While it’s still summer, there’s no reason you should put off getting ready for Christmas. You don’t want to wait until Thanksgiving creeps up on you and realize you haven’t even begun thinking about what to buy your friends and family or how to decorate your home.
For families who celebrate, Christmas can involve a variety of events to attend, presents to buy, and seasonally appropriate meals to cook. When left until the last minute, it can be overwhelming and sometimes impossible to plan out the perfect Christmas. If you want to get a start on the holiday season but don’t know where to get started, continue reading for five easy ways to start preparing for Christmas now.
1. Write out a shopping list.
Making a list is one of the quintessential elements of Christmas, and it’s always best to start your shopping list early. No matter what the date on the calendar says, if you come up with a great idea, write it down. Even if you don’t purchase your gifts far in advance, you’ll have a list full of ideas ready to go for Christmastime.
2. Sort out your lights.
Everyone knows how important LED Christmas lights are when it comes to decorating your house for the holiday season. However, everyone is also familiar with the headache that often comes along with putting up Christmas lights. It’s always better to invest in a quality light set that you’ll be able to reuse rather than buying cheap Christmas lights from a big-box retailer.
Decide what areas you’re going to decorate and measure how many yards worth of string lights you’ll need. If you live somewhere with a homeowner’s association or have a landlord, make sure you check and see if there are any restrictions on the number of Christmas lights or the type of lights you’re allowed to use.
3. Create a menu and a guest list for your party.
If you plan on having a Christmas party, whether it’s a large on for all your friends or a smaller, family celebration, it’s a good idea to get started on your menu and guest list right away. Go grocery shopping early as well, though you have to be mindful of when certain food products will expire.
4. Take care of home maintenance.
Making sure your home is in great shape is essential if you plan to entertain. HVAC maintenance is especially important during the colder months. Regular maintenance for your HVAC system includes changing the filter every three months and having it inspected annually by a technician to make sure that it’s in good condition. If you like having company during the holidays, the last thing you want is to have a breakdown that requires costly repairs right before you’re expecting company.
5. Make a plan for decorating.
Decide early if you’re going to buy a real tree or use an artificial one, as your schedule and decorating plans may change. Don’t forget that buying a real Christmas tree involves keeping up with maintenance throughout the season. It’s a good idea to plan out what you plan to use in each room and find out early on if you need to purchase any additional decorations. You also don’t want to go shopping before you see what you have, you might need less than you believe.
Keeping track of all of the miscellaneous tasks and errands associated with Christmas is always difficult, so staying organized is key. Buying a planner to write down all your plans and ideas is a great way to make things easier. Even if you can’t get everything done in advance, even taking care of a few tasks like organizing your Christmas lights or taking care of your routine home maintenance can make a difference, and getting an early start is the best way to minimize holiday stress. Being proactive will pay off when December arrives and you’re completely prepared for the holiday season.
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