If you are like most people, you have just recently finished the Thanksgiving leftovers and yet the next holiday is bearing down on us. No matter what you celebrate, it is hard not to feel the pressure of purchasing, decorating, baking, cooking, card mailing…you name it. Our world is filled with constant reminders of what we haven’t accomplished – retail & grocery stores, television, technology, friends…but try to take a few minutes to re-focus and really think about the most important tasks you need to accomplish. Perhaps some of these ideas can help…
1. Remember to Use List Making ~ some popular lists for the season include gift lists, supply lists, and decorating lists. Who do you need to buy for and how much can you spend? Who do you need to tip or acknowledge? What supplies do you have on hand vs. need to buy – tape, wrapping, envelopes? What do you really need for decorating – holiday plants and wreaths of what size and how many? Keep these lists active for the next few weeks – add, subtract & modify as needed.
2. Coupons ~ go thru store circulars, email offers, and other coupons before leaving your home. Keep them stored in an accessible place on your mobile device, and for the paper ones, keep them with you so you don’t leave them at home or in your car.
3. Batching ~ Are there gifts you can purchase in multiples? (and I don’t mean buy a bunch and then decide who they are for (because now you have your list!) Group shopping trips, so if you are heading to a certain part of town, you know all of the errands you need to accomplish and you do them at one time instead of making multiple trips.
4. Experience or Non Clutter Gifts ~ I have shared this before and still believe that gifts of experiences are often most enjoyed and certainly won’t add clutter. Gift cards for a massage, manicure, or pedicure, a coupon for making a favorite meal, a night of babysitting, memberships, a personal training session, tickets to a performance or sporting event, even time with a professional organizer! Think local for these items – your own town & even your own home.
Happy Holidays!