money for gifts above money for heating or depression for those who have spent the holidays alone, annoyed relatives because 'great uncle Milton' was forgotten off the card list, or upset children as they didn't get the toy they wanted (because daddy left his shopping to the last minute again and the shops were sold out) I work in retail, so I know how busy and stressed shoppers can be, and i know how many times despite the fact I work in a clothes shop have given instructions on how to do a turkey, or 12 different ways to wrap awkward shapes to the last minute, edge of closing on Christmas eve customers because they got desperate and brought vases for everyone (we also do have a tiny bit of home-wares too)

so, with all of this in mind, I thought we should share our advice, ideas and other snip-its to make this and next year's easier!

you will have 10 partners as this is an e-swap, and have to give a minimum of 2 suggestions (with the exception of top 5's) for each of the following topics:

1) organising your Christmas card lists 2) organising your gift list 3) top 5 best places to buy gifts and why 4) Christmas crafts and hand-mades - do you do them? any suggestions to help those who are new to them? ones you would like to receive? 5) top 5 Christmas movies (for entertaining kids while you bake/gift wrap in another room, snuggling up with your partner to, or watching with pizza and friends or to pass the time while you're snowed in!) 6) Christmas trees - live tree maintenance, how to decorate, tree disaster stories, how to avoid things getting tangled, other tree thoughts 7) top 5 favourite Christmas songs (or carols for the more religious) 8) dream Christmas presents 9) what to do if you're alone on the day / what you would do for swappers who will be alone for the holiday 10) favourite Christmas story / poem / food

other things you'd like to be added - please comment below!

so that's 1 e-swap for 10 partners and 10 items to discuss! send time is during October so partners will have all of November to make use of the information shared! but if there is a high enough demand to bring dates forward, I will do!