New Year prep

What's inside

1. Decide where and with whom you're celebrating

   Settle this by mid-December — travel, flights and restaurant bookings all get pricier the closer you get to the date.

2. Make a gift list

   Who, what, and what budget — a simple table saves time and stops anyone from slipping through the cracks in the rush.

3. Start buying gifts in early December

   Closer to the holidays, popular items and sizes sell out and delivery times stretch under the demand surge.

4. Finish online gift orders by ~Dec 20

   After that date delivery windows get unpredictable as couriers get swamped with holiday volume.

5. Wrap gifts and label the tags

   Do it early, in small batches — there's no way to wrap twenty gifts on the last evening before the holiday.

6. Check your first aid kit before the holidays

   Many pharmacies run reduced hours or close over the holiday period — restock fever reducers, cold remedies and any regular medication ahead of time.

7. Stock up on household basics

   Batteries, pet food, toiletries — nearby shops may be closed or run limited hours over the holiday stretch.

8. Do a deep clean of the apartment

   Finish it before putting up the tree and decorations — cleaning around ornaments and lights afterward is far more of a hassle.

9. Test string lights before decorating the tree

   Classic problem: a dead bulb or faulty controller shows up only after the tree is already trimmed. Test everything on the table first.

10. Set up the tree and decorate

    Buy a live tree about a week ahead — any earlier and needles start dropping, though firs hold up longer than spruce.

11. Prepare an advent calendar for the kids

    If you're doing one, have it ready by December 1st — the countdown starts on day one.

12. Plan the table setting

    Tablecloth, dishware, enough chairs for your final guest count — check you have enough of everything before Dec 30.

13. Write out the menu

    List every dish and the ingredients it needs — shopping from a list beats trying to remember everything in a packed store.

14. Do your grocery shopping in two rounds

    Non-perishables early-to-mid December. Dec 30–31 stores are chaos — long lines and empty shelves — save that trip for fresh items only.

15. Plan Dec 31st cooking hour by hour

    Prep some dishes — salads, bases, baking — on the 30th, so the 31st doesn't turn into a full-day kitchen marathon.

16. Stock up on drinks and ice

    Ice for drinks often sells out in stores specifically on the 31st — buy ahead or freeze your own in trays.

17. Sort out outfits ahead of time

    Check everything still fits and nothing needs ironing or a quick repair at the last minute.

18. Hide kids' gifts somewhere secure

    Kids search — and find things with alarming regularity. Pick a spot unrelated to their usual hiding-and-seeking spots.

19. Sort out costumes for school parties

    Popular character costumes in common sizes sell out by early December — don't leave this to the last week.

20. Check the rules on fireworks and sparklers

    Only set them off where it's actually allowed — many areas restrict fireworks near buildings or dry land, and fines for violations can be steep.

21. Set up a quiet room for pets

    Away from windows and firework noise — many pets panic at fireworks even more than at thunderstorms.

22. Put together a playlist and board games

    The stretch between dinner and midnight drags on — games ready in advance save the evening from an awkward lull.

23. Make a list of who to greet

    In the Dec 31st rush it's easy to forget someone — a list made in advance solves that.

24. Prep breakfast for January 1st

    Nobody will be in shape to cook on New Year's morning — a simple breakfast prepped the night before is a gift to your future self.