How Many Days Until Christmas

Christmas checklist

Your Christmas checklist

Christmas planning checklist with gifts and decorations

A simple list of the things most households need to sort before Christmas Day. Tick them off as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser, on this device.

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Gifts

Decorations

Food

Cards and messages

Travel

Wrapping

Christmas Eve

Month by month Christmas planning, in plain English

The Christmas checklist above works on its own. But most people find the season calmer when the bigger tasks are spread across November and December instead of crammed into the last ten days. Here is the rhythm that works for most households.

Late October to early November

  • Write the full gift list. Names, budgets, two ideas per person.
  • Confirm travel plans and book any trains or flights now while prices are still reasonable.
  • Agree the rough plan with extended family: who is hosting, who is travelling, who is cooking the main meal.
  • Plan the budget honestly. The Christmas on a budget guide has the numbers worth knowing.

Mid to late November

  • Start buying gifts. Aim to finish 60 percent before December.
  • Order anything that needs to ship from abroad now. International last posting dates fall in the first half of December.
  • Write the Christmas card list. Buy stamps the same day.
  • Decide on the menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

First week of December

  • Put up the tree and decorations the first weekend of December.
  • Open the Advent calendar with kids from December 1.
  • Send Christmas cards by December 7 at the latest.
  • Restock wrapping supplies. Paper, ribbon, tape, tags.

Second week of December

  • Place the supermarket order for the Christmas Day meal.
  • Finish all online shopping by December 15. Final domestic shipping dates fall this week.
  • Wrap a few gifts each evening instead of one long session.
  • Do one extra grocery run for treats, drinks, breakfast items.

Third week of December

  • Last realistic days for any in-store gifts. The last minute Christmas gifts guide is for this week.
  • Pick up fresh ingredients three or four days ahead of the meal.
  • Clean the house before guests arrive. Focus on the rooms people will sit in.
  • Charge cameras and phones. Confirm any restaurant or church bookings.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

  • Set the table the night before. Future you will be grateful.
  • Prep what you can the night before: peel vegetables, lay out plates, set the alarm.
  • Lay out pyjamas. Put the last gifts under the tree.
  • On Christmas Day, take the first ten minutes for yourself before the house wakes up.

Why a Christmas checklist actually helps

The stress of Christmas is rarely about money or time. It is about decisions piling up in the same week. A written checklist takes those decisions out of your head and puts them on paper. Once a task is on the list, you stop thinking about it until it is your turn to do it. That is the entire trick.

You do not need to do everything on this list. Cross off what does not apply, add the things you care about that are missing. The version of Christmas that suits your family is the right one.

Helpful next steps

Stuck on a category? These guides pair well with the list above.

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A simple Christmas planning checklist for gifts, food, decorations, wrapping and Christmas Eve.

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Frequently asked questions

When should I start the Christmas checklist?
The first week of November is ideal. The gift list and travel plans are the only two things that really benefit from being decided early. Everything else can wait until December.
Will my progress be saved?
Yes. The checklist is stored in your browser only. Clear your browser data and the list resets. Nothing is sent to a server.
Can I add my own items?
Not yet. We picked a balanced list that works for most households. Custom items are on the roadmap for the next holiday season.
Does the checklist work on phones?
Yes. The list is mobile friendly and easy to tap through while you are out shopping or waiting in a queue.
What is the most important thing to do early?
Write the gift list with names, budgets and one or two real ideas per person. Almost every December stress trace back to gifts that were left to the last week.
How do I stop the last week of December feeling chaotic?
Set a stop date of December 20 for online shopping, December 22 for in-store gifts, and December 23 for fresh food. Anything still on the list after that is officially next year's problem.