7 Simple Steps to Take Now for an Organised Christmas
Follow these tips to avoid holiday craziness and get organised, so you can enjoy a peaceful and calm Christmas
What is the difference between a chaotic, overly expensive, disorganised Christmas and a calm, peaceful one? Take some tips from the Declutter Queen and head into Christmas channeling you inner elf.
It’s a good idea to set a budget of what you’d like to spend this Christmas. The easiest way to do this is to decide on a price per category. Decide what you want to spend on your children, siblings, your spouse, nieces and nephews, parents or friends. If you set how much you’d like to spend per person, you have your budget.
2. Go with gift lists
How do you remember who you’d like to buy gifts for each Christmas? My suggestion is to use a Christmas gift list to keep track of who you’re buying for and what you’ve purchased, as well as how much you’ve spent.
Tip: Many of the free ‘notes’ apps for Android or iPhones are great for list-making and some come with an option that allows you to tick off tasks as you go. That means you can keep track of what you’ve bought and what you still have to buy.
How do you remember who you’d like to buy gifts for each Christmas? My suggestion is to use a Christmas gift list to keep track of who you’re buying for and what you’ve purchased, as well as how much you’ve spent.
Tip: Many of the free ‘notes’ apps for Android or iPhones are great for list-making and some come with an option that allows you to tick off tasks as you go. That means you can keep track of what you’ve bought and what you still have to buy.
If you are just beginning with lists, I recommend you make them ongoing. That way you can refer back to what you gave people last year (so you don’t buy them the same gift year after year).
Many people begin Christmas shopping as early as July and hide the presents away. Then come December, they forget who they’ve bought what for and have to begin again. It’s easy to buy little things along the way and forget you have them, but keeping a list will help keep track of this process.
See more Christmas decorating ideas
See more Christmas decorating ideas
This means when you’re running out the door to a Christmas event, you can easily grab the colour you need and don’t accidentally leave a stray gift beneath the tree at home.
4. Get your basket lined up
Have you ever filled the boot of your car with presents and arrived at your destination to find the wrapping has ripped? Or that you need to do five trips back to the car to unload everything?
One of my best tricks to simplify the transportation of gifts is to use a washing basket. Place all the gifts that you’re taking to an event in a basket and pop them in the boot without them ripping or sliding around.
Have you ever filled the boot of your car with presents and arrived at your destination to find the wrapping has ripped? Or that you need to do five trips back to the car to unload everything?
One of my best tricks to simplify the transportation of gifts is to use a washing basket. Place all the gifts that you’re taking to an event in a basket and pop them in the boot without them ripping or sliding around.
5. Buy experiences…
Most people I buy for don’t actually need more material possessions, but love receiving experiences as gifts. So this year rather than wandering the shops hoping to find something that inspires, consider buying a voucher for an experience instead.
Fake or Fir: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
Most people I buy for don’t actually need more material possessions, but love receiving experiences as gifts. So this year rather than wandering the shops hoping to find something that inspires, consider buying a voucher for an experience instead.
Fake or Fir: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
You might like to get vouchers for a movie, adventure, play centre, night away, dinner, or a season pass to a theatre.
6. … Or buy practical gifts
If you’re ready to embrace a minimalist Christmas, here are some practical gifts you could give to those you love:
If you’re ready to embrace a minimalist Christmas, here are some practical gifts you could give to those you love:
How about gifting your time to someone this Christmas?
- You could offer to help around the house if you know a trade.
- You could offer to babysit for a young couple
- You could gift a cleaner to help out a busy family.
- Or how about relaxing gifts like a massage, manicure or pedicure… they’ll never go to waste!
7. Go consumable
Now, let’s be honest… we all love a Christmas gift we can eat or drink. Wine, chocolates and food hampers are popular gifts for a reason. Whether homemade or purchased from a shop, consumable gifts are always a winner.
Now, let’s be honest… we all love a Christmas gift we can eat or drink. Wine, chocolates and food hampers are popular gifts for a reason. Whether homemade or purchased from a shop, consumable gifts are always a winner.
For children, consumable gifts could be craft activities, bubbles to blow or ingredients to make play dough, all things they can use up while playing.
However you approach Christmas, make sure it’s relaxing and rewarding for you, as well as your family and friends.
Tell us
Can you add to our list of easy Christmas organising? We’d love to know what you do to simplify the silly season. Tell us in the Comments below, and join the conversation.
More
Browse more decluttering and organisation ideas
However you approach Christmas, make sure it’s relaxing and rewarding for you, as well as your family and friends.
Tell us
Can you add to our list of easy Christmas organising? We’d love to know what you do to simplify the silly season. Tell us in the Comments below, and join the conversation.
More
Browse more decluttering and organisation ideas
Ever received your credit card bill for the Christmas period and been gobsmacked you spent so much? Part of the stress of Christmas is that lots of families spend far more than they intend to at this time of year.