Well, Thanksgiving has come and went. Using our frugal homemaker holiday planning guide tips will be useful this season. “Why” you say? Four weeks to Christmas. Yikes! That is what I thought too. I just grabbed my holiday planner over the weekend to see what I needed to update, change, or take out. This year our family will be practicing “less is more”. Hopefully that will cut out some of the chaos.
A great way to cut down on chaos is to be organized. If you are anything like me then procrastination is your friend. I wait until the last minute to do EVERYTHING!! It’s crazy I know. As life goes on and I mature in age my learning curve is getting shorter.
Holiday Planning Vision
If you’re like me you want to be prepared on Black Friday. Hitting all of the sales, being done with your shopping early is important. Also note, I am never prepared. I have grandiose plans, then I wake up that day and scramble. Luckily I am a creature of habit and visit the same stores.
With that being said, have a rough idea of what you want your holiday shopping, decorating, cooking and family activities to look like.
Simple Holiday Budget
Don’t make the budget super detailed. Keep it super simple. This way you will be more able to keep it, maintain it, and update it. Use this holiday planning as a guide to prepare but not stress.
Therefore to save more and get the items your family will love set a budget, bring cash, and enjoy all of the Christmas music.
Master Gift List
Before you head out shopping read through this holiday planning guide again for frugal homemakers’ and create a master gift list. Remember, this is a frugal site. Keep to the budget. Likewise have one ready for others’ who wish to buy you something. I always keep a few things on my phone wish list.
A master gift list is also reusable. Update the list in your computer each year and print it off. The holiday’s can be preplanned, printed and less stressful each year.
Holiday Decorating
Keep it all in storage. Bring it out on November 30th and make it a party. Invite over family and friends to decorate with you. Add in some food and decorate the yard while everyone is there. It will be so fun everyone will come back each year!
We have had our holiday decorations for almost ten years’ now. Each year I add something but the only new item we get and spend money on is the tree. We do buy a new tree every year.
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Many thanks for being so kind to fairly share this information.