My Mummy's Pennies: Getting prepared for Christmas…

There really is no denying it, Christmas is on it’s way. There are only five weeks left to get prepared! I like to think I am quite an organised person, and to make sure I get the best deals I buy things well in advance, usually starting my Christmas shopping in the Boxing Day Sales.

 As you know I like to get the most out of my pennies and that means grabbing a good deal when I see one so I have a present cupboard stacked full of toys for most of the year. I have already bought most of the children’s presents and just have a few family members to buy for now. No impulse buying on Christmas Eve for me!

But being prepared for Christmas is not just about the presents, I like our house to look the part too. Now if I left it up to my husband we’d have a small wreath on the door and that would be all, whereas if my children got their way, our home would be turned into a fluorescent flashing Santa’s Grotto complete with elves and reindeer!

I sit firmly in the middle and although I do want our home to look festive I’m not very keen on a lot of garish lights and I dread to think what they would do to the electricity bill! We have a large tree in our living room and decorate most of the downstairs rooms, then Ben and Elizabeth both have small tree in their bedrooms.

I put a lot of thought into buying room decorations for Christmas and like to choose a ‘theme’ each year. As well as shop bought decorations we love to make our own, from craft projects with the children, to photo ornaments I have created from our treasured moments captured on camera, I think every Christmas needs that personalised touch!

So how do you decorate your home for Christmas? Do you have a ‘theme’? And when do you think is too early to start putting it all up?