I know, I know, I will have pumpkins and leaves and scarves thrown at me with screams of “IT’S STILL FALL, HALLOWEEN HASN’T EVEN HAPPENED” but depending on how big your holiday celebrations are, you may have to start getting the wheels in motion now. This guide isn’t meant to force everyone to listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies 24/7 from now until December, but to help you manage your time, energy, and finances to the best of your ability! There are just over 100 days until Christmas day, and putting in a little bit of time now makes the world of difference in eliminating some of the heavy-duty stress later on- you can do things at your own pace rather than running around Christmas at the Kranks style.
1. Make a Gift List and Budget
Now is the time to go through and make a list of what you plan on making or buying for the people in your life! It makes it far easier to plan and give gifts that are meaningful if you can take time your time and not buy something because it’s simply there on the shelf rather than something thoughtful. I usually start with a total budget and then divide accordingly once I have a list set. I’m not going to lie, I can spend three to four weeks thinking on a gift for someone, so starting now gives me that flexibility and time. It also allows me to catch sales that aren’t Black Friday/Cyber Monday/super early Boxing Day/Week/Month deals. (Spreading shopping out over 6 paycheques rather than 1-2 can make a huge difference).
Taking time to make the list really helps to make sure you don’t forget people that you might otherwise have given something to- I don’t believe that gifts have to expensive or consuming, just thoughtful and personal. I would also recommend buying a few “in case” gifts in the situation that you forget someone or something comes up- you might need something for a gift exchange at work, you might need it for a teacher at your child’s school, or perhaps someone you volunteer with, and having a few smaller gifts on hand can save you a lot of time!
2. Get Started on Anything Made
If you plan on making any gifts, I would get started on it now! Life will only get busier between now and the holidays- Canadian and American Thanksgiving, Halloween, Guy Fawkes Day, and any number of holidays, not to mention school, sports teams, clubs, and several other things that usually start back up in the autumn. Set aside a little bit of time every week or two to make gifts. Obviously anything that is meant to be eaten should be made closer to whenever you are giving it, but knitting, sewing, art, mugs, blankets, books, and anything else could be tackled earlier! If you plan on spray painting or shellac-ing anything, now is the time to do it while you can still get things done outside. It’s also nice to have time for an alternative option if something doesn’t happen to go quite according to plan… (It happens to all of us.) Treat it as time to yourself and get ahead!
Via Pinterest
3. Look Out for Local Craft Sales and Artisans
Craft sales are a fantastic way to find unique and amazing gifts , and it is a great chance to support the crafters and artisans in your community! Unbeknownst to me until my knitting mother and sister told me, holiday craft sales start at the end of September! It may seem early to be looking for them, but if you wait until November to start looking, there really aren’t as many left as you think. There are a few big benefits of shopping craft sales in addition to supporting local businesses, including avoiding shipping costs and problems, as well as giving someone a truly unique gift.
4. Start Picking Dates
Everyone’s holiday season just gets busier and busier every single year, so pick your dates for any holiday gatherings now! Decide if you want a shorter get together on a week day, or perhaps a weekend afternoon, or if you are dreaming big- an all day event, and just start letting people know. At this point, I would just check with friends and family on a date, and then work on the timing in the next coming weeks!
In 2018, mailed out invites for a holiday party are really not necessary (although I’m sure that people would certainly enjoy receiving it), but ideally you need to give 6-8 weeks notice and this will allow you time to pick a date, get a rough idea of what kind of event you want to host, and send out your invites. Plus, I am positive that you will also appreciate having a heads up on events that you will be invited to! (Just because you give notice, it doesn’t mean that it has to elaborate or expensive in anyway- simply that you want to spend time with your friends and family!)
Make sure that you check for holiday plays and concerts, hockey and sports tournaments, school dates, work blackouts and closures, and other holiday events you can forecast (such as attending The Nutcracker every year like I do)! ‘
5. Keep Track of Dates and Deadlines
If you don’t regularly use a planner, you might want to just use a regular calendar or print one out to track any dates that you might have come up. The aforementioned parties, holiday concerts, mailing and shipping deadlines, any work events, and just general life can snowball up together really quickly if you aren’t paying attention.
Mailing and shipping deadlines are particularly important if you have friends and family in other countries- depending on how far your packages are going, you may need to have them mailed by late October or early November. It’s also important to make sure that you have time to yourself sometimes, even if you have to schedule it into your calendar! (Don’t forget to include any family events and traditions.)
When do you start getting ready for the holidays?
Cheers
The Historian
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You have to start planning early and budgeting for the holiday season.
Rachael | https://rachaelstray.com
Otherwise it sneaks up on you and wreaks havoc on your budget AND your schedule!!
I like to make gifts for my friends and for my kiddo’s teachers. I actually start on that in January. LOL. I crochet and carry the small project around with me everywhere and just make as many as possible before the summer insanity hits. That way when December rolls around I am not rushing.
Ahhhh, how can Christmas only be 100 days away?!?!?! ? these are somw great tips! I actually buy Christmas and birthday gifts year-round, and particularly when I go on vacations and when i go to craft fairs. It does make a HUGE difference to the budget to buy all year-round, and it makes me feel like I am getting people things they actually will love instead of something I bought in a panic last-minute for formality’s sake. This only works well, though, when you have space to store the gifts! I usually am able to store gifts on a shelf in my closet–same place each year so I never forget where I put them! I also keep a “gift log” that I update with each purchase so I don’t forget that I bought something for someone. Very helpful when you are buying and storing something in April for December!
Right? It actually is not that far away!!! I buy a few presents in the first half of the year and then really start getting serious in July/August, simply for the storage aspect. I will admit that I do have Agnes toys purchased already though!! And a gift log is so smart!! ?
I just spent the weekend with my friends calendar planning for the holidays – its never to early to get started, everyone’s weekends fill up fast!
I’ve sent out about half of my invites, and the other half are going out this weekend- what’s the worst thing that happens, people are over-prepared?? If it’s a priority, you’ve got to plan!!
Christmas is my favourite holiday so I am all over this post like white on rice!! I used to get my Christmas list ready for the start of September but have been banned from producing one until Thanksgiving day….like the actual Monday holiday. So it has been decreed and so it shall be!
… My Christmas list is a year round thing and I DON’T CARE WHAT THE CHRISTMAS HATERS SAY ??? Haha, it’s there if people want to get started early but they don’t have to. I’m about 1/3 of the way done my shopping, and early Christmas lists make that FAR easier. If singing along to Michael Buble’s Christmas album makes me happy, why not??
Ooo so true! I watch “white christmas” multiple times throughout the year cos it makes me sooo happy! I love getting shopping done early. Haven’t started yet this year but I only have a few people to buy for
White Christmas is the perfect year round movie (because so much of it isn’t actually Christmas, so the Christmas haters will get off of our backs haha)!! I totally have not watched Christmas with the Kranks and half of a Hallmark Christmas movie tonight or anything….
LOL! Amazing!