On September 1, there will be only 114 days until Christmas. Have you even begun to think about that? If you are like most people you will start thinking about it at Thanksgiving time at the earliest. If you want to take some of the stress out of the holidays, plan ahead!! Make a decision that you are going to enjoy the holidays this year. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Make your gift list now – Sit down and create a list of everyone that you are planning to shop for. Keep a copy of this list in your purse or planner. As you are out and about and find something that would be perfect for someone on your list, purchase it and cross that name off your list. Remember to list family, friends, coworkers, etc.
I have 20 nieces and nephews, all of whom are eight years old and under, so planning ahead is essential. I ask for a list of things that each child needs along with SIZES, and put the sizes right on my list. This is very helpful. As I find sales, I am able to get them things they really need at a great price. A great website I have found for nice kids clothes at a GREAT price is www.thechildrenswearoutlet.com. Last year I was able to get a name brand outfit for each of them all for just $130.00, including shipping.
Purchase airline tickets now - or at least get your feelers out there for pricing. A lot of these travel websites have a service you can sign up for that will email you when ticket prices go up or down for your particular city-to-city trip. By planning ahead we were able to get tickets for our family from Dallas for $230.00 per person. The earlier you start looking, the better chance you have of finding a great deal. Be willing to consider flying into or out of a city that is close to your destination. This could save you hundreds of dollars.
Set money aside for your shopping now – This has become so key in our Christmas shopping. My husband is an only child and I come from a very large family and we buy for everyone – from the youngest to the oldest. Since we got married, setting money aside for Christmas has kept Christmas and Christmas shopping a very peaceful experience in our home; and we have never gone into debt to do it. Every year when we get our tax return we put money into a savings account that is not touched until the Christmas shopping begins. By making a list of those we need to shop for and setting funds aside, we are able to make our money go a long away. This year we even set aside money for each of us to buy something for each other.
Decide now where you are spending each holiday - Don’t wait until the last minute to decide which set of parents you are spending each holiday with. Sit down with your family. If possible, get both sets of parents together and work out a schedule so everyone is on the same page. By planning early, you will avoid hurt feelings and stressing out about having this conversation with your family. If both sides of the family get along, invite everyone to your house and have one big party.
Shop the sales – Last but certainly not least, get the most out of sales. Last year I was able to find some awesome deals. If you have a lot of kids to shop for, the Disney Store's sale after Halloween is GREAT! Especially if you have lots of girls who want to have their favorite Disney Princess stuff!! Take advantage of coupons and discounts you get in the mail, all of the savings add up. If you have a lot of people to shop for or only a few, shopping the sales will allow you to get really nice things at a GREAT price! My deal of the season last year was the jacket I got for my sister. She appreciates high-end clothing, and I would not typically be able to buy something that she would really want. However, by shopping a sale at Macy’s and using the coupons I got in the mail, I was able to get a $350 jacket for $21. It was worth every penny!
For those of you who really want to be ahead, wrap the gifts as you buy them. I don’t put ribbon or bows on until they go under the tree, but by wrapping ahead it saves you having to put in really long, sleepless nights right before Christmas.
Have a happy, peaceful holiday season by planning ahead. Enjoy your first stress-free holiday season. Once you do it, you will be addicted!