Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Xmas Holiday Preparation Checklist

By Alexander Waverly


For most people, the holidays are a time to reconnect with family and friends, however, many people spend so much time rushing around at the last minute that they don't get to actually enjoy the holiday season. If you ever find yourself wishing the holidays could be over just so you can finally relax, then it is a good time to make a holiday preparation checklist. With this type of checklist, your family holidays can finally be a time of fun and relaxation instead of something you dread.

Set a budget. This may be one of the most important parts of your checklist. Many times, family holidays can turn into a reason to spend money that you may or may not have, and it can leave you with a feeling of regret when January arrives. If you are tired of going into debt because you are trying to make the holidays a memorable time for your friends and family, then setting (and sticking to) a budget can prevent you from experiencing buyer's remorse. Keep in mind that the amount of money you spend won't make your family holidays any more or less special.

Don't shop tardy. Have you ever noticed how holiday items are so expensive the closer you get to the holidays? Instead of waiting until the last minute to buy holiday cards and gifts, try to purchase things throughout the year. Even if the holidays are a month away, it is better to start buying things now instead of waiting until the last possible second.

Pick the menu. Have you ever found yourself in the kitchen on the eve of the big holiday wondering how the time got away from you? To make your family holiday even more enjoyable, plan the menus ahead of time. This will give you time to truly feel prepared for the occasion. Share the load. During the holidays, do you have a tendency to try and do everything yourself and avoid asking anyone for help? Don't be afraid to ask your friends and relatives who are visiting to help you out with the preparations such as decorating and bringing food items to share.

Check it twice. When you are planning holiday gathering and parties, it can be embarrassing to accidentally leave someone off of your invite list. A great way to make guest lists is make your list as people come to mind. This will help you prevent the embarrassment of leaving people off of the list.

Decorate together. It can very time consuming to prepare your house for the holidays all by yourself, so consider having a holiday decorating party. If you find it difficult to relinquish power when it comes to your decorations, then you may want to keep the group small so it will be easier for you to manage.

Remember that the holidays are meant to be enjoyed, so instead of stressing over making your family holidays perfect, it is more important to take to take your time and soak in everything. Slow down, take pictures and make memories and enjoy your friends and loved ones.




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