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I know that we’re barely into September, but the holidays will be here before you know it. In fact, if you’ve been inside Hobby Lobby this summer, then it’s apparently been Christmas for several weeks already!
Planning ahead can feel like a chore at the time, but your future self will thank you for the work you put in now, even if it’s just a few things here and there. Here are 10 ways to start preparing for the holidays now—some of them might surprise you!
10 Ways to Start Preparing for the Holidays Now
Decide what’s important
The most important thing before any kind of planning or preparation is to decide what’s important to you and your family. This might mean asking your family what holiday traditions matter to them as well as thinking through what has made past years feel chaotic. Maybe there are some things that you’ve always done that your family no longer enjoys, or that just aren’t worth the time commitment. Have a family meeting or sit down alone for half an hour and really think through what you want the holiday season to look like for your family.
Clean your house
Of course, if you clean your house now, you’ll have to clean it again before the holidays, but there might be some deep cleaning tasks you can get out of the way. Also, if your normal routines have fallen by the wayside this summer, getting back into a cleaning routine will help you when things start getting crazy closer to the holidays. Here’s one of my posts about cleaning.
Declutter
As you’re cleaning, start putting stuff aside to get rid of. This is a great time to go through kids’ toys and pass on things that they no longer play with, since they’re likely to get new toys as gifts for Christmas. You can also use this opportunity to change out summer and winter clothes and get rid of things no one wore or that no longer fit. This makes more room in your closets! (Here are some tips about how to declutter!)
Have a yard sale
Once you have your pile of stuff to declutter, consider having a yard sale. You could even get together with a few friends and join forces. Then use the money you make for holiday expenses! See my tips on having a yard sale.
Start setting aside money
You can check out my post 12 ways to save $300 before Christmas, which will give you some ideas for finding more income. But you can also just look for little windfalls here and there—redeem credit card rewards, save that $10 left in your grocery budget. Every little bit counts and it will add up if you start now!
Set a budget for Christmas gifts
Use my spreadsheets and organization system for budgeting and staying organized so that you can keep track once you start buying gifts.
Start a small gift/stocking stash
As you’re out and about this time of year, look for things you could put in stockings or use for teacher gifts. They don’t have to be holiday themed!
Do a pantry/freezer inventory and stock up on baking supplies
This is a great time to deep clean your fridge and freezer and inventory your pantry. As you do, take note of what baking supplies you might be low on. (Here’s my post on how to organize your chest freezer.)
Order holiday cards
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Create a holiday calendar
You can print out blank calendars for the busy months and put them in places where the whole family can see them.
Do you have any tips for how to prepare for the holidays? Let us know in the comments!
