Getting Organized Ensures Holiday Fun

Reprinted from
The Indianapolis Star 
11/03/02

The holidays that once seemed like months away are now only weeks away. 

Somehow, in the midst of all the things we have to do, the holiday activities need to be added to our agendas. But we can turn what may seem like a burdensome activity into more pleasurable proceedings.

Being ready entails planning and preparation. To make everything come together without the chaos, you can begin by making your master holiday checklist:

1. Put together a holiday binder. This can hold your checklists, gift lists and ideas, meal plans, party plans and guest lists, decorating ideas, expenditures and addresses for sending holiday cards. You should make sure this binder is kept in a secret place where prying eyes won't peek at your gift ideas!

2. Create a holiday calendar. This calendar can be devoted to holiday activities and tasks. Of course, it would be coordinated with your other appointment calendars, but it would give exclusive focus to the holidays.

3. Establish a holiday budget. It is all too common to overspend during the holidays and get ourselves into debt. Pulling out the credit cards may be a good way of tracking expenses, but spending on those still needs to be budgeted. Do you really want to spend the rest of next year paying off this year's purchases?

4. Make gift lists. This is an extremely useful tool to have, as it makes shopping a breeze. You can have a gift page for each person, noting his or her wish list, gift ideas, clothing sizes, favorite colors, special interests or anything else pertaining to that individual. A one-sheet list could include those you wish to give to (like co-workers, personal service professionals, even your mail carrier). Additionally, a master gift list could contain all the gifts you purchase, the store they were purchased at, and the prices. And let's not forget stocking-stuffers!

5. Develop a party or entertaining agenda. Determine what meals and recipes will be prepared, and who will be invited. You may even consider having food catered to give yourself more time for other things. Will you have overnight guests? If so, does the room need to be prepared?

6. Write a chore list. This is useful for organizing your home for the holidays. It can include holiday decorating, cleaning and getting your home ready for the holiday festivities.

There are several places on the Internet to help organize your holiday planning. At www.holidayorganizer.com are gift ideas, recipes and printable calendars and lists.

Printable checklists for the holidays are also available at www.printablechecklists.com. 

 

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