Any well-seasoned Christmas planner knows that the middle of the year is the perfect time to get ready for Christmas. It can be all too easy to fall into the trap of a last-minute rush, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Deb Quinn, co-owner of The Christmas Cart and very much a seasoned Christmas planner herself, shares her tried and tested tips to help you get organised well ahead of time this year.
Whether you have decided that this is the year you are going to do things differently, or you already have things pretty well in hand and are looking for a few more gems to help you along the way, see how Deb uses July as the perfect time to get ready for Christmas.
Christmas may (or may not!) be the first thing on your mind when July ticks around. But truth is, July is an ideal time to get ready for Christmas festivities. With only five months away from the big shindig (yes, the year has actually gone that fast!), you can save yourself plenty of time, stress and money by getting ready for Christmas right now.
Here are four of Deb’s hot tips on what you should start working on now to get ready for Christmas.
#1. Stock up at the sales
Let’s face it. Shopping for Christmas gifts can often be hard on the hip pocket, especially for people with large families and those with a tonne of gifts to buy. Not to mention unexpected emergencies that may occur in the coming months. So, with mid-year sales aplenty, July is the perfect time to get ready for Christmas gift planning.
Most of the major retailers host mid-year sales around this time of the year. You can pick up some pretty impressive Christmas gifts at a fraction of what they usually cost.
If you are not a huge fan of shuffling through sale crowds, here are three of my favourite online stores (apart from The Christmas Cart, of course!) that offer a range of gifts and goodies for the entire family:
- The Iconic – for clothing, shoes and accessories
- Kogan – for electronics and gadgets
- Kikki.K – for beautiful stationery and travel accessories
For something a little more personal, and potentially a little more economic on your budget too, consider creating Christmas Hampers or making your own Christmas gifts. You can pick up the bits and pieces you need at the sales. For even less sudden impact on your cash flow, decide on what it is that you need and set a plan to purchase a few items at a time on a regular basis over the coming months. You’ll find that you have quickly accumulated all that you need for creating truly thoughtful gifts without creating a giant hole in your pocket from a last minute “I just need to get something!!” blow-out spending spree.
When you are all done planning and shopping for your Christmas goodies, it’s time to think about Christmas gift wrapping. The way that you wrap and present a gift says a lot about how special the recipient is to you and is a reflection of the thought and intention that you have put into it.
*Tip: check out our article for some creative gift wrapping inspiration. The Christmas Cart have a range of craft and gift wrapping supplies to help you create your special looking gift packages.
#2. Put your catering to the test
When feeding the masses, Christmas is not the best time to try out new recipes and creative cooking ideas. On the other hand, July is the perfect time to start thinking about your Christmas menu and deciding on any new ideas you’d like to try.
Get ready for Christmas by gathering all your new creations, ideas and recipes. Starting the test run process now gives you plenty of time for experimentation and fine-tuning before the big day.
Getting organised in the kitchen is not just about trying new recipes though. Just as planning your gifts early allows you to start purchasing items right away, you can use the same approach for your food and catering supplies. Taking the time now to decide on your menu and décor theme means that you can start collecting pieces a little at a time. Non-perishable products such as pantry items, tableware and bon bons not only helps with reducing the amount of work (and stress) at the end of the year, but is friendlier to your bank balance too.
* Tip: if you are looking for some new Christmas recipes and cooking inspiration, check out our Christmas cooking archive.
#3. Prior planning for a stress-free Christmas
People do their best work when they have time to think and time to prepare. And the last thing anyone wants is stressful atmosphere and disorganised frenzy at the end of the year when they should be enjoying the magic of the festive season.
Save time and stress by making a list of what you want to achieve before Christmas day celebrations kick-off. On your list, include items like house preparation, gift planning and catering for Christmas Day. You can also include holiday preparation items on this list.
Here are some things to consider when preparing your list to get ready for Christmas:
- House cleaning and presentation – what are those niggling house chores that you really want to knock over before everyone arrives at Christmas? Pressure cleaning the pavement and paths, cleaning the windows, remove the cobwebs off the hard-to-reach ceiling area, dust the fans, scrub the tiles in the pool, etc.
- Christmas décor planning – does your Christmas décor stash need a refresh or top-up? Are all your Christmas lights in working order?
- Christmas gift shopping – plan your gift register now so you can grab items when you see them pop up on sale. Be sure to tick off your gift shopping as you get through them so you remember who you have bought for.
- Holidays – is your favourite holiday attire still in good condition and feeling comfortable? Do you need a new pool towel or a blow-up lounge for the pool? Do the kids have car sun shades for those long drives on the road or puzzle books to keep them occupied? Have you booked accommodation for your holiday destination yet?
All of these things take valuable time to complete and trying to get them all done, and done well, in a matter of weeks come November and December will more than likely leave you feeling a little less than merry.
It might seem obvious, but it is important to remember that it is not enough to simply write the list. That is only the beginning. Once you have written the list, commit to getting ready for Christmas by actually setting about making those things happen. Yes, Christmas is a magical time, but unfortunately these tasks certainly won’t complete themselves. Do whatever you need to do to give yourself the best chance of sticking to the list. This might mean adding timeframes for when you want each task to be finished or simply ticking them off as you go. If you are an avid procrastinator or new to the “super-organised-at-getting-ready-for-Christmas” game it may pay to break each task down into the smaller, seemingly more achievable, actions required to get it done. Or you could start with the most difficult tasks first so that you get the impression of an easier downhill run as you approach the end.
Take a leaf out of Santa’s book, make yourself a list and check it twice to get ready for Christmas.
#4. Practice makes perfect
Christmas in July is not just about hosting a Christmas event in the middle of the year, although that is a very special part of it. It is also the perfect time to get organised and get ready for Christmas. You can use your Christmas in July celebrations as a practice run for December. Test recipes, cooking and catering arrangements, and décor theming. What can you improve on for next time? What worked exceptionally well? How can you tweak it to make your Christmas in December a bigger and better affair?
The best tip I can provide you to help get ready for Christmas is to capitalise on the hump in the middle of the year and start preparing for the downhill run to Christmas now. Despite what some might say, it’s never too early to start thinking about and getting ready for Christmas. There is so much fun to be had as we approach the most wonderful time of the year!