Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Did you make the most of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals? Hopefully you have managed to tick most your gifts off your list, so with only a few stocking fillers and wrapping paper supplies to go, it’s time to start thinking about other festive preparations!
Preloved’s Christmas Checklist
Christmas Cards
First things first, with the last postal dates starting to pass for some international post, make sure you have a list together of who you want to send too, getting any international friends and family their Christmas cards sent soon!
If you are just sending within the UK, then you have some time to choose whether to buy your cards, or make your own! If you are short of cash, there are even some cheap unused Christmas cards available on Preloved!
Order the Turkey…or Favourite Alternative
No Christmas dinner would be complete without a delicious centerpiece, so deciding what to go for and getting it ordered ASAP is essential to make sure you don’t have to settle for second best. Try checking at your local butchers or farmer’s market to see what offers and services they have prepared for Christmas before booking your turkey or ham order with your local supermarket. Keeping your meat purchases closer to home will not only support your local farmers and butcher, you will also do your bit to support greener, smaller scale farming methods and logistics.
When you say Christmas, you think turkey, but not all of us are a fan of it. Whether you are looking for a change this year, or you would like a vegetarian option other than traditional nut roast, the internet is filled with alternative ideas ranging from vegetarian Christmas lunch ideas to tempt even the biggest meat fans, to delicious alternative meat recipes.
Festive Music
Is your go-to Christmas CD album a little scratched? Perhaps it is about time you treated yourself to a new album. Or if you have a record player, why not make your Christmas extra nostalgic this year with a Christmas LP like one of these classics?
Party Essentials
That leads us onto the rest of the party essentials! Have you got a table spread? Who is coming for Christmas lunch? Have you got enough glasses?! Anything you need you can get at a good price when hunting and buying second hand. From pristine second hand champagne flutes to second hand Christmas decorations to fill your home with festive cheer, Preloved can help!
Christmas Party Outfits
The party season is finally upon us and you still haven’t found the perfect dress, suit or shoes for the work do! If you are strapped for cash or on the hunt for something vintage and unique, then have a look to see what you can find amongst the second hand women’s clothing and second hand men’s clothing. From vintage party dresses to novelty Christmas jumpers, dressing festive for less has never been so easy!
Christmas Tree – Real vs Fake
Last, but by all means least – the Christmas tree. Most of us will have already have our Christmas trees up and lighting up the home, or at least have plans in place to purchase a Christmas tree. But for those of us who haven’t managed to get round to it quite yet, you may find yourself asking the ultimate Christmas tree question. Real or fake?
Fake trees can help save you that little bit of extra money each time Christmas comes around…and no hovering up needles either! It’s not too late to pick up a second hand Christmas tree from Preloved? However, there is a mis-conception that fake trees are more environmentally friendly, but unfortunately due to most of the materials used to make an artificial Christmas tree, they are not biodegradable. So if you would prefer to go the environmentally friendly route, then perhaps a real tree is the better option for you.
Rather then buying a real tree from your nearest Christmas tree outlet, with a bit of planning, you can find local companies that offer trees with an extra eco-friendly twist like Forever Green in Sussex, a plant pot “rent-a-tree” service, or The Christmas Forest in London who donate a planted tree to Africa for every Christmas tree sold. If you are brave enough to scrap the Christmas tree all together, then why not decorate your home with equally festive natural gatherings and crafts like holly, sparkly pine cones and home made wreaths?
