Despite all of the fun and festivity, Christmas can be a very stressful time. One way to work against that stress is by starting early. You can begin getting ready for Christmas in a number of ways. Getting a jump start on your holiday take away a lot of stress as the season approaches and will make it easier for you to sit back and enjoy all that the holiday has to offer. Don’t forget to involve the kids in each step—there is no Christmas rule that says Mom and Dad have to do all the work!
Shopping:
Shopping is definitely something that stresses many people out. There are some things you can do that will give you an easy start on your Christmas shopping:
* Make a list. Everyone you need to buy a gift for should go on the list. You can then take your time to check it and make sure you haven t forgotten anyone.
* Go through your list and set a budget. Also write down a few ideas of gifts you can get that should be in that budget.
* Pick out the people and items that are the most important and start buying gifts here.
* Each week set aside some money to pick up items on your list.
* Buy the same item or the same type of item for some of the people on your list. Bath items, umbrellas, calendars, and journals are all gifts that are very easy to personalize. You can get a different print, scent, or style for every person on your list, all at the same store.
* To make your life easier you should wrap the gifts and store them wrapped so you don t have a lot of them to wrap at one time as the season approaches. Just make sure that each package is well labeled.
* Buy gifts throughout the year—when they are on sale. Look for “end of the season” sales on outdoor toys and other large items, and simply store them until Christmas, you can save a bundle on kid’s toys and clothing by shopping ahead.
Crafts:
The holidays are ideal for crafting! There are a ton of things that you could be making for giving, or for decorating, just make sure you get an early start. Your crafts could include homemade decorations, homemade gifts, and Christmas cards. Include your children in the process, and make some family ornaments or decorations you can pull out each year and enjoy together.
* Make a list of all that you want to accomplish. Put it in an order that makes it easy to get done without late nights of rushing and feeling stressed. Knitting a sweater as a gift is a lovely idea, and knitting is a wonderful, stress free craft….unless you are frantically trying to finish that sweater at midnight on Christmas Eve!
* Get the kids, friends, and family members in on it and enjoy crafting together!
* Make things in bulk—if you are making ornaments, do several at one time—you will have the same amount of mess to clean up, but more finished items to use or share.
Baking:
Cookies, cakes, candy and Gingerbread—baking is an essential part of the holiday season. Remember to do some baking in the weeks leading up to Christmas—you can freeze either finished products or ready to bake dough, depending on your recipe. Be sure to set aside a day to bake cookies with the kids—these may not be the best looking cookies you make this season, but it will be a fun activity for the entire family!
Planning ahead, and making or purchasing items in advance can give you a head start on the holidays—and give you a chance to enjoy them!
Author Resource:
Denise Sanger is the owner of http://newcooltoysonline.com which features a fantastic selection of outdoor toys including ride-on toys and battery ride on toys. The company is located in Sunny Florida and may be reached at 877+950-7665.
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