I have been having fun thinking up some ways that we can all start to get ready for Christmas early. Here are 10 things that you can do NOW for Christmas.
I think we’re all a little extra ready for Christmas this year, am I right?
Most of us would probably be thrilled if we could just have Christmas right now and then start the new year, ha!
Although I unfortunately can’t speed up time, I have been having fun thinking up some ways that we can all start to get ready for Christmas early. Just thinking through this list has me feeling all excited! I hope you’ll feel some of that excitement and maybe get a few ideas for how you can start preparing for Christmas now.
10 Ways to Get Ready for Christmas Early
1. Decide about a Christmas card and/or Christmas picture
Planning to send out a Christmas card this year? What about a family picture? Thinking through these things now and making a plan will definitely save you from a last minute headache.
On a side note, I’ve been saying that we’ll send out a Christmas card “next year” for the past couple of years and it still hasn’t happened yet . . . maybe this will be the year?
2. Make a list of who you’ll be buying for
You probably already have a mental list going in your head, but it’s really helpful to put it down on paper (or in the notes app in your phone!) I jot gift ideas next to each person’s name and then slowly update my list as I make purchases.
I also just recently heard of this Christmas list app. If you’re a list-loving person this might be perfect for you.
3. Watch for deals on gifts
One of the best things about getting ready for Christmas early is that you have more time to look for really good deals on gifts.
Some places I like to follow for deals are:
- Money Saving Mom – They are constantly posting great deals on their website and social media for all sorts of things: clothes, toys, tools, books, etc. etc. Definitely a great resource.
- Simply Becca – She is a fashion/deal blogger who shares a ton of great sales on clothing, jewelry, shoes, etc. on her Facebook page.
- Cents of Style – I think that their jewelry in particular would make great gifts and they run sales pretty regularly.
- DaySpring – DaySpring carries so many great gift items and are a wonderful company to support. They are definitely worth checking out (and they usually run some good sales especially around the holidays!)
4. Start saving and/or earning some extra money
Budgeting and putting aside a little money now for Christmas will hopefully keep you from overspending in December.
If you realize that you’re going to be pretty tight, now is the time to start brainstorming some ways to make a little extra money before the holidays. I share some of my favorite ideas for making money from home here.
5. Brainstorm DIY gift ideas
Pinterest is your friend here! I am definitely not a crafty, DIY type person but even I can make some of the simple gift ideas that I find on Pinterest.
6. Make note of what decor you have and what else you may need
If you already have a lot of Christmas decor, this might be a good year to just use what you have and save a little money. However, if you know you’re going to need a few things now is a great time to start watching for good deals on places like Facebook Marketplace, etc.
You may be able to DIY some decor as well – I recently made a no-sew cover for one of my pillows from an old sweater and I can’t wait to use it during the Christmas season!
7. Plan out food/menus if you’ll be hosting company
It may seem super early to start planning meals but there’s no reason not to! Remember, anything that you can get done now will give you less to worry about later on. Here are a few articles/recipes that you might find helpful as you think through your menu:
Christmas Eve Casseroles Fit For a Crowd
8. Think through how to make your home guest-ready
If you have a guest room now is a great time to reassess it and make sure it’s all ready to meet the needs of your guests. This post from Come Home For Comfort has a great list of tips for adding extra touches that will make your guests feel special.
If you don’t have a guest room (we don’t) this article gives some good tips for still making things work.
9. Make a plan for Advent
Do you celebrate Advent with your family? Growing up my Grandma used to buy us one of those cute little Advent calendars every year. We didn’t really do anything more than that but I enjoyed that simple little tradition a lot.
Whether you plan to do something as simple as an Advent calendar or something more, make a plan now so that December doesn’t sneak up on you before you’re ready!
10. Brainstorm ways to reach out to others this Christmas
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and forget to intentionally reach out to others. Christmas can be a tough time of year for a lot of people for many different reasons. How can you reach out to others this year? Here are a few simple ideas to start thinking about:
- Invite someone over who would otherwise be alone for Christmas this year
- Visit residents at a local nursing home (if allowed) or send them Christmas cards
- Take homemade baked goods (or a fun gift-in-a-jar) to your neighbors
- Donate to a toy-drive or something like Operation Christmas Child
So, what about you? Do you love to get ready for Christmas early or are you more last-minute? (Or somewhere in-between?) Let me know in the comments!
As always, thanks for stopping by the blog today!!
Those are great tips! I love planning ahead for Christmas – it helps me to enjoy the season even longer! Thanks for sharing my post, too! <3