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2024 Christmas Countdown Week 9 ​Finishing Touches Week

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This is the last week of the Own Your Christmas Challenge. By now just about everything you need to do, need to buy, need to wrap and need to decorate has been done. 

This week is the week to do a quick review and make sure you've finished everything on your to do list, so that you can sit back on Friday and enjoy the start of the 2023 Christmas season.

As you're cooking dinner this week, check to see if there are any dishes you can double or triple to have ready to heat meals in the freezer. Even the best laid plans can change, and if know you can get a meal on the table, those spur-of-the-moment changes won't be a stress. 

Task 1 Finish decorating. Put up the Christmas tree, hang the wreath on the door. Start stringing the cards as they come in. Start to use the Christmas dishes and table linens. Get out the Christmas music and movies. 

Task 2 Write up the last of the Christmas cards and get them all in the post on Wednesday so they’ll be delivered by Friday.

Task 3 Buy, wrap and label the last of the gifts and place them under the Christmas tree.

Task 4 Do a pantry stocktake and write up shopping lists for the next three weeks, adding the groceries you haven't yet bought, and any extra ingredients you need for edible gifts.  Add the perishables to the list for the week before Christmas. With the bulk of the grocery shopping done and lists written, you should be able to whizz in and out of the supermarket, butcher and greengrocer in just a few minutes, and avoid the hassle of the Christmas shopping crowds.

The Own Your Christmas Challenge is over. 

You've plotted and planned, shopped and wrapped, baked and cooked, written cards and sent them off. And all within budget, and without resorting to credit.

You own your Christmas!

As you sit back during December and watch everyone around you stress and rush around in a frantic panic, you can relax. You know that your celebration is paid for and you know that you won't be hiding from the postie in January.

Congratulations, and merry Christmas.

Week 8

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  • Home
  • Join the Club!
    • Twenty Reasons to Join the Cheapskates Club
    • Gift Memberships
  • About Us
    • Cath's Story
    • Ask Cath
    • Glossary of Cheapskating Terms
  • Forum
    • Current Forum Discussions
    • How to Use the Member Forum
  • Inspiration
    • Getting Started
    • Handmade Christmas Central >
      • Handmade Christmas 2025 is about to start
    • 31 Days of MOO Index
    • Articles
    • Back to Basics >
      • Back to Basics
      • Back to Basics Index
    • Housekeeping Routines
    • Budget Renovations
    • Saving Stories
  • SAVING REVOLUTION
    • 2025 Saving Revolution Index
    • Saving Revolution Resources
  • Recipes
    • Recipe File Index
    • Meal Plans
    • Add a Recipe
    • $300 a Month Food Challenge >
      • $300 a Month Food Challenge
      • The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
  • Newsletters
    • Newsletters 2025
  • Saving Money
    • Bill Paying System
    • Cheapskates Tip Store
    • Tip Sheets
    • Top Tip Competition
  • Contact
    • Changing Details
    • Help Files