15 Easy and Simple Ways to Get Ready for Christmas

Here are 15 ways to get ready for Christmas now so that you have stress free and fabulous holiday. 

15 Ways to Get Ready for Christmas Now

The most wonderful time of the year always sneaks up on me. In September I make to-do lists  and check off many of my favorite things, like buying gifts, baking and decorating, but somehow by the time Christmas Eve is here the list still has a few items that haven’t been finished. Don’t be like me, start ticking things off of your list early so that you can enjoy an stress-free Christmas season. If you follow these 15 ways to get ready for the holidays now I promise that you will have a game plan in place and will enjoy the holidays so much more.

1. Start a Gift List Early

When you write down gift ideas as they come to you, you avoid the last minute scramble for gifts and the dreaded impulse buys. An early start also helps you find  bargains over time, letting you spread out spending over the next 9 weeks. Keep a list of interests or gift hints from friends and family in your purse so that you can make shopping more  thoughtful and fun during the stress of the holidays.

• Write down everyone you plan to give a gift to, including friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to avoid missing anyone.
• Make a note of hobbies, favorite books, or recent conversations where gift hints were made, This makes shopping easier later on, especially if watching the online sales or Black Friday Sales.
• Keep a column for gifts bought already and those still needed,  preventing duplicate purchases.
• Make a budget per person so that you do not go over budget and have to skimp on someone else.
• Review and tweak the list weekly.

2. Create a Christmas Budget and Stick to It

Setting a Christmas budget now prevents overspending and holiday spending regrets later when you receive the dreaded credit card statement. At this time of the year there is a sale almost daily and it is so easy to get carried away buying gifts for yourself(just me?) and others while online shopping.

But having a plan lets you have control over the money. When making your budget, be realistic and be sure that you include every holiday related expense including gifts, meals, decorations, holiday entertainment, concerts, and even charitable giving. Remember, a budget is a holiday helper. Sticking to your budget means you can actually enjoy the festivities without worrying about your finances later.

•  Detail every expected cost, including gifts, decorations(tree, lights, ornaments), wrapping paper, food, events, concerts, and travel to get a full picture of what you will be budgeting for.
•  Keep all receipts and tally expenses frequently against your budget to spot any overages ASAP.
• Try the envelope method for gifts or entertainment, it’s a great way to limit how much you spend in those areas.
•  Plan a small emergency fund for unexpected costs so you’re prepared without sacrificing other items you have budgeted for or that are important to you.

3. Plan Holiday Meals in Advance

Nobody wants to scramble for dinner ideas while there are guests in the house and fun to be had. If you are having friends and family to stay over the holidays then you need to plan ahead. It’s a good idea to figure out if you will be serving three meals a day or just planning on dinner?

As for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, planning your meals early lets you refine and tweak around with the menu. Will you stick to tradition or add new items to the menu? Do you want to delegate dishes or make everything yourself?

•  Make a detailed menu including appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts based on preferences and traditions.
• If you will have guests for an extended period of time make things easy on yourself and have pizza night, or a pot of chili and the fixings another. Simple dinners like these will keep you from being overworked and stressed by the time the big day rolls around.
• New recipes should be tried well ahead of the actual celebration to avoid  a recipe flop.
• Ask guests about any allergies, vegetarian, vegan options, or diet restrictions well before the event.
•  Buy nonperishables early, such as canned goods, spices and cookie making supplies. Then schedule time at the grocery store for fresh items closer to the day of your family gatherings.
•  Choose recipes that can be partially or fully prepared ahead of Christmas Day to avoid too much on your plate and chaos. After all, you want to enjoy the holidays too.
• If you are hosting, ask your family or friends to bring a dish or help with cooking and setting the table. A little help around the holidays is a gift so don’t refuse an offer of help.

4. Declutter Your Home for the Season

This is my least favorite holiday chore, I hate finding places to store the pillows,lamps, furniture and extra decor in order to make room for the Christmas tree, Christmas decorations and guests.

It’s amazing how a little tidy up can make your home feel like a a new place and a cozy haven. Plus, tackling clutter now prevents last-minute cleaning when guests are on the way. Be sure to clean and declutter the guest rooms so that they are ready when friends and family arrive.

• Break your home into sections (living room, kitchen, bedrooms) and clean each room separately so that you do not make a mess and become overwhelmed. I am guilty of this.
• Use clear plastic bins or labels to neatly pack away items you’re keeping but don’t to use need daily around Christmas.
• Plan donation drop offs or recycling runs so the clutter doesn’t linger in your car or garage.

5. Book Holiday Travel and Accommodations

If you are traveling for the holidays then you need to make holiday arrangements as soon as you know your destination and plans. Holiday travel plans can be expensive and stressful if left until the last minute. Booking your transportation to and from the destination and making hotel or Airbnb reservations early lets you lock in better rates and guarantees availability. Giving yourself this head start now can transform travel into part of your holiday excitement instead of a headache.

•  Check multiple airlines and travel platforms for flights, trains, or car rentals to find the best deals and flexible options.
• Avoid peak travel days if possible by leaving a day earlier or later for holiday savings and less crowded airports.
• Secure hotels or rentals as soon as your travel dates are set.
•  Purchase insurance for any last minute cancellations or delays, especially if the weather or health might affect your plans. This happened last year to my parents and they did not make it for Christmas because they got sick
•  Double check passports, Real IDs, and any necessary visas and confirmations in plenty of time to make alternate arrangements. You do not want to make a mad dash to the consulate for a new passport.

6. Make DIY Decorations and Homemade Gifts to Save Time and Money

Starting your holiday decorating projects early leaves you more time to enjoy your holiday celebrations. Whether your knitting scarves and sweaters, making handmade ornaments and wreaths, or designing matchboxes or cards, starting know now means you won’t feel rushed.

Plus, homemade decorations, wreaths and cards allow the whole family create keepsakes to use year after year, as well as to give to others.

• Pinecones, cinnamon sticks, and fresh greenery make beautiful wreaths and containers for your porch and you can forage for them in your own yard. I have been collecting pinecones to make my pinecones wreaths since July.
• Old jars, fabric scraps, and buttons can be transformed into ornaments, my mom has the ones that we made over 50 years ago and we laugh every year we see them on the tree.
•  If you have kids or grandkids, why not make cinnamon ornaments or dried oranges to string on the tree?
• Last year I could not find the color ornaments that I wanted for the tree so I made them. This year I am making them again in green,  I still have a few more to make but I am getting there.
• Combine decoration making with gift wrapping preparations. Make extra cinnamon ornaments or dried oranges to use in your gift wrapping.

7. Schedule Family Photos and Card Orders

If family photos are a holiday tradition planning your shoot early gives you flexibility for location, outfits, and a timely delivery of your cards. Avoid the rush by booking photographers or setting your DIY photo session well in advance.

•  Pick a convenient day at least a month before Christmas so that your family photo can be edited, printed and mailed.
• Coordinate your family outfits well ahead of the photo shoot to avaid a last minute scramble.
•  Decide if you’ll hire a professional or set up a DIY photo session.
• Select your card templates, customize messages, and finalize the designs in advance to prevent delays.
• Add a trip to the post office to your calendar for stamps and then to mail the cards.

8. Make Your Holiday Playlist

Music is essential to the holiday season, so having your playlist made means that you can start the season whenever you like, be that the day after Halloween or today.  Making a playlist lets you set the mood for quiet evenings, or holiday parties.

• Include a mix oc classic carols, modern holiday songs, and instrumentals for variety.
•  Make a playlist that’s long enough to get through parties without repeating the same songs too often.
• Add special songs that hold personal or family holiday memories.
• Save your playlists on your devices so you’re not dependent on Wi-Fi.

Here are a few songs that are on my holiday playlist.

• “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole,
•  “Let It Snow” by Bing Crosby
• “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson
• “Last Christmas” by Wham
• “Oh Holy Night” Josh Groban
• “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” Michael Buble
• “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year “by Andy Williams
•  “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Tchaikovsky
• “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes
•  “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

9. Set Up a Cozy Relaxation Space

Let’s face it, the holidays are stressful and we all deserve a little down time during the hustle and bustle of the season. Set up a dedicated spot in your bedroom, family room or wherever that provides a peaceful spot for you to unwind. Add warm throws, soft lighting can be a lifesaver and maybe a candle. This cozy space lets you or anyone at your house to rest, recharge, and enjoy a few moments of calm, whether they are reading a book or sipping a cup of cocoa.

• Pick a quiet corner or a favorite chair near a window or fireplace.
• Add pillows and blankets.
• Use fairy lights, candles, or a small lamp to create a cozy glow.
• Stock  tables with holiday themed books or magazines to enjoy during your rest

Taking a break and giving yourself a little place to relax nurtures your wellbeing and gives you space to reflect, recharge, and appreciate the little moments of the season.

10. Plan Your Holiday Baking

Baking for the holidays is a lot of work and does take a little planning, especially of you are the family baker. Do you bake cookies to share with your neighbors, family and friends or doe you only bake for your family? Do you like to make the same cookies and candy every year or add new recipes?

I like to make family favorites and then add one or two new recipes. Typically I have all of the baking for family and friends finished the first week of December so that I can ship it. Then closer to the holidays I make the cookies and candy that we like but in small quantities.

• Decide how many different cookies, bars, breads, pastries, cakes, recipes that you want to make and how many families that you are baking for.
• Make a shopping list of ingredients, butter, flour, sugar, brown sugar, dried fruit, nuts, vanilla, almond extract, etc that you need.
• Take advantage of pre-holiday discounts and deals or visit Costco, Sams, BJ’s to buy in bulk.
• Add your baking days to the calendar, as well as, shipping days if you are mailing cookies, candy and bread to family and friends.
• Don’t forget to add Christmas morning treats like cinnamon rolls, walnut snails, almond Kringle or other sweet treats to the baking schedule.

11. Prepare Holiday Cards and Stationery

Sending and receiving Christmas cards and holiday cards is a Christmas tradition. Starting the process early ensures that your cards are written, mailed and received before the holiday.

• Update your contact list and request addresses from anyone who has moved, gotten married, is a new friend  or missing to ensure no one’s left out.
•  Decide on your cards, handmade, purchased or digital cards that match your time and budget constraints.
• Make time to adda few words or note in each card.
•  Stock up on holiday stamps and postage ahead of time so you when your cards are ready you can mail them.
• Plan and mark the mailing date on your calendar so that your cards arrive on time. If writing a few cards a day make sure to place them in your mailbox to be picked up by the carrier each day.

12. Volunteer or Donate to a Charity

Giving during the holidays is just as magical if not more as receiving during the holidays. Share the spirt of the season, whether you volunteer your time, donate money, gifts or food. Preparing in advance lets you find causes and families in need.

• Look into shelters, food banks, churches, schools or nonprofits requiring help during the holiday period.
• Gather friends or family to collect items like clothes, toys, or nonperishable food for community groups like Toys for Tots or your local Giving Tree.

13. Plan Fun Seasonal Activities with Kids

The holidays are the perfect time to create memories with your kids and grandkids. Organizing activities in advance ensures everyone in the family has something to look forward to over the holiday season.

• Make ornaments, cards, or holiday gifts.
• Spend the day playing games or doing a puzzle. This is one of our favorite family activities.
• Plan a day making cookies, treats or gingerbread houses.
• Get outside, go forwalks to see holiday lights, sledding trips, or visits to local music and light festivals.
• Set aside a little time each night for reading holiday classics or watching festive movies together.
• Go to a holiday concert, see the Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol.

14. Test and Buy Holiday Lights and Equipment

There’s nothing like holiday lights brightening a home, or a neighborhood. But tangled or burnt out bulbs can butter a damper on the fun real fast. Testing your light strings and outdoor decorations early ensure a beautiful, bright and festive display.

• Inspect your lights, check each strand for burned-out bulbs, faulty wires, or frayed plugs before you start to decorate.
• Replace or repair damaged lights.
• Make sure that you have enough outdoor rated extension cords and timers for your display. Remember safety first.
• Before the cold weather sets in, try out lawn projectors, make sure your inflatables haven’t been eaten by mice and check your light timers.

15. Schedule “Me Time” During the Busy Season

In the whirlwind of holiday prep it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. Whether it’s a quiet morning coffee or chocolate, a brisk walk, or a favorite book, these mini breaks can recharge your joy, spirit and patience.

•  Politely say no when demands on your time are starting to overwhelm you. The holiday are supposed to be fun, not a chore.
• Put down your devices once in a while, step away from social media and enjoy the people and places you are with. Be present, it is the most valuable gift that you can give.
• Reflect and appreciate all of the little moments.

Until Next Time

​The holidays are magical and with a little preplanning can be stress free  and lots of fun. There will be time to create special memories with family and friends, make new traditions and enjoy the old, to tick off items on your holiday bucket list and to be a kid again.

I hope that you enjoyed these 15 Easy and Simple Ways to Get Ready for Christmas. Have a wonderful day!

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On My Radar~Christmas