Have you plan your holidays with your family?? What do you do to spend your holidays?? Go to trip something places or do a tasks.
The holidays are upon us again, and whether or not you are prepared the Christmas countdown is officially on.
If the mere mention of ‘Christmas shopping’ makes you break out into a cold sweat, keep in mind that you are not alone. The stress of choosing-and shopping for-the perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas list is bad enough, but when you add it to the list of other holiday stressors you might feel completely overwhelmed. Addressing and mailing holiday cards, decorating the house, hunting for the best deals, braving the crowds at the mall, planning holiday parties are just a few tasks that might make you feel overwhelmed.
Take a deep breath, relax and remember what the holiday season is truly about: joy, cheer and spending time with your loved ones. Then focus on a simplified plan of attack for the season instead of running around like a chicken with your head cut off like last year. Read on for a few tips.
Prioritizing
Before you start anything, sit down for a few moments to compile a prioritized list of tasks this season. Start off by just jotting down your thoughts as they come to mind (i.e., get addresses for cards, begin shopping, buy Christmas tree, RSVP to party invitations, etc.) instead of trying to organize them yet.
Now that you have a couple of lists it’s time to prioritize them accordingly. Get out your calendar or planner to begin. Jot in both “to-do” days and final deadlines. Schedule when to send cards out, ship gifts out, etc. Prioritize by date, and after you’ve finished then you might want to make a few more lists which lists out weekly tasks.
Sending Cards
If you’re like many people, then your Christmas cards addresses are scattered all over the place and you have trouble locating them. As a result you procrastinate sending your cards.
This year, get organized to make your life a little easier from here on out. Gather your addresses all together, type them up and save them to your computer. This way they will be a mouse click away every single year. You can even buy stickers and print out mailing labels this way!
Once you’ve gotten your contacts organized then it’s time to start addressing your cards and mailing them out. Tackle this painless task early this year so it’s completely out of the way and one less thing to worry about.
Organizing
Once you have your plan of attack and approximate schedule then it is time to organize and tackle shopping strategies.
Make another list detailing who is on your Christmas list this year and what they might like. If you already know what they want then make a note of that item; if you aren’t sure, then write down a few ideas you might have. Also list out where you might be able to find these items. If you think you are able to buy any of the items online then also note this.
Take a look at your list, and group by where you will find the gifts. For instance, if you can cover three different people by shopping at one store then note this. Plan your shopping schedule using this list. Be sure to remember the list when you set off or begin your online shopping.
Bargain Hunting
When it comes to finding a good deal there is often research that needs to be done. Christmas shopping is no different. Look out for sales, fliers, promotions, coupons and commercials at the stores you will be visiting. Use these specials to your advantage! You can also frequent price comparison sites or bidding sites like eBay to find good deals.
Another great tip is to keep an eye out for sites that are offering free shipping this holiday season. Many sites offer free shipping throughout the holiday season and shopping online is often painless in comparison to braving the malls.
Sending Gifts Early
A great idea to consider is shopping for and sending gifts early. If the gift is something that will beautify the recipient’s home for the season then order for delivery and you’ll be able to cross it off your list. For instance, consider sending a co-worker, family member or friend a festive Christmas wreath or holiday flower arrangement to perk up their home for holiday gatherings. Ordering only takes a few house clicks, and the recipient will surely be pleased to receive such a festive gift that will welcome guests into their home. Another thoughtful gesture is to send a pretty Christmas flower centerpiece for a holiday party you might not be able to attend.
By sending a gift early you will have one less thing to worry about as Christmas inches closer. If you’d like to send another gift closer to Christmas then consider sending an electronic gift card closer to the holiday.
Wrapping
Once you’ve prioritized, organized, set a schedule and begun shopping you might have already started worrying about the time-consuming task of wrapping.
One alternative to spending hours wrapping everyone’s gifts is to wrap each gift immediately. This will cut down on the last minute wrapping scramble.
Think about any shortcuts and money-savers you might be able to utilize when wrapping. Check local dollar stores for inexpensive wrapping supplies. If you can find cute yet inexpensive gift bags and tissue then stock up-there’s no easier way to wrap a gift!
You might also consider cool and crafty alternatives to using pricey wrapping paper. For instance, use inexpensive brown paper-you can recycle paper bags or use brown packaging paper. Embellish with festive stamps, stickers, glitter and ribbon. Environmentally conscious, creative and stylish!
And when the time comes to actually open presents, take a tip from your thrifty older relatives by saving and recycling the remnants. Your family might make fun of you, but just think of how much you’ll save on ribbon, bows and paper next year! Tell family members to open carefully instead of ripping into the gifts, gather the paper and bows in a bag and save for next year.
I hope I’ve given you some time-saving tips to think about. Happy Holidays!