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Happy Monday! It is the start of all of the holiday things. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already this week, and I for sure can’t wait until Christmas. Next weekend my mom and I will be heading to New York which I can’t wait for. It is always a magical time , and one that I like to cherish with my friends and family. There is a lot of holiday prep to complete during this time of year. Last year I covered my tips on how to stay organized through the holidays. These are things that I always try to get through so that I am not stressed and can actually relax and chill when it comes to the crunch time of Christmas. It is in fact the time to reflect on what this season really means and being with one another. That is why if you have gifts to give or parties to attend, my holiday prep tips below will help you throughout the season.

Holiday Prep Tips

• Get Your Shopping Done By December 1st: I have been following this tip of mine for the last 2 years and it has made a huge difference. Throughout the year I jot down what people might mention for gifts, and then I will purchase them at that time. You might have to store a few more items in your closet than you thought, but getting this done early will really save your sanity so that you are not fighting the crowds either.
• Use Amazon Wish Lists: This year we said our family was all going to create a wish list on Amazon which would be more convenient and they are things we need or want. I have embraced this and my brother and I typically have one that we always have so for our birthdays it makes it super convenient. I put things that I normally use on their like sunscreen and other knacks that would save me the headache.
• Get Groceries or Wine Delivered:  This is a little more than it would cost to drive and shop through every aisle to find the ingredients for your holiday party, but the convenience is there. Just going to the grocery store on Sunday afternoons is a mad house, so during the holidays it can be even worse. A small fee that has them delivered and you can order on your phone is so much easier. Also, if you are like me and aren’t the best at cooking or baking it takes double the amount of time to sometimes find a certain ingredient that you don’t normally use. Also wine delivered to your doorsteps is just amazing in general. Winc is what I use and you can get 4 bottles delivered to your doorstep for less than $40 by using my code here.
• Buy Visa Gift Cards for Shopping Budget: I was able to buy a Visa gift card this year for my Christmas shopping and it has helped so much. If you don’t have a budget for people you need to buy gifts for, typically you will end up spending more. This also works if you were to get cash out as well. Having a fixed amount that when it is out, you don’t have any more makes you stay on top of your budget even more. Don’t forget about Christmas decorations, wrapping supplies, baking and other expenses that come up.
• Go Through Decorations As You Get Them Out: It is always a pain when you have to move boxes around so much as you don’t remember where you put your favorite ornaments or that fun pillow that you always set out. I always try to go through the decorations and see if I need to donate any that I am not using or don’t like anymore. Immediately take them to a donation center as people could use décor like this instead of doing it after the holidays are over. You will truly only use what you really like, and your items will be organized as well.
• Stock Up On Basics When They Are On Sale: The key basics during this time of year like bows, wrapping paper, tape, sugar, chocolate chips, flour, napkins, and batteries to name a few are perfect to always have on hand. When you see these on sale, load up on them. You can’t have too much of these and chances are everyone will be buying them as it gets later on during the month. Another great place to pick up basics like these is the Dollar Tree.
• Reuse Boxes and Bags For Gifts: If I have ordered something online whether it is from Amazon or Nordstrom and had it marked as a gift, 9 times out of 10 I will just keep it in the box and wrap the box. This makes it easier and I don’t have to buy boxes from the store. Even if you didn’t buy the gift online you can still put it in a box that you saved from Amazon. You are recycling and it saves you some money too. This year I have also been resuing bags that I have gotten from boutiques and just tying a festive ribbon around them. Typically they are just the solid brown bags with no logo on them. These are also cheap if you buy them in bulk on Amazon or at the Dollar Tree as well.
• Write Down All To Do’s And Commitments: This is a time that can be extremely busy from holiday parties to pot luck dinners and everything in between. It is important to have all of your to do’s listed and what you have to do when. If you have a handle on everything that needs to be done in a timely fashion then this will make the chaos a little simpler.
• Get Help If Needed: If you have a potluck but you don’t have the time to cook or don’t enjoy it there is nothing that is saying you have to do this on your own. Pick up some of this food that is already made instead of stressing out. If you put it on a nice dish, no one is ever going to know anyway. This also takes into account any housekeeping, organizing, babysitting, or any other service that is needed during this time of year.
• Make Time For Giving Back: No matter how busy your schedule gets, during this time of year it is always good to make time for giving back. Whether this is volunteering at a soup kitchen, adopting a family at Christmas, or doing another act of service. This is the holiday prep that means the most  instead of all the gifts, décor, and parties.

This is such a magical time of year to celebrate this wonderful holiday. I hope you enjoyed some of my holiday prep tips and that you have learned some new ones. I would love to hear what some of your favorites are as well.