Chrsitmas Timeline 6 Weeks to Go

Every year I have a time table for getting my Christmas planning, gift buying, etcetera done. This consists of a 6 week timeline to get everything I haven't done throughout the year, done in a timely and stress free manner.

Christmas Countdown Week 6

Begin by creating a list of people you haven't purchased gifts for yet, but would like to. Next to their names, write down the gift idea or potential gift you plan to purchase. When you have purchased the item(s), simply cross it off of your list.

If you are traveling for the holidays and have not yet made arrangements, you need to get this done NOW. Flights, trains and hotels are filling up quickly for the holiday season. You don't want to be stranded with all of your gifts and goodies with no way to get there or no where to stay.

Now is the time to set up your "gift wrapping center." Designate a specific area of your home for wrapping. In this area you should have plenty of wrapping paper, tape, a pair of scissors and gift tags. When you bring a gift home from the store, don't wait too long to wrap it. This will help keep you from the stress of trying to wrap all of your gifts at once. If you think you might forget what it is you have wrapped, make a list of gifts and who you are giving them to.

Get your Christmas card address list together. Either print these out on address labels or get a specific notebook just for Christmas card addresses. This way you are all prepared for getting your Christmas cards addressed and sent out when the time comes.

If you haven't purchased your Christmas cards yet, now is the time to do it. If you wait too long there won't be much of a selection left, if any and you want to work on getting your Christmas cards sent out in the mail soon. If you are designing and printing your own cards, get them set up now. Print out as many as you can as soon as you can. Make sure that you have extras for the unexpected cards or those whom you have forgotten to write to down.

If you are including family pictures with your cards, get those taken now. If they have already been taken, get your orders in for copies of them. Order a few extra than what you need for those extra cards we discussed earlier.

Work on getting your cards all filled out. If you ware putting in an annual letter, take the time to sit down and write or type it all out and put it in with the cards as you fill them out.

Purchase your stamps and any other supplies you may need to mail Christmas gifts and cards.

If you are hosting a Christmas dinner party, then check your linens, your china and your silver. That is if you are using any of this fancy stuff. If you are like me, then it is time to head to the store, purchase plastic silverware, paper plates (the good oval ones), plastic tablecloths, napkins and disposable pans.

Make a list of the things you are going to make. From that list, make a grocery list of the things you will need to make them. Shop around for these items . The sales have started and it is a good time to purchase the items you need or they may not be available when it gets closer to Christmas.

If you are going to be baking cookies and desserts, you can begin baking now. However, only bake the cookies that you can freeze. Make sure you have plenty of room in the freezer for these cookies.

That concludes week 6 of the Christmas timeline. Please see my other articles for the following weeks.