One Month Until Christmas!

What is on your to-do list? I thought it would be fun to look up some ideas about how to prepare for Christmas and then compare it to my own thoughts.

• Create and finalize your budget Decide how much you can spend on gifts, food, decorations, and travel to prevent overspending and post-holiday financial stress.
• Make a detailed gift list Write down everyone you plan to buy for and brainstorm gift ideas and a spending limit for each person. This helps you shop more thoughtfully and avoid last-minute impulse buys.
• Start buying and wrapping gifts Begin shopping for gifts now, taking advantage of sales like Black Friday. To avoid a daunting pile later, set up a dedicated wrapping station and wrap gifts as you buy them.
• Plan your menu and shop for non-perishables Outline your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus, accounting for any guest dietary restrictions. Purchase non-perishable items like canned goods, spices, and beverages early to avoid the last-minute grocery rush.
• Send out holiday cards Order or create your Christmas cards and update your address list. Aim to have them written and mailed by early December to ensure they arrive on time, especially for international shipping.
• Book travel and accommodations If you are traveling or hosting overnight guests, finalize all travel plans, book flights/hotels, and prepare guest rooms to avoid last-minute hassles and inflated prices.
• Deep clean and declutter your home Tackle a deep clean room by room, especially in areas where you will host guests. Decluttering now makes room for decorations and helps you stay organized.
• Schedule holiday activities and “me time” Look at your calendar and pencil in fun holiday traditions like baking cookies, watching Christmas movies, or attending local light displays. Also, schedule time for yourself to rest and recharge during the busy season.
• Test and put up decorations Inspect your lights for burned-out bulbs and check all decorations before putting them up. Setting up your tree and decorations now allows more time to enjoy them throughout the month.
• Plan acts of kindness or volunteering Share the spirit of the season by planning to volunteer at a local charity, such as a food bank or shelter, or organizing a donation of toys or clothes. 

I actually agree with this list. I am deep cleaning things like fridge, freezer and oven in preparation for the holidays. The missing one on this list for me is baking. I start baking and freezing items throughout November and December because they are part of my “acts of kindness” for the Holiday season. The Holidays can be very stressful, but working together and planning ahead makes everything more fun and enjoyable.