Although it is difficult for many people to start thinking about the holidays while they are still enjoying summer, it is always a good idea to get a head start. After all, planning for the holidays always takes longer than expected, so starting early will enable you to avoid most of the stress that is associated with the last five weeks of the year. As an added bonus, you will have the opportunity to save money if you act now instead of waiting until the last-minute.
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Five Tips for Planning Early for the Holiday Season
1) Shop Online
There is virtually a countless list of websites, such as ChristmasGifts.com, that sell gifts and holiday related merchandise. By visiting these sites now, you can leisurely select the perfect item for each person in your life, and you will be able to avoid the chaos that can be associated with shopping at brick and mortar stores.
2) Make Your Party Plans
It might seem too early to let everyone else know all of the details, but you can go ahead and make your guest list and determine where your holiday party is going to be held. If you are feeling really inspired, you can even prep all of your party invitations so that they will be ready to mail when the time is right.
3) Start Putting Money Aside Now
Most people have trouble with their holiday budget because they do not prepare far enough in advance. Instead of dealing with this issue, you should start putting aside money from each paycheck right now. After all, if you simply put $20 aside every week from the beginning of August to the end of November, you will have $360 for any remaining gifts and other expenses.
4) Schedule Your Holiday Family Portrait
Many families choose to send out a family portrait with their holiday cards, but you do not need to wait until the temperature drops to have this photograph taken. Instead, you can make an appointment with your favorite photographer within the next two months to beat the rush. As an added bonus, you will be able to start preparing your holiday cards as soon as the pictures come in.
5) Start Shopping for Wrapping Paper and Bows
If you did not stock up on wrapping supplies at the end of the season last year, you will have the opportunity to start buying everything that you need within the next couple of months. Making a purchase as soon as the wrapping paper and bows are put on display at your favorite store will enable you to begin preparing the gifts that you have already bought online. Keep in mind that you can save money for next year by buying discounted wrapping paper as soon as this holiday season ends.
As you can see, there is a definite advantage to starting your holiday planning early. By reducing the amount of stress that you will deal with once the season gets here, you will be able to relax and enjoy the end of the year.
Lisa Coleman shares tips to getting a head start for the upcoming holiday season, and encourages that it's never too early to get started. Shopping online from retailers like http://www.christmasgifts.com/ is a convenient and great way to start, while getting lots of variety and good deals.