It’s that time of year again… The cold weather is rolling in, the Christmas lights are starting to go up, and the children are beginning to pen their all-important wish lists to St Nick.
Who would have thought that in just over one month Christmas Day will be here?
The next few weeks are certainly going to be very hectic… but Christmas doesn’t have to be a burden.
In fact, planning for the holiday season can actually be kinda fun, if you know how to cut the Christmas chaos and go with the flow.
So read on for all of our top tips and tricks that will ensure your holiday season is simply decked with boughs of holly and merry as can be.
Start Christmas shopping early
Nothing sends a wave of motivation through a person like a good deadline. However, there is nothing fun about pushing through crowds of people in the town on Christmas Eve, desperately looking for a decent present for your nearest and dearest.
Start shopping now to save yourself any unnecessary stress, and allocate one day to wrap all your presents.
Stick to your list
Make a list, and check it twice. When it comes down to how much food you’ll need for the big Christmas dinner extravaganza, note down exactly what ingredients and food items you’re looking for.
Take the list to the shops, and not matter how tempting it may seem, do not buy any excess items.
This eliminates the temptation to buy items on a whim that you don’t need, and it also means that you stick to your budget and aren’t spending extra money.
Give yourself a limit
Set a spending limit when buying Christmas presents for your family and friends and make sure that they all agree to it.
This is especially important if you happen to come from a large family, with an extensive number of kids.
Aside from not leaving you out of pocket, this technique ensures that all presents are fair and will also help you spread your money out.
It’s a win-win situation!
Get shopping in the sales
We all love the Christmas sales – that’s a given. But why not take advantage of any pre-Christmas sales as well?
Be on the lookout, as there will always be places that will have chocolates, wrapping paper and cards on sale.
If you take advantage of them, you will be able to buy things in bulk and for nearly half the price.
Keep Christmas items safe
Don’t worry about over-buying Christmas cards, ornaments, crackers etc – and don’t throw any excess away as they will always come in handy next year.
The trick is to keep all of your Christmas accessories in a safe place so you always know where they are.
Talk about being prepared fro Christmas early!
Christmas trees
If you buy a real Christmas tree every year, consider buying an artificial one instead. This is because an artificial tree is highly durable and can be used year-upon-year, saving you a hefty bill in the long run.
Also, an artificial tree saves you having to clean up pine needles everyday.
However, if you like the smell of real Christmas trees and feel like you can’t go without it, why not buy a scented candle instead?