Plan Now for the Holidays

Christmas Frog

Somehow, it’s already November! The holiday season is already here.

Making your plans for the holidays now can reduce your stress and save you money.

Money:

Make a budget and track what you spend. I still keep a personal paper budget as well as one on my computer. The paper budget is itemized while the computer one just has categories. I have a special page on my paper budget just for holiday purchases. By having a budget and entering into it each item as I buy it, I don’t have panic buying that puts me over that budget.

I list not just gift costs but also holiday cards, stamps, my tree and other greenery, and any other purchase that is just for the holiday.

Gifts:

Besides the big gift for friends and family I also like to buy some small ones for stocking stuffers. I also buy a couple of items to have on hand in case I get a gift from a neighbor and I want to reciprocate. I stash them in a drawer until time to give the gift or mail it. I like to do this as early as possible but whenever I see something that seems “just right” for a person I get it and put it away.

Then there are the gifts that you make. I am not crafty and don’t make that type of gift but I do bake and different family and friends look forward each year to their favorite baked treat. All of this baking takes time and money and must be planned out so that it does not become overwhelming. The same would be true if you were handmaking an item.

Time:

Start putting events on the calendar. Everyone in your family should have input. Know what is the one most important thing for each person in the family.  Everyone needs to know what is scheduled. Communication is very important here. Never assume that everyone is available for that special show or event at home.

Schedule times for:

·        Gift buying

I schedule several days for this. I have a few favorite stores that I like to visit. Some of the gifts will be mailed so I do this as early as possible.

·        Gift making

I bake three kinds of cookies in large batches for gifts as well as fudge and an apple pie. Two of the types of cookies and the fudge are mailed to a couple of family members so they need to be scheduled early. One type of cookie that is too fragile for shipping and the pie can be scheduled later.

·        Buying greenery and decorations

I like to put up my greenery and decorations right after Thanksgiving. I need to schedule time to go to the nursery to get what I want and then schedule time for my son to come over and give me some help putting up my tree, the greenery, and the outside lights.

·        Putting up the decorations

Advent starts November 29 and I will start decorating then. My son will help me put up greenery and the tree on the first weekend in December. I will finish most of my decorating right after that.

·        Preparing holiday cards

Hanukkah starts on sundown December 4 so cards that I send to my Jewish friends will go out mid-November. I have scheduled three other days to work on the rest of the cards.

·        Mailing cards and gifts

I plan on mailing cards and gifts no later than December 11.  If I mail later than that it will cost more.

Having everything that I have planned for on my calendar helps me stay focused and enjoy my holidays as well. There will be days – especially on the days where I bake big batches of cookies – that I will get overtired. But knowing how much the gift will be appreciated will keep me going on those few days.

I will leave some days open so that I can enjoy my decorated home and also allow for some wiggle room when life intervenes and causes me to change my plans.

As we know, while working on our holiday plans, we still have our homes, work, and other appointments that are ongoing.

Even with all the planning things may not go perfectly and that’s OK. Everyone will be happy that you are just showing up for them and spreading the love.

So, relax, breathe, and enjoy this upcoming holiday season!

If you want help on how to stay physically and mentally healthy over the holidays, join Diane Quintana and me on our monthly class Friday, November 13 where we will help you plan strategies and set boundaries to make this the best holiday yet.

Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.

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