It seems like Christmas rolls around sooner every year. With so much to plan for in order to ensure it all goes off without a hitch, it can feel overwhelming. No wonder people often point to the run-up to the holidays as being one of the most stressful times of the year. But it needn’t be if you do a little bit of planning and preparation beforehand. In this article we take a look at some essential items that often fly under the radar until it’s too late. If any of these are relevant to you, make sure you add them to your top priority check-list right alongside the turkey and stocking-fillers.
Energy Meters
Pay-as-you-go energy meters are a household nuisance that 4.3 million UK residents contend with as part of their daily lives. They always seem to run out at the most inopportune moments. In lieu of this, don’t tempt fate and make sure to stock up on all the power you think you’ll need for the Christmas period, so you don’t have to worry about the lights shutting off as you carve the turkey or try to charge your shiny new iPad. This is an especially wise decision to make given that pay-points are often located in shops that may be keeping irregular hours, especially on Christmas Day.
Stock Up on Snacks
So much focus is placed on the Christmas dinner that it can be easy to forget to stock up on snacks and light bites to keep you afloat over the holiday period. Consider doing a shop just for this purpose, so you don’t get waylaid thinking about potatoes and cranberry sauce. It’s also good to make sure your freezer is stocked for the period between Christmas and New Year’s. Those left-overs will only carry you so far, especially if you’ve got multiple mouths to feed. Also be sure to cater to the dietary requirements of your guests, whether they’re gluten free, vegan, or have any specific allergies.
Contact Lenses
If you’re one of the 4.2 million people in the UK who wears prescription contact lenses, you might want to put these near the top of your holiday to-do list. Opticians can be difficult to reach over the holiday period, and like many other sectors will often be running reduced opening hours. Stocking up on enough contact lenses to get you comfortably into the new year will mean there’s one less thing to have to worry about at the last minute, freeing you to focus on turkeys, crackers and Christmas TV.
Spare Christmas cards
Christmas cards are a great way to maximise your well-wishing to as many friends and loved ones as you can manage, without breaking the bank. Simply sending a card and letting someone know you’ve thought of them can go a long way, especially given Christmas can be a lonely time for some. A good strategy is to stock up on more Christmas cards than you think you’ll need. This way you’ll never be caught out if a co-worker or unexpected acquaintance gifts you with one out of the blue.
Batteries
With many bits of tech in our lives relying on the magic of rechargeable batteries nowadays, it can be easy to assume you don’t need to keep some spare disposable batteries handy in your household. But, come Christmas, you may be surprised how many gadgets, knick-knacks and toys still demand a good old fashioned battery or two in order to function. From torches to remote controls, many items still require batteries, and so seldom include them in their packaging. Safeguard against any Christmas catastrophes by ensuring you’ll be all powered up should the need arise.
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