Presents

Preparation is to Christmas what stuffing is to your turkey: the proof is in the preparation! Get on top of things, and avoid the festive stress.

The worst part of Christmas for busy ladies is undoubtedly the endless trawl round the shops in search of presents. You start out with lists and plans galore and you end up tearing your hair out because you’re all out of ideas for Uncle Tom – not to mention your feet are killing...

If you’re an avid shopper you’ll know that many shops have special Christmas opening hours in December (late nights and Sundays). Check online to avoid disappointment!  

Plan well in advance and use the iInternet – it can be a godsend! If toy shops full of screaming kids are your idea of hell, the web can save you lots of time and energy.

Some sites such as Amazon offer free delivery over a certain amount and special offers for bulk orders. Other sites will let you pay in instalments, so you can even keep your banker happy. The good stuff soon goes out of stock, so get cracking! Plan to take a day’s holiday and set it aside to get your Christmas shopping out of the way.