Even though Christmas happens every 365 days, it has a funny way of creeping up on us in the midst of all the year-end madness. Shopping centres decorate their trees in red and green before Halloween, so this is our cue! This year, instead of being caught off guard with no time, money, or inspiration for creative gift ideas, try these seven great tips on how to help you to start planning for the Festive Season early, and have a jolly good time along the way!
1. Draw up a budget.
The best way to save as much as you can before the big month is to START NOW. Creating a three-month budget helps you organise and outline your expenses in the build-up to December.
Review last year’s Christmas spending. If you spent R12000, divide this by three to start saving R4000 each month from now until December. Trim or rearrange your existing monthly budget to know what you can cut down on to save more for Christmas (adjust and spend less on typically low-spend categories like clothing and entertainment now to have more cash later!)
If your budget’s more than last year, find extra ways of earning extra money, like housesitting or pet-setting to help you save more. Once you’ve set this up, stick to it! If you prepare carefully now, you’ll avoid overspending in a last-minute, stressful hurry, resulting in New Year debt.
2. Have the gift conversation.
There’s no time like the present for presents! Now’s a good time to chat with your immediate and extended family about what your gift expectations are for each other. Be honest about your finances, and have a mutual understanding of what you can or can’t afford. Avoid the awkwardness and embarrassment by talking about it ahead of time.
Thinking of small gifts? Start looking out already for fun stocking fillers. If big gifts are your plan, start buying them now! Do you want to give the gift of an experience rather than spending a lot of cash on an expensive present? Look out now and especially on Black Friday for vouchers or tickets you can buy for outdoor activities like Stand-Up paddling, zip lining, a whale watching cruise, a beauty spa or theatre show.
3. Create handmade gifts.
If you’re not too keen on giving overpriced or impractical gifts, why not craft something with love? A handmade gift can be big or small, edible, practical, personal or sentimental.
Creativity requires time, thought and effort, but a personal touch is valued. Consider baking Christmas biscuits to go in a decorated glass jar or sorting through photos for a homemade collage or 2019 calendar displaying highlights from 2018. Crochet a blanket, sew a table cloth, quilt place mats, carve something out of wood or make nifty storage/hanging units for the workshop or garage. Try your hand at pottery by making a fruit bowl or Christmas platter, or design your own vinyl stickers as décor for walls and cupboards – go for it!
Another experience you can gift your loved ones with is your TIME – make little personalised “IOU” tokens for a beach walk, a braai, a coffee date in your home, or a picnic supper in your garden.
Now’s also a great opportunity to clear out your wardrobe, cupboards, bookshelves, garage and Christmas boxes, so your gently-used items may just be the perfect gift for someone else to cherish!
4. Prepare your home for hosting.
If you’re hosting Christmas this year, how many guests are coming? Sort through your guest room and bathroom, and see what linen and towels need replacing. Consider home improvements or repairs that need to be made within the next two months so you’re ready to receive your visitors.
Check your crockery, cutlery, glasses and serving dishes, so you can buy more now if necessary. Start looking out for festive serviettes, crackers and other table dcor. Get out the Christmas boxes and sort through your tree and decorations to see what’s broken or needs to be replaced.
Start thinking of your menus, look out already for well-priced chicken, turkey or gammon that you can freeze ahead of time. Take this opportunity to also stock up your pantry with non-perishable grocery items like alcohol, box milk and fruit juice, tinned fruit and sauces.
5. DIY wrapping paper and cards.
Christmas gift wrap and cards are overpriced and so much more fun to make than to buy. Take time now to sort through and recycle old Christmas ribbon, cards and gift wrap into something new. Write, paint, stamp or stencil onto brown paper and you have your own DIY wrapping paper and cards!
This great activity can be done with a friends or family - find a new use for old crossword and Sudoku puzzles, word searches and old books as gift-wrap, or creatively use boxes, glass jars and material bags.
6. Make your own food.
Look for easy recipes and think ahead of sweet Christmas treats and puddings you can already bake and freeze. Pre-baked treats will come in handy at teatimes and should unexpected visitors pop in throughout the holiday.
If you’re hosting, organise a ‘bring and share’ meal and each guest contributes a different course or platter towards the table. This helps you to spend less time in the supermarket or kitchen beforehand, and you’ll have more opportunities for connection and conversation around the table and will savour the meal each of you has made.
In your friendship groups and families, plan new, fun festive traditions and ways of enjoying homemade Christmas food – this could be a brunch, braai or a travelling lunch or supper.
7. Plan your holiday details.
Where are you spending Christmas, and with whom? If you’re travelling, budget now for petrol or book flights as soon as possible, and consider travel-friendly, transportable gifts to look out for now.
Enquire early about inexpensive accommodation options like camping or caravanning. Now’s also the time when friends and family plan their own holidays, so offer in advance to housesit or pet sit for those who’ll be away, as you may receive free accommodation!
The most important gift you can give to yourself this Christmas is to take the pressure off. Learn how to live lighter, spend less, and to have more time and less stress, and especially not conform to what everyone else is doing or thinking. By noting down these tips on your Christmas planner in advance, you’re well on your way to having a happy holiday season and one that you won’t soon forget!
Date Published: 16 October 2018
