Planning tip — think twice about gift vouchers. Every year millions of pounds’ worth of UK gift cards and vouchers go unspent, expire unused, or become worthless when a shop closes down. Before you add them to your list, read why gift vouchers can be a risky Christmas gift — and what to give instead.
- If you normally shop online for your groceries then try and secure your delivery slot with your favourite supermarket now. For example Waitrose normally allow you to book a delivery slot up to 3 months ahead. These delivery slots get snapped up quickly so if you want a delivery on Christmas Eve make sure you are checking their site for slots around October 23rd / 24th etc. For the exact opening dates each year, see our guide to when supermarkets open their Christmas delivery slots.
- Like the above tip don’t forget to book a delivery slot if you need one for between Christmas and New Years day.
- Update or create Christmas card and gift list
- Set overall budgets for cards, gift wrap, presents, food and drink
- Look for stocking fillers that you don’t find everywhere on the high street.
- If you haven’t already done so book your Christmas functions with restaurants and hotels.
- Plan your Christmas calendar
- Book your Christmas hair and beauty appointments
- Plan when you will visit family and friends as leaving this late can cause ciaos and stress.
- What will you be doing on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day etc.
- If you need to send gifts overseas then check the last post date for surface mail – for some parts of the World this can be as early the start of October. You can check check the details on the Royal Mail website.
- You can spread the cost of Christmas a little by buying ingriendents for your Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding, Pickles, Mincemeat etc a few at a time each week, rather than all at once. Make a list of everything you’re going to need and start ticking off the items as you buy them. Just don’t be tempted to eat them before Christmas.
- Check your kitchen kit. Make sure you have a sharp vegetable peeler — and ideally a spare or two so the family can help on the day. See why a spare speed peeler takes the stress out of Christmas lunch (with our top three picks).
- Make your mincemeat this month. October is the ideal time to make it: cooking apples are in season (a great way to use up a glut), and it gives the flavours two to three months to mature before Christmas. See our homemade mincemeat recipe and when to make it.
- Order your turkey or main joint now from the butcher, or place your supermarket pre-order. October gives you the best choice of size and of free-range birds, and you can confirm your collection date.
- Consider a ‘practice’ Sunday roast this month. Cooking a full roast on a relaxed weekend is a great way to shake out anything you are missing — timings, oven space, serving dishes — well before the real thing, on a low-pressure day.
- Test your oven now and count up your plates, glasses, cutlery and roasting tins. If you are short, you have time to borrow or buy before the big day.
- Start your pre-Christmas clean now, one room a week, so the house is ready without a last-minute scramble in December.
- Use the October half-term to get ahead — a present-buying and wrapping session, writing your cards, or a declutter to make room for new toys.
- Order any personalised gifts now — photo books, calendars and engraved or printed items can take four to six weeks, so do not leave them too late.
- Thinking of giving a hamper? October is a good month to compare and order — the most sought-after hampers sell out well before Christmas — and our guide to the best Christmas hampers will help you pick the right one.
Tip: Why not print this page out and keep it on your fridge or inside a kitchen cupboard door and check off the tasks as you complete them.
Click here for our November Christmas Planning To Do List.
Christmas 2026 planning timeline