When we were small, my mum would begin preparing for Christmas in February or March. Christmas groceries are expensive so she would pay a few dollars each week throughout the year for a Christmas hamper of groceries to be delivered in December.
Toys would be bought as they went on sale through the year, and hidden in her closet. When Santa finally visited it was always amazing, considering that mum had such a limited budget.
Watching my mum perform miracles for Christmas inspired me. While I used to be the kind of person who would still be shopping on Christmas Eve, I’ve now changed my ways. The holidays are stressful for many people, and being organised can make them a fun experience and an exciting time with friends and family instead of a last-minute rush to get things done.
Here are some tips so you can get sorted for Christmas:
Sort your groceries in advance
Groceries are sometimes the most expensive part of Christmas, but there are ways you can put on a delicious meal without breaking the bank.
There are many companies which have Christmas hampers, so you can choose the items you want and pay it off through the year. Another option is to buy coupons at your supermarket-say $5 a week, and put that money towards your Christmas shop at the end of the year. You can also stock up on non-perishables like wine and candy through the year so you’ll have less to worry about when you do that Christmas Eve shop.
Many butchers also allow you to pre-pay for a ham or turkey, so you can rest assured that you’ll have your Christmas meal mostly sorted before the big day.
Buy cheap stocking fillers
Many people get overwhelmed when it comes to stocking fillers, and assume that they need to spend a lot of cash. But stockings are usually for trinkets and candy, and you can show people you care without breaking the bank.
Choose stocking fillers which are meaningful or helpful in everyday life. They don’t need to be expensive, but these types of gifts are a good way to show you know someone well. These are things that are also easy to buy throughout the year or at least in the few months leading up to December so you’ll have one less thing to check off your list.
Secret Santa
If you have a large group of friends, why not take some of the pressure and expense out of the equation and suggest a Secret Santa? Instead of buying multiple presents you can put extra thought into just one, and really consider what that person would like as a gift.
Your friends will have family members and coworkers to buy for and will probably be relieved at the idea of Secret Santa, and you’ll be able to get one present out of the way in October or November instead of multiple gifts during the weeks leading up to the big day.
