I know, it isn’t even Halloween and I’m bringing up Christmas, but believe me this is good stuff. Now is the time to start planning for Christmas. You and your wallet will not be overwhelmed in December and you can actually enjoy the holiday season.
Make a Plan – Grab a notebook that will be dedicated to Christmas and start writing. Make a list of people you will be buying gifts for. Start writing out ideas for gifts that you want to buy. Keep this list handy, especially when you’re shopping, so you can see who you need to buy for and what you need. If you start early enough you won’t break the bank in December trying to buy everything at once. Make a list of parties you will be attending. You know family parties, work parties, school parties, neighborhood parties, Bunco parties, etc. The idea is to get organized well ahead of time.
Make Space for Christmas – Set aside a spot for Christmas stuff. This could be the garage, a closet, any space the kids won’t be digging around. This will be your spot to stash gifts, decorations, cards, etc. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is. One year I hid some stuff away in July and forgot all about it until we moved the next year.
Plan Your Christmas Card List – If you send out Christmas cards, start early. Honestly, kudos to you if you still manage to get cards written and sent out. Most of us keep up with our friends and family on social media, so there is very little need for yearly family letters. However, it is nice to get a card from a friend or family member. Either way, plan early so you aren’t rushing to the post office on December 22.
Start those Handmade Gifts Now! – Pinterest is the place to go for handmade options. Maybe you are good at sewing or baking, use those skills and give a gift straight from the heart and hands. You can make dress up clothes, kids’ toys, personal care items, soup jars, and on and on. Get started now so you can get it done!
Work on your Advent Calendar – You might not have done an Advent calendar in the past, but this is a great year to start. Kids absolutely love opening a small gift, counting down the days until Christmas, or participating in a family activity. You can make any number of homemade advent calendars. Try paper bags on clothes pins with Christmas ornaments in them, “Decorate the tree Advent calendar.” Do cards in envelopes with fun activities like “make homemade hot chocolate” or “make a Christmas craft together.” Try Pinterest for all kinds of ideas.
Don’t Stress Out – Remember what Christmas is all about and don’t let all the planning and parties and buying stuff get in the way of enjoying the season.
How do plan for Christmas?
