Christmas should be a time for everyone to enjoy themselves and have a good time. Who wants to spend days fretting when you can't find that perfect black dress for the party season, or spend hours slaving away in the kitchen on the big day?

Don't let the festive season get on top of you. Keep it simple and follow our tips on ways to make Christmas easy for you, so you can put your feet up and enjoy precious time with your family together.

Quick tips:

• Delegate. Who said you have to do all the work?
• Shop in advance for everything but the fresh food – drinks, nibbles, pickles etc.
• Stick with what you know. If you're happy with the way your family Christmas works, why rock the boat?
• Make lists – one for shopping and one for cooking on the day.
• Before you do your food shopping, check your cupboards and freezer to make sure you don't double up and to try and make some space so you can stock up for the holiday period.
• Shop online. There's still time to get some last minute presents on the internet and buy some unusual stocking fillers too.
• Wrap presents as you buy them. Don't leave it all until Christmas Eve!

Freeze ahead

To take the pressure off and make sure you are prepared for unexpected guests over the holiday period, keep your freezer well stocked with a couple of special dishes you've made in advance, and plenty of shop-bought nibbles to have with drinks.

• A festive, fruity and spicy casserole, perhaps with pork and apricots can be defrosted overnight and served with jacket potatoes and green beans.
• An easy chicken liver pâté will serve as a starter or can be spread on savoury biscuits as an evening snack.
• Frozen mince pies will always come in useful and go well with mulled wine when unexpected guests call in.

Cheats cuisine

• Buy a ready-to-go pack of carrots and parsnips. Simply add peeled potatoes, oil and salt and your Christmas veg are ready to be roasted.
• Have a stock of those bite-sized cocktail blinis. A teaspoon of sour cream or mascarpone and a twist of smoked salmon on top will make instant, delicious nibbles with drinks.
• Buy a large turkey crown. So much easier to cook and no waste.
• Buy your Christmas cake and decorate it yourself. Who'll be able to tell the difference?