The holidays are supposed to be such a wonderful time of year! They can truly bring out the best in each one of us. They are the few days every twelve months during which we seem to slow down, reflect upon all that is really important and spend much needed time with our families and friends.
But unfortunately, all of those same elements can also cause tremendous burdens with gift giving, party planning, traveling, cooking and baking. And so the holidays may bring out the very worst in us too. For some, they may mean nothing but additional stress.
They don't have to be that way. They can be celebrated and joyful. There are steps you can take to get through this holiday season better prepared and better organized so that this year is the best one yet.
PLANNING
- Start holiday shopping now! Get a babysitter for the kids or trade babysitting services with a friend or neighbor.
- Make a shopping list before you go. Include the recipients' names and any gift ideas you have. Shopping goes a lot more quickly when you know what you're going to buy. Need ideas? Go to http://www.amazon.com or http://www.presentpicker.com and get some help.
- Can't decide what to wear to holiday events? Purchase your little black dress now. Dress it up or keep it casual with well-chosen accessories. Wear it to everything and stop agonizing.
- Always have an extra, wrapped gift on hand for those moments when you'll need one.
- Buy a few hostess gifts now. You'll have them when they're needed and you won't have to run out into the busy malls and stores at the last minute.
- Line up babysitters just as soon as you find out the dates of your commitments.
- Don't get stuck in long lines just for a stamp! Order postage online at http://www.usps.com.
GIFT IDEAS
- Don't throw away those catalogs you receive in the mail. You might just find many gifts in them suitable for family and friends.
- Don't forget to shop on the Internet.
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.target.com
http://www.walmart.com
All of these websites have great gift selections and they ship. Perfect for those recipients who live far away! Wine, popcorn, cookies, cheese baskets and holiday decorations make great "can't go wrong" presents.
LESS IS MORE
- Keep holiday decorations down to a minimum. You'll have less to put up and less to take down. Sometimes, less is more.
- Wisely choose the holiday functions you will attend. It's okay to say "no". If you won't derive any benefit from a party or event, why go?
- Don't put a lot of time or effort into gift-wrapping. Make it nice but don't make it a masterpiece. It's ripped off in moments and besides, have you heard of anyone remembering how well a gift was wrapped?
- Need baked goods for a holiday celebration? Buy them. It's okay---really.
- Stop sending cards to people you haven't heard from in years! What's the point if the relationship doesn't go both ways?
- This is NOT the time to have to plan meals each night. Stick with simple things like:
Macaroni and cheese
Tacos
Burritos
Sloppy Joes
Scrambled eggs
Spaghetti
Anything in a crock pot
Pizza
Soup
Shake and Bake
Serve with salad, rice or raw carrots and be done with it! You don't need the extra headache of meal planning this time of year.
ORGANIZATION
- Wrap and tag gifts as you purchase them.
- Write and address holiday cards while you're watching TV or waiting for your kids at dance, soccer, art ______ (you fill in the blank) etc.
- If you're hosting a holiday dinner, ask everyone on the guest list to bring something. Chances are, they will be more than happy to help and it will cut down on the work for you.
SAVE YOUR SANITY
- Hire a housecleaner---one time, two times or four times. You're probably already spending a lot of money on gifts and parties. Why not spend $60-$100 more on a housecleaner and save your sanity!
- Take a hiatus from extracurricular activities. Give the kids 30 days off from sports/dance/art/theater/etc. (and if you save money in the process, apply it towards the housekeeper discussed above)
- Be careful when shopping alone at night. Hold your purse close to your body; be aware of everything around you at all times and ask a security guard to walk you to your car.
Jacqueline McLaughlin Hale is a CPA and the editor of Between Friends: Resources for Mothers http://www.betweenfriends.org Between Friends contains household hints, time management tips, articles on organization, parenting, money management, career, self employment, self improvement and more! Subscribe to its FREE monthly ezine, The Balanced Woman. Visit today!
Featured Article By: Jacqueline McLaughlin Hale
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