There is a particular kind of Christmas disappointment that never quite leaves you. The wrapping paper has barely settled, the room is full of festive anticipation, and then it happens.
“That’s odd… it doesn’t turn on.”
A frantic search follows, drawers are opened, toolboxes raided, and the dreadful truth emerges: batteries not included.
It’s a classic Christmas mishap, but it’s far from the only pre-Christmas disaster waiting to happen. A little planning now can save stress, tears, and a last-minute dash to the petrol station on Christmas Day. Here are the most common festive pitfalls — and how to quietly avoid them.
1. The Battery Fiasco
Toys, remote-controlled gadgets, fairy lights, novelty gifts, kitchen scales, bathroom gadgets — they all seem to require batteries, and often an unusual size.
Plan ahead:
Stock up on AA, AAA, C, D, and at least one 9V.
Check if any gifts require button cells (CR2032 are common).
Keep a small “Christmas battery stash” hidden away.
Pro tip: Remove batteries from toys before wrapping them, tape them to the instructions, and note where they are. You’ll look like a festive genius.
2. The Forgotten Tool Problem
Some gifts are deceptively complex. Flat-pack toys, bikes, electronic devices with tiny screws, or anything that needs assembly often require tools you don’t own, or can’t find or are broken.
Plan ahead:
Check packaging for assembly notes.
Make sure you have:
A set of screwdrivers (including tiny Phillips and flat-head)
Allen keys
Scissors and a craft knife (and plasters!)
Charge your cordless drill or screwdriver now, not on Christmas morning.
Nothing drains Christmas spirit faster than hunting for an Allen key while everyone waits.
3. Wi-Fi Woes and Tech Tantrums
Smart gadgets are wonderful... when they work. But Christmas Day is not the time to discover your Wi-Fi password was changed in 2022 and never written down.
Plan ahead:
Test smart gifts before wrapping if possible.
Check you know your Wi-Fi password.
Make sure there’s space on phones and tablets for new apps.
Have charging cables and plugs ready.
If instructions are vague or pictorial, YouTube is your best friend. Someone, somewhere, has already filmed the solution.
4. Missing Ingredients for the Big Meal
You can plan the perfect Christmas dinner and still be undone by one missing item, gravy granules, cranberry sauce, flour for the pudding, or that crucial sprout you forgot to buy.
Plan ahead:
Write your menu early and cross-check ingredients.
Buy non-perishables well in advance.
Keep a printed list in the kitchen so nothing is overlooked.
Shops may be closed, queues may be long, and substitutions on Christmas Day are rarely satisfying.
5. The “We Forgot the Tin Opener” Moment
You may have all the food in the world, but without the basics, it’s useless.
Plan ahead:
Check you have:
A working tin opener
A bottle and jar opening device
Sharp knives (and the plasters!)
A roasting tin large enough for your bird or joint
Serving spoons and gravy boats
Wash and set aside anything needed for Christmas Day only.
It’s amazing how often essential kitchen tools vanish at precisely the wrong moment.
6. Wrapping Paper Regret
Christmas Eve. Midnight approaches. You have gifts left. The wrapping paper? Oh, no!.
Plan ahead:
Buy more wrapping paper than you think you need.
Keep extra gift tags, tape, ribbon, and bows.
Don’t forget scissors, they mysteriously disappear every December.
Emergency wrapping with newspaper may be charming once. After that, it’s just annoying.
7. Clothing Catastrophes
That Christmas jumper you love might no longer fit. Shoes pinch. Buttons pop. Tights ladder.
Plan ahead:
Try outfits on in advance.
Check for missing buttons or broken zips.
Keep spare tights, safety pins, and a sewing kit handy.
Comfort matters. Christmas is long, and nobody enjoys festive misery caused by tight trousers.
8. Power Cuts, Bad Weather, and the Unexpected
British Christmases have a habit of throwing surprises at us, storms, travel disruption, or power issues.
Plan ahead:
Keep torches and candles accessible.
Have a charged power bank for phones.
If you have a generator make sure you have fuel
Keep emergency food that doesn’t need cooking.
Know where your fuse box is.
A small contingency plan can make a big difference.
9. The Forgotten Bin Day
Christmas generates rubbish at an alarming rate. Overflowing bins are not festive.
Plan ahead:
Check holiday bin collection dates.
Clear bins before Christmas Day.
Have extra bin bags ready.
It’s not glamorous, but it matters.
10. Exhaustion and Burnout
The biggest disaster of all? Reaching Christmas Day utterly exhausted.
Plan ahead:
Spread preparation across several days.
Accept that “good enough” is often perfect.
Delegate where possible.
Schedule rest, not just tasks.
Christmas should be enjoyed, not endured.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
Most Christmas disasters aren’t dramatic, they’re small, irritating, and entirely avoidable. Batteries. Tools. Forgotten items. All it takes is a short checklist and a bit of forward thinking.
Plan calmly, prepare quietly, and when Christmas morning arrives, you’ll be free to enjoy the moment — not search the house for a AA battery while muttering festive words best left out of carols.
Because the best Christmas surprise is when everything simply works.
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