According to research, over 2 billion people in over 160 countries worldwide consider Christmas as the most important annual holiday. So, billions of Christians and non-Christians worldwide observe Christmas every year.
Although Christmas is usually a joyful season, it can be quite hectic for the family. If you don’t prepare for Christmas well, you may be overwhelmed and therefore lose the meaning of the season.
I’ll give you 8 great tips to help you prepare for Christmas without breaking a sweat:
1. Plan for Christmas Together As a Family
If you have a family, it’s advisable to involve them in planning for Christmas. It’s best to start planning for Christmas as early as January. Some of the things you can discuss when planning for Christmas may include:
If you want to go on holiday: Suppose you decide to go on holiday. In that case, you should agree on the destination and set the dates.
If you’ll stay home for Christmas: If you decide to stay at home for Christmas, agree on what the family will do on that day.
2. Start Saving at the Beginning of the Year
After you have sat together as a family and agreed on what to do for Christmas, come up with an estimated budget.
Once you have drawn the budget, encourage the whole family to start saving some cash weekly. Saving for Christmas calls for some sacrifice from each family member. However, saving together as a family is exciting and makes Christmas something to really look forward to.
You can save the cash in one jar. Alternatively, you can have a saving ‘challenge’ where each member of the family saves in their own jar.
It’s good to note that although your family members will save for Christmas, the money may not be enough. You should, therefore, save more than your family members to ensure that the Christmas plans succeed.
3. Start Christmas Shopping Early
There is a lot of shopping during Christmas – clothes, shoes, gifts, decorations, and many other things. It is advisable to shop at least a month or two in advance in preparation for Christmas.
The reason I recommend early shopping is because as Christmas approaches, the queues in shopping malls become longer and the roads more congested. The last-minute rush can be overwhelming.
In addition, things might run out of stock, thus interfering with your Christmas plans.
Also, the prices of items may increase as Christmas approaches due to high demand. When this happens, it can interfere with your budget and ruin your Christmas plans.
So, if you want to save time and money, get quality goods, and reduce the stress associated with Christmas shopping, shop early.
4. Buy Christmas Gifts for Each Other Early
One of the best parts of Christmas is unwrapping gifts. We all love gifts, right? I know times are hard and you might be wondering where you’ll get money to buy Christmas gifts for each other. The good news is that Christmas gifts don’t have to be expensive!
You can gift each other something simple but meaningful. A gift that shows you care and love each other. For instance, simple, handmade gifts have sentimental value.
A few years ago, my family and I agreed that we’ll be gifting each other gifts of a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $3. Period!
Since I have to gift 4 people, I can decide to spend a minimum of $4 or a maximum of $16 on all the gifts.
I have received priceless, thoughtful, $1 to $3 gifts from my family over the years. They include:
- A coin purse
- A sleeping cap
- Crocs
- A wooden phone stand, etc.
By the way, a lot of thought goes into buying such simple gifts, and that’s what really counts.
The best time to prepare/buy Christmas gifts is about 2 to 3 weeks before Christmas. This gives all the family members enough time to wrap the gifts in readiness for the big day.
5. Send out Christmas Cards Early
I know that e-cards are quickly overtaking good old-traditional Christmas cards. However, there is no better way of expressing love than sending out customized cards to friends and family.
Prepare the cards 2 or 3 weeks before Christmas. This gives you enough time to hand-deliver or mail f the cards.
A great way of involving the whole family is by deciding together the people you’ll send cards to. After deciding on the recipients of the Christmas cards, design and make the cards together as a family. This activity can create lots of fun and bonding and help to create the Christmas spirit.
If you don’t have time to make the cards, you can shop for the cards and then write the messages together as a family.
6. Decorate the House Together in Preparation for Christmas
When you decorate the house together as a family, it contributes in a big way to bringing Christmas cheer. You could decorate the house at least a week before Christmas to avoid last minute rush.
It is better to decorate together as a family to make the work easier, spend quality time together, and generally create a Christmas mood.
Remember to decorate the outside of the house too. For instance, you can put some Christmas lights outside to make the home feel festive and welcoming.
You can serve hot chocolate and snacks and play Christmas music as you all decorate the house.
7. Prep Some Food Early in Preparation for Christmas
One of the things people look forward to during Christmas is the food and drinks. Christmas is the time to eat those annual treats such as turkey, prime rib, roast pork, pig in a blanket, etc. without a care in the world.
If you plan to spend Christmas at home, it’s good to note that you’ll cook more dishes than you do on other days of the year. After all, it’s Christmas.
It’s best to prep some of the food and drinks in advance. Doing so ensures that you’re not overwhelmed on Christmas day.
Some of the items you can prep in advance for Christmas include:
- Cakes
- Pastries
- Sauces
- Juices
- Ice-creams
8. Plan to Spread the Christmas Cheer to Others
Christmas is a great time to show love and share with others. Have fun together as a family but also agree on what you will do to spread the good cheer to others.
Spreading the Christmas cheer to others may include the following:
- Volunteering in a charity Christmas event in your area.
- Singing Christmas carols in the local hospital.
- If the family has money to spare, you could donate cash, food, or even gifts to the less fortunate.
Conclusion
Christmas is a time to relax, enjoy, reflect, and get some rejuvenation in readiness for the New Year. Although the climax of the Christmas holidays is the 25th of December (Christmas Day), it is not a one-day affair but an entire season.
So, to ensure that your family enjoys the entire season, it’s better to prepare for Christmas in advance.
And if you are spiritual, remember the most important reason for the season as you celebrate Christmas.
Merry Christmas Holidays in advance!
How do you prepare for Christmas? Kindly share your views in the comments section below.
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