Top 50 things absent-minded Brits forget every Christmas - including batteries and stamps
The top 50 things absent-minded Brits forget EVERY Christmas include batteries, stamps - and even crackers. A study of 2,000 adults, who celebrate the festive season, found four in ten forget something in the lead up to or on the big day virtually every year, and 36 percent expect to do so again this time around.
And one in five would go as far as considering their Christmas ruined if certain items were forgotten.
Among the things which have slipped people’s minds in recent years were tape, where they hid the presents, and gift tags.
And when it comes to food and drink, cranberry sauce, stuffing, champagne and wine are likely to be forgotten.
The research, commissioned by last-minute delivery service Zapp, found 16 percent even admitted to struggling to remember the name of their neighbours when sending cards.
But the things people most fear forgetting are the turkey, potatoes and gravy - key elements of the biggest meal of the year.
Further festive elements in the top 50 list were napkins, leaving out a mince pie or carrot for Santa and Rudolph, and even picking up a guest from the train station.
A third said it would be a Christmas miracle if they don’t forget something in the lead up to, or on, Christmas Day.
Batteries, a gift, and tape are the top things people expect to fail to remember this year.
From present buying to hosting family and friends, we all know Christmas can be a fun but stressful time
Steve O’Hear, spokesman for Zapp, said: “From present buying to hosting family and friends, we all know Christmas can be a fun but stressful time.
“There is a lot to remember, and things are easily forgotten - whether it’s the smoked salmon and champagne on Christmas morning, or that last-minute gift for the neighbours.
“We are here to help this year, aiming to deliver Christmas essentials in minutes, 24/7.
“We’re expecting a rush of last-minute orders on Christmas day, and our team of riders are poised and ready to deliver for our customers throughout the festive period.”
The study also found forgetting something during the festive season has resulted in 18 percent giving an unwrapped gift, 16 percent urgently ordering a present for next day delivery, and 10 percent knocking on a neighbour’s door for ingredients.
A fifth have even made a dash to “any” shop that’s open on December 25th.
Almost half (45 percent) argued there is lots to remember at Christmas which is why they forget things, and 34 percent claim they’re too busy, while 32 percent blame tiredness.
Three in ten admitted they are more likely to forget something if they are hosting, and having something slip their minds leaves them feeling annoyed, frustrated and disappointed.
More than half agreed it’s stressful trying to remember everything in the lead up to, or on, Christmas Day.
In order to ensure they don’t go without something on the big day, 58 percent have made lists on paper, while 28 percent do so on their phone, and one in five set reminders on their calendar.
People make an average of three lists for Christmas prep - including what gifts to buy (71 percent), food (66 percent) and who to send cards to (51 percent).
And while food prep takes just over four hours, people commit ten hours to Christmas shopping, according to the OnePoll figures.
TOP 50 MOST FORGOTTEN THINGS IN THE LEAD UP TO OR ON CHRISTMAS DAY:
- Batteries
- Who a gift was for e.g. wrapped them before labelling them
- The name of my neighbours e.g. for cards
- Sticky tape
- Where you hid the presents
- A gift
- Gift tags
- Cooking foil
- Stamps for posting cards
- Cards
- Recording Christmas specials on TV e.g. soaps
- Crackers/decoration for the table
- Wrapping paper
- Gift bags
- Cranberry sauce
- Napkins
- Advent calendar
- Ribbon for gift wrapping
- Stuffing
- What time the Queen's Speech is on
- Baking paper
- Breakfast items
- Turning the oven on
- Leaving a mince pie or carrot out for Santa/Rudolph
- Lighter/matches
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Enough cutlery for everyone joining the Christmas dinner
- Mistletoe
- Gravy
- Christmas jumper
- Bottle opener
- Brandy/alcohol for flaming the Christmas pudding
- Mince pies
- Nuts
- Setting enough places for the table
- Christmas pudding
- Vegetables
- Toilet roll
- Bucks Fizz
- Champagne
- Brussel sprouts
- Turkey
- Vegetarian/vegan alternatives
- Picking up a guest e.g. from a train station or their home
- Board games
- Wine
- Setting up the guest beds
- Hand wash
- Potatoes
- Baubles