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9 Things to do Before the Christmas Crazies set in!

9 Things To Do Before The Christmas Crazies Set In - Cheerful Christmas Playlist

Christmas is a fun time of the year filled with plenty of glitter and festive cheer. But, it can definitely get a bit crazy with shoppers trying to grab the best bargain, possibly to many social catch-ups and family meals which can be taxing on your waistline, wallet and sanity. Here are some tips to help make your Christmas a little more organised and hassle free.

 

Review Previous Festivities

Write down things that worked for you, what did not, likes, dislikes, traditions, budget, favourite activities and so on. Once you have written all your notes, start prioritising and create a to-do list from here.

 

Plan Your Goals

Set a time limit for when each activity should be completed. For example, complete everything by the second week of December. This allows time to relax and not stress about the holidays.

 

Set Budget

Your budget should include every single Christmas expense from stamps used to send cards to decorations for household décor. If you have previously had a budget try to use that amount as a starting point. You might need to adjust it to accommodate for new family members or a change in income. Regardless of whether you have used a set budget in the past or not, try to estimate as accurately as possible how much you can afford spend this year. Having a budget and sticking to it will help avoid the potential for overspending.

 

Start Shopping Early

Even without a set plan, when shopping during the year think of items that would be great to buy and tuck away later for stocking stuffers. Or, if there is a gift in mind for a special someone, keep an eye on it as it may go on sale. Spending small amounts throughout the year can help to ease the pressure on your spending at the end of the year.

 

Gather Knowledge

Create a list of those that you need to buy gifts for and what they would like, or what you would like to give, and add to it in the lead up to Christmas. Keep tabs on people (not a in a creepy way!). Pay attention and ask subtle questions to find out what they are currently interested in and what they might like or want as a gift.

 

Minimise Spending

It is probably not news to you that the biggest expense at Christmas time isn’t food or decorations; it’s presents. Searching online for the items you have seen in store could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. If you are a member of your favourite stores or websites or sign up for their newsletters, you will very likely receive emails about promotions and even exclusive offers and discount codes. You could really grab yourself some bargains by taking advantage of these!

 

Plan your time

This year your family might choose to spend more time together creating your own Christmas memories and traditions. Or you might choose to get out and about and attend plenty of functions with friends and relatives. It is completely up to you. Whatever you choose to do, be clear in your choice and make sure you take the time to really enjoy whatever it is that you are doing. Using this approach you can avoid rushing around and feeling like the holiday season came and went in a blink and you missed out on the chance to really enjoy any of it.

 

Themes and Décor

Is it time to revamp your Christmas style? If you haven’t already, you could look at choosing a theme to give you some inspiration and direction when choosing your new décor pieces. Have a look at our Inspiration Gallery, it is full of plenty of great Christmas décor themes and ideas. You might also want to check out our recent post on Christmas Décor Trends for 2018 to find out what is hot right now for Christmas decorating. And keep an eye out for our exclusive 2018 themes that we will be launching very soon. We can’t wait!

 

Plan a trip

Summer and Christmas time in Australia is the perfect time to enjoy a getaway with close family or friends. As trips and holidays can very quickly and easily become quite expensive, you might suggest that the time away together is better than any physical gifts and so the holiday itself replaces the gifts.

 

Regardless of however, wherever and with whoever you decide to celebrate Christmas this year, we hope that it is filled with love and that you create some amazing memories. We think that is the true meaning of Christmas!