I know…BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Folks..LIFE IS BUSY! Christmas time is BUSY!
Sorry to be the one to tell you that.
BUT…
30 days …from TODAY (11.25.23) 4 SUNDAYS!
YES, 4 SUNDAYS…
Christmas will be here!
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
So??
How to get ready??
PACE YOURSELF!
Think
MARATHON…NOT SPRINT!
Where to start?
#1…..Make LISTS!
(I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LISTS! )
List ALL ( YES ALL ) of the people you
WOULD LIKE to give gifts to.
Now…
PUT A STAR next to the people you MUST give a gift to.
(I know that sounds weird..but..I would LOVE to give gifts to
EVERYONE…but…my bank account says I must prioritize).
It doesn’t mean I won’t give a gift…
just might be a “thoughtful”… not-as-costly gift.
Reality people!
If money grew on trees…
#2…..DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!
So…there is officially 1 more PAYCHECK until Christmas.
( Or figure out HOW many PAYCHECKS YOU have until DEC. 24 )
Take the number of gifts YOU MUST purchase
and divide by EXTRA $$.
***If you have been SAVING for Christmas, which you WILL DO for NEXT year, add that too!
That tells you HOW many GIFTS you MUST purchase and the amount you have to spend.
That’s important because
now you can begin looking for a gift
for the PERSON…not just a check-off on a list.
SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!
Now….start talking, texting, asking others…
#3…..DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!
ASK!!!!
What items do the people on your list WANT…NEED…LOVE?????
Add this to your LIST!
( If for kids…ASK THEIR PARENTS…sizes, likes, ages,etc )
Now…start looking…
online? Look for FREE shipping!
(AMAZON PRIME ..I am speed dial!)
Friends & Family …FAR AWAY??? ( Sorry )
SHIP TO THEM!
Don’t ship to YOU & then pay to ship to them!
SHIP DIRECTLY! FREE!
STOP!
YOU HAVE NOT MADE A BUDGET YET!
#4…..Figure out what you can spend…
AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.
They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!
Your kids COME FIRST!
And NOT going into SEVERE debt!
Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!
NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!
OK..then..start listing whom you will purchase for.
After you purchase…keep the receipt!
I write the name of the person I purchased it for on the back…
RETURNS? Easy Peasy!
After you purchase…
or it arrives from SANTA’S HELPER
IN THE BROWN UPS TRUCK… 🙂
WRAP IT AND ATTACH A NAME TAG!
( This is from a Santa’s Helper…who has forgotten and was wrapping WAY TOO LATE INTO CHRISTMAS EVE! )
After Thanksgiving..
#5…..I begin to look at my
LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”
but NOT necessarily,
“Must Purchase For”
on my list!
( Yes I keep it in a little book in my purse! )
Now I have a better idea of “extras”…
Do I need to do “homemade”….giftcards…..”I thought of you- but have no $$ left” card?
What kinds of gifts can you give for NO MONEY?
How about a picnic at the park? A TEA PARTY for kids? A trip to the library to read books? Take a young child to the ZOO???
Gifts of “ONE TO ONE” time…ARE THE BEST!
And you can schedule them AFTER the holidays.
The gift that keeps on giving!
Whatever fits YOU!
RELAX!
NO GUILT!
Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!
It’s about telling the people you care about..
THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU!
Enjoy the season.
Spend time with friends & family!
TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!
And when JANUARY comes around..
SMILE!
(And maybe a mani / pedi for yourself?)
But…remember…
Christmas is from the HEART..not the WALLET!
Have FUN!
What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????
