During one of our first Christmas Eves I had a meltdown.Husband waited until the very last second to purchase and wrap gifts because wewere waiting on payday (we run a cash only house with the exception of ourmortgage and car payments.)
We stayed up until the wee hours of the nightwrapping gifts. Wrapping gifts less than 24 hours before the paper is rippedoff seems pointless. Not to mention, I try to keep Christmas Eve lowkey and chill time to gear up for the happy Christmas frenzy the following day.
I knew things had to change unless I wanted to ruin everysingle holiday for the rest of our lives with an annual argument.
I learned if I started doing a little bit here and therethroughout the year I have enough things done or know what needs tobe done that my sanity and budget are saved when Christmas time rollsaround. No more Christmas meltdowns in this house!
This also helps me combat Cabin Fever or, as I like to callit Boring Winter Months Where I Am Looking for Low Coast Stuff to Do So I Don’t GoCrazy When We are Snowed In Projects.
There are things I do in various combinations and some not atall if it doesn’t fit that year that save me from reliving that last minutegift buying and wrapping meltdown every Christmas.
9 Things You Need to Do Now to Save Money and Sanity Next Christmas
1. Start a ChristmasClub. If there is only one tip you follow on this list starting aChristmas Club should be it. A Christmas Club is a separate savings accountwhere you deposit money throughout the year. The total amount is automaticallytransferred into your checking/debit card account before the holidays. Theregenerally isn’t a minimum or maximum you can deposit into your account so evendepositing something small like $10 a week from your paycheck will give you $520 of your own money to spendon Christmas when the money becomes available in October!
2. Start or add to aBox of Gift Boxes and/or Gift Bags. My mother and my grandmother always had abox of gift boxes stored with the Christmas decorations. I thought it was normal to have one until I mentioned it to my sister in law and she looked at me like I had three heads when I said, "isn's it in your box of boxes?"
My box of gift boxesand bags saves precious time and sanity than a mega money saver. I can blowthrough wrapping gifts for birthdays weddings, and Christmas in record speed because I have all of the boxes and giftbags I need at my fingertips.
I buyclear storage tubs because it is easier to identify the bin I need. Plastic bins saved my stuff from a burst water pipe that's why I use them over cardboard boxes.
3. Start or add to a giftwrapping paper and bow box. Just like the box of gift boxes, I grew upthinking everyone had a gift wrapping box full of gift tags, wrapping paper,and ribbon like my mother and grandmother. I try to save bows and ribbon when Ican and add little bits and bobs that may make a pretty gift topper such asfake flowers (I try to keep it eco on the the flower front but sometimes stuff still comes my way.)
I eventually decided to buy a special wrapping paper storage tubwhen I found a large stash of discounted Christmas wrapping paper I bought andlost in our old apartment. I didn’t have to buy new wrapping paper or reuse oldwrapping paper for the first six years we had our new home because I didn’thave one spot for everything. Now I do.
I bought the Honey Do Gift Wrap and Storage Box (really that's the name) because it stores gift wrap, ribbon, and bows together and fits under our bed.
4. Shop afterChristmas sales with care and caution. Sometimes you can get the things youneed now like Husband’s wool winter coat I got at an even bigger discount because I had to sew on a button or for later like the perfect family gift Ibought for someone for 2013. Just don’t go crazy buying super mega discountedstuff you’re only buying because it is a deal. Buying discounted stuff you neveruse doesn’t save anyone money.
5. Make reusablecloth gift bags. Get the directions here.As much as I enjoy wrapping a pretty gift, in recent years Iended up missing my favorite Christmas activities because I was stuck inSanta’s Little Sweatshop wrapping gifts. I didn’t have time to make cloth giftbags during the Christmas season when I first saw the idea. I made them afterthe holiday for the following year. This tip Changed. My. Life! I havegifts wrapped and under the tree 10 minutes after they hit the door to the house. I didn’tmiss any of my favorite activities this year and my sister in law ooh’ed and ah’ed overmy gift wrap because I usedvelvetsand brocades I had in my costumingstash. For me this life saver was a freebie.
This tip may not work for you if you have a gift peeker inyour house. Fortunately, we do not.
6. Buy holiday food(turkey, ham, cranberries, etc.) at a discount and freeze for later.Husband and I grocery shop after every major holiday to buy Thanksgivingturkeys, Easter hams, St Patrick’s Day corned beef, etc. at a significantdiscount because the stores are trying to get rid of their holiday stock afterthe holiday. I have a discounted duck in my freezer right now!
7. Make or print nextyear’s gift tags. I hate buying gift tags because I lazy, cheap, and hatetossing/recycling one use items. I make gift tags using scrapbook stencils andpunches to cut circles, ovals, squares (whatever the design allows) from oldChristmas cards. Sometimes I make gifttags from old business cards. This year I just printed and cut out a bunch offree printable gift tags I pinned to my Pinterest Gift Wrapping board. I stickthem in my gift wrapping paper and bowbox for the following year.
Learn how to make my Put a Bird on It Portlandia gift tag here.
8. Start an idea list.If I am not Christmas shopping for gift year round I am shopping for giftideas. Read my tips here.This is a time, money, and sanity saver! I can use cash to buy gifts as I see them(sometimes on sale), have time to make them before the holiday rush, and havesome of my shopping done by the time Black Friday rolls around where in perfectyears I’ve finished my shopping – with cash because I used my Christmas Clubsavings.
9 Make all thoseChristmas crafts you pinned on Pinterest and didn’t have time to make for thisyear now during a boring snow day for next year. I pin. You pin. How many of us actually DOthe projects and recipes we pin? Do them now while you have the time! MyChristmas Winter Holiday Pinterest board has a bunch of ideas.Follow me on Pinterest and I’ll follow you back!
What do you do to for a stress free holiday?
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