Installment Three
Christmas in July
Yes, it's that time again! . . . Almost. For as long as I can remember, I've always started planning for the holidays in the middle of summer. This has become a top priority in the last three and a half years - since I became a Mom. Though it's months away, and we are all in the midsts of battling heat, humidity and mosquitoes, I begin to think about the upcoming fall and winter holidays.
As a working Mom, I find this the most sensible solution, as I can plan my budget accordingly, and not try and pack a lot of shopping into one or two paychecks, invariably leaving something unpaid, so I can get that last gift or two. In the past couple of years, I have found by planning early, shopping a little each month between June and September, I leave nothing to chance, and more importantly, nothing unpaid! I no longer try to stretch a paycheck two weeks before the BIG DAY.
Summertime, retail wise, is also an excellent time to catch those shelf clearance items like house-wares, china, glassware, linens . . . many items that are timeless, but are usually marked WAY up before the holidays, and then put " on sale".
From a crafter's standpoint, such as myself, summertime is the perfect time to stock up on supplies, to creating my gifts and spending the time on them to ensure that each recipient gets a project that was well thought out - and not rushed.
I start those projects NOW, so by early fall around September and October, I can catch good sales for my big ticket gifts (usually for husband), and start planning my menus and house decoration ideas, having gotten my gifts out of the way. My "last minute" purchases usually fall in late October or early November - before Thanksgiving - so from the Thanksgiving holiday on, my Christmas planning is focused totally around family and fun - not shopping.
Now I know there are many, like my husband, who enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and think folks such as myself are a bit "too organized", but for me, a working Mother of a feisty three year old, who tries to stick to her budget, organization, at LEAST starting to outline things for the holiday now, are what work.
So if like me, your time is stretched between work, the kids and the household, and your paycheck only carries you so far on a GOOD day, and a holiday like Christmas, or even Thanksgiving, can break the bank, START NOW!
- Start small. Begin making your lists of folks you'll buy for, possible gift exchanges at work, Christmas card lists and supplies. Write down anything and EVERYTHING you think you will need - or things that you totally forgot about last year that you want to make sure you do this year.
- Look through all of your holiday supplies. DO you have enough gift-wrap? Tape? Gift Tags? Ornaments? Ornament wires or hooks? Lights? Garland? ANYTHING that you can think of that the stores are usually out of at the last minute.
- BATTERIES!!!! The number one item that can make or break a holiday morning - especially with children in the house. Start stockpiling those AA's, C's and D batteries. They aren't cheap - and you can never have enough, so start adding those to your grocery list each month.
- STAMPS!!! Another "maker or breaker" item. SO you don't get smacked in the face with a hefty price tag after addressing all those envelopes, and dumping 1/2 the stack because you just cannot afford to send them all out, start buying your extra stamps now. AN extra book here and there throughout the summer, will make a big difference, if nothing else, not having to stand in line!
- If you plan on making your gifts or ornaments this year, I don't even have to stress the importance of beginning right this instant. A couple of ornaments decorated each weekend with the kids, make for perfect inexpensive and fun family time as well.
- Making those cards this year? Whether rubber stamping or using your scanner and PC, start now. The earlier the better. No running out of ink for your printer OR rubber stamps and the stores are packed . . . DO IT NOW. A couple of cards per day or per weekend will add up, and ensure everyone gets a card because you already have your stamps! (Wink)
