HOW TO GET ORGANISED FOR CHRISTMAS.
I know I am not the first to say this and you may have thought the same, but I feel so angry when I am in shorts and a t-shirt in August, I turn a corner in the supermarket and there they are - Christmas items for sale!
Our local garden centres have been setting up their Christmas areas for weeks now, meaning you can no longer see the garden furniture (which I now need to buy for new home) as it is full of decorations and flashing lights.
I guess much of it is out of the retailers hands, they plan all year and want to get their products out but PLEASE - not whilst I am still enjoying summer!
Now we are in October I will concede, I am enjoying Autumn and starting to think of what we will do this Christmas and gifts etc, but only now the weather has turned and summer is over.
So, rant over - let's embrace the fact that there is nothing we can do about the retailers starting early, so let's make it work to our advantage - here are 5 things you can do to get ahead of the game and ensure your Christmas is as stress free and organised as possible.
*This post may contain affiliate links which don't cost you a penny but pay a commission to this site.
1: Set a budget
Work out how much you have for food, decorations and gifts and stick to the budget.
This stops overspending and a January from hell not only with the long cold month, but also as most people are paid earlier in December than usual, it is a long wait until payday in January.
Remember - no 1 day is worth getting into debt!
Therefore setting a clear and affordable budget can help. Below is an idea of what you may need to budget for.
Food
Drink
Decorations
Christmas Tree
Gifts
Host gifts
Tips for Postman etc.
Wrapping paper
Cards
Stamps
Meals/Nights out
Taxi fares
Hotels if required
Knowing your budget and shopping regularly beforehand means you spread the cost and also avoid any last minute panic.
2: Start shopping each week
A great way to not only manage your budget but also to spread the load is to shop weekly.
Begin by adding non perishable items to your weekly shop, napkins, cranberry sauce, sellotape, wrapping paper etc.
Look for deals and stock up if it will save you money.
Remember that as much as shopping local is fantastic and something I wholly support - Amazon Prime Day is almost here (8th and 9th October 2024) and a great chance to grab a bargain.
Make sure it is something you need and not being bought just because it is on sale - that can just become more clutter.
Maybe chat with family and friends about gifts and agree budgets and ideas in advance.
3: Declutter to create space
Do you need to store gifts? Are you expecting guests over the holidays? Need space for the extra food you are buying in advance?
Having a good clear out prior to Christmas is always great as unless you go away each year or don't buy gifts, your home is most likely going to be storing a lot more things in the coming months.
You can also sell items no longer needed to make some extra money. This is great as it helps add money to your budget and also clears space.
Have you heard of this new quote? Instead of saying "do I love it, will I use it?"
You look at something and say, "if this was covered in poop would I wash it off and keep it"?
This made me laugh so much but has certainly resonated with some of my decluttering clients.
4: Get dates booked
There are many events that will be booked up well in advance, so if you don't want to miss out, make sure you have them organised in your diary now.
Meals out
Theatre tickets
Hotel stays
Hair and beauty appointments
Dog grooming
Taxis
5: Do food prep early
I love to make to my late Mother's Christmas pudding recipe and gift them to close family as was her tradition. Making this early November is a nice time to get into the spirit (excuse the pun!) and also means I can put them in the dark garage and tick them off my list avoiding any late stress.
Have friends or grandchildren over for a baking session, bake and freeze anything that will save time later.
So in conclusion, rather than being a bah humbug about Christmas coming so early, embrace that it is what it is and ensure you are organised. Then you can enjoy the festivities with a budget and some time management taking the stress away.
My Christmas planner bundle is a fantastic way to keep on top of all the things you need, it also includes my Mother's wonderful recipe so download it below (less than a cup of coffee) and print out year on year.
I hope you liked this blog - please let me know and share with anyone you think may enjoy it 💞
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