Though you probably don't want to think about Christmas 2025 for a few months, preparing a little bit at at time can make the holiday season less stressful. Here are three things you can do this month to prepare for next Christmas.
Photo credit: starline on Freepik.com
Take advantage of after-Christmas sales to stock up on non-perishable supplies
While I don't consider myself a bargain shopper--at least not in the way my mother-in-law could hunt down amazing bargains on just about anything--it's still a great idea to stalk bargain bins at your local and online stores for supplies at discounted prices. I picked up new Christmas bows for the banister and tissue paper for 30% off from Joann Fabrics last week. Our local grocery store has gift tags, bags, and wrapping paper 50% off. Even our local CVS has marked down Christmas merchandise to make way for Valentine's Day inventory.
Photo credit: Freepik.com
Donate unused Christmas decor & throw away broken pieces
Maybe you've already tucked your Christmas decorations away for the year. For those that haven't, before you pack everything up for another year, take stock of what you own for Christmas decor and donate what no longer fits your style. In the way back section under the stairs, I have four stocking holders that I just loved when I bought them. They haven't seen the light of day for at least seven years because they were replaced by ones that better suit my current style. They are still in great condition, so they will make it to the donation bin.
If you've been holding onto broken decor that you might glue back together one day, decor that is missing a few bulbs that are too frustrating to replace, or snow globes that have long since dried up, it's time to get rid of them, recycle them, or upcycle them. Even it's just to make room for new items, you won't be shuffling around them any longer.
Photo credit: Freepik.com
Inventory and organize craft supplies
If you are one of those talented people who can create homemade gifts, your supply inventory must be pretty low by now. Take stock of what you have, so you'll know what you need for next Christmas. Maybe you will want to start some type of digital or paper inventory management system. And if you've never taken the time to organize your craft supplies so it's easy to see what you have on hand, here is an excellent article from Project Home DIY about how to organize your supplies after the holidays.
With these three steps, you will be on your way to a holiday season of less stress and more time for to do what you love.
No comments:
Post a Comment