Lorraine Kelly: Don’t panic! Christmas is a time of year to savour with family and friends, not succumb to silly levels of stress and spending

I really hope you are sitting down with a cuppa reading your Sunday Post and feeling completely calm with all your presents wrapped, decorations up and a fridge full of food and drink.

I suspect, however, that many of you will still be doing some frantic last-minute shopping today, and fretting that you haven’t got enough grub to feed the family.

I reckon we all need to take a deep breath and try not to succumb to Christmas stress.

It’s supposed to be a happy time of year and not something that puts you in debt and has your nerves rubbed raw. It’s really sad to see young parents in particular spending far too much money on toys and expensive trainers for their kids, and getting themselves in a financial pickle.

We all need to scale things back a bit, although I’m as guilty as everyone else when it comes to splurging out on too many gifts for friends and family.

Every year we vow to keep it simple next time, but then get caught up in the hysteria and end up grumpy and exhausted.

Christmas should be fun and a time for loved ones to get together. It’s not about expensive presents or posh table napkins.

We all need to tell ourselves that Christmas dinner is just a normal roast meal with far too much attitude. We should get things into perspective and remember that no one is going to come round to our house and give us marks out of 10 for our Christmas preparations.

We should all try to spare a thought for those in need. For the homeless this is a particularly hard time. It’s also tough for those who have lost someone they love dearly. That empty chair stabs the heart even more so at Christmas and we all need to count our blessings if we haven’t experienced that sort of pain.

It’s also difficult for people on their own, who might feel even more lonely at Christmas as they see endless images of happy families on the TV.

If you can spare the cash, it’s a good idea to donate to a homeless charity or even just pass the time of day with someone you know will be on their own over the holidays, and to acknowledge that some people will be feeling a bit low and need an extra cuddle or words of comfort.

Christmas means different things to different people. If you are religious of course it’s a chance to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, but everyone should remember this is also supposed to be the season to be jolly, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a good time.

So, tomorrow, don’t get your knickers in a twist if the turkey is a bit overdone or you don’t have matching plates and cutlery.

It doesn’t matter if the house is untidy or you run out of chairs for your guests. Everyone will muddle through and have a good time. Delegate tasks on the day and don’t be a martyr in the kitchen by trying to do everything yourself.

I am so looking forward to a special day and I wish you and your family a very happy and peaceful Christmas.