The presents are unwrapped, the tree is sitting forlornly in the corner and the Christmas blues have begun to set in. You might be thinking about how much it takes to prep for Christmas and how it's done and gone in an instant. As you pick up the discarded wrapping paper and boxes, debating whether to pull down the tree now or after the New Year, you might be considering how you can do Christmas a little differently next holiday season. Luckily, there are a few tips out there to start working on now, that will help you next season.
Buy Presents All Throughout the Year
From deals on Amazon to gifts at your local retail store, you can always run across things you think your family members and friends will love at Christmas. Instead of waiting until a couple of months before Christmas, or in most cases a couple of weeks before, to get presents for everyone on your list, start early. For example, do you know your mom would love an electric blanket? If you see one on sale, go ahead and snatch it up for her and put it in the closet until Christmas. Not only will you have something she will love, but you might also get it at a cheaper price because you found it in the middle of the summer. Picking up gifts all throughout the year can lower your stress levels and the effect on your purse when the holidays come around once again.
Stock Up on Gift Cards
Who doesn't love gift cards? The sensible thing to do is start stocking up on those gift cards early in the year. Buy your little sister a Target gift card. Your brother travels all of the time? Give him a gift card for gas for Christmas. The thing about gift cards is you can stock up on them throughout the year, and then decide who to give them to as Christmas looms on the horizon once again. You save on wrapping paper, and everyone gets what they want.
If you like buying gifts instead, you can still plan ahead by purchasing gift cards for stores where you normally shop. This lets you spread the payments out and still get the latest and greatest gifts on Black Friday or even on Christmas Eve if that's your thing.
Send E-Cards Instead of Traditional
As the debate over the environment continues to heat up over the next year, you can start doing your part early on by sending ecards for the holidays instead of traditional. By the time Christmas rolls around, you'll be a master at ecards and can send Christmas ecards to everyone on your holiday list.
Stock Up on Christmas Supplies
You already know that you're going to need tape, wrapping paper, bows, and name tags next year, so why not stock up on them when they go on sale after the holidays? You will be one step ahead in the game that is Christmas shopping if you do.
Start Saving Now
There are many, many reasons to start saving for Christmas now, though in reality, most people are just ready to forget the holidays for a while once the chaos of Christmas dies down on December 26th. Sit down and figure out how much money you spent this Christmas. Once you've done that divide it by 10. This number is how much you need to put up every month to be able to afford Christmas next year without going into debt and having to pay for it all year long. Find a notebook or go online and find a related template for tracking expenses. You would be amazed at how well a simple monthly budget works when it comes to budgeting for future expenses. Saving now means less stress next holiday season. Who knows you might even save enough to treat yourself as well.
These are just a few of the ways that you can do Christmas a little bit differently next year. From stocking up on supplies to sending Christmas ecards, there's always a way to make it a little less stressful next holiday season.
