I’LL MAKE FOUR PUDS — AND I’VE GOT 20 OUTFITS

ABIGAIL BROWN, 39, works in financial services and lives with partner Guillaume, 36, an engineer, and their daughter, Alice, six. Abigail says: WE HAVE many Christmas traditions. The first is the switch-on of the festive fridge-freezer on November 10. It’s ready for the €1,700 of food and drink for the seven days between Christmas and New Year.

I’ve devised a themed menu for each day with spreadsheets to cover every detail, including which Christmas crackers, chocolates, biscuits and alcohol are allocated to each meal. Every year from mid-November, I start practising recipes on friends.

During Christmas week I’ll serve our 13 guests — including my mum, siblings and in-laws — everything from quail to goose and a beef wellington. I’ll also rustle up desserts including four varieties of Christmas pudding: traditional, salted caramel, a boozy one and a chocolate version for the kids.

I bought this year’s cards in the January sales and by Easter I’d finished sourcing gifts for 25 people.

I know I’ve spent far more than the €115 a month I allow myself, so I’ve decided not to tot it up! We have already decorated a 6ft artificial tree. I don’t collect our real fir tree until December 18, as I want it to look plump and lush.

This year I’ve also bought more than 20 different outfits, including a gorgeous rose gold, sequinned halterneck dress from Monsoon for Christmas Day, and the traditional silly jumper — even though I already have 40.