Start Planning For The Holidays, Now!
By Shelly Burke, RN, author of
Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom#146;s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home
www.homeiswherethemomis.com
The holidays will be here before you know it. Start planning now to save money, time, and your sanity.
To save money: Re-think gift giving. Consider giving just one gift, or a basket of small related gifts, to each person. Or maybe you#146;ll decide to draw names within your family, so you just have one person to buy for. Challenge everyone to re-gift something they have, but do not use or enjoy or are done with (for example, a CD that#146;s not in their taste, a book they#146;ve read, or a sweater that doesn#146;t fit). Or, give only home-made gifts like cookies or craft projects.
Make a master list of all the ingredients you#146;ll need for holiday baking and meals, and begin stocking up on the non-perishable items when they#146;re on sale.
Also list everything else you#146;ll need--candles, cards, lights, etc.,--and get them when they#146;re on sale. Or, purchase one or two things every time you shop to prevent sticker shock if you get them all at once.
To save time: Make a timeline for holiday projects. Pick a date when you want to be done with Christmas projects (make it at least a few days early so you have time just to enjoy the season), and work backward. Plan when you#146;ll start sending cards, baking cookies, purchasing gifts, and making craft projects.
To save time when gift giving, start now! Make a goal of purchasing one gift each time you shop. Or, make a detailed list of what you#146;re looking for and take a day during the week so the stores are less crowded, and get all of your shopping done at once.
Make your appointment to have your hair cut or nails done, now, so you get a time that fits into your schedule. Time slots close to holidays fill up early.
To save your sanity: Think about what is important to you and your family. It#146;s OK to change traditions if they cause more stress than joy! Instead of serving a huge meal to friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and family members, invite only people to whom you are very close. Ask them each to bring their favorite appetizer or dessert so you don#145;t have to cook as much.
It#146;s OK to do less! Decorate just one room, rather than going all out and decorating the whole house, inside and out. Instead of making homemade cards and sending them to people you haven#146;t seen or heard from in years, just send a printed letter to close friends.
Be sure to take time to take care of yourself--exercise, get plenty of rest, and so on. Commit to taking care of your own health, and establish habits now so you you#146;ll want to continue them all year.
Start now, and you#146;ll enjoy the holidays more than ever!
Shelly Burke, RN, is the author of Home is
Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom#146;s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home
. Read an excerpt, or download a FREE goal sheet and goal-making guide, at
www.homeiswherethemomis.com
. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com.
