Just 100 Sleeps Until Christmas!

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Photo by Bruno from Pixabay

There’s just 100 sleeps until Christmas!

Yes I know I’ve skipped right over Halloween and Thanksgiving, but let’s be real, we need to be laser focused on that major holiday with major expectations NOW. We all want to be superhuman organizers and joyful decorators and thoughtful gift givers, but it requires a lot of planning to create this magical memory-making time. Here are my top ways to make, at least, the holiday gift giving easier:

1. Want, Need, Wear, Read

We adopted this gift giving philosophy when we created our blended family in 2011. With the children receiving gifts from multiple grandparents and step-families, they didn’t need to receive a whole lot more from Santa. (By the way, the children were well past “believing in Santa” age, but, in our house, if you don’t believe in Santa magic, then maybe he won’t come after all.) So we adopted this popular plan where each child received four gifts- something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. This framework actually provides a lot of flexibility and lots of guidance so that they could come up with gift ideas on their own.

2.Budget, budget, budget!

We always set a budget for what we will spend on each child (that actually continues today even though they are all adults). We found that this kept us in check when we started to fall into the “he/she just really wants that thing” trance. Reminding each other that we agreed on what we wanted to spend on the children helped prevent disagreements as well as January spending hangovers. We even extend that philosophy to agreeing what we want to spend on each other as well as our extended families.

3. Shop early and often.

Once you have some ideas about what your children are pining for this year, start shopping. Yes, you can wait for the big sales to come along, but often those are just hypes to get you into their stores and websites to spend more. Check your favorite shopping sites and stores regularly, set alerts if you can for price changes, and be sure to sign up for every coupon and promo code. I use a special shopping email address where I divert all that kind of stuff, which keeps the information, orders, and receipts easy to find.

4. Reuse, repurpose, upcycle.

Your younger kids may not be ready for second-hand and repurposed items, but your older children are definitely leaning into “vintage” clothing and upcycled decor and jewelry! Shop local thrift stores for retro t-shirts and accessories like purses. Check out the local craft fair for unique jewelry. Hit up the many fall consignment sales for blocks, books, and other toys that may have lived in someone else’s closet untouched and in perfect condition.

5. Outsource.

Enlist grandparents, your sister, your best friend, etc. to shop for you. Maybe shopping is not your gift, but I bet you know someone who loves the hunt. You can easily equip your favorite shopper with wish lists (check out the Listonic app) and a budget, and set them free. We also dedicate one credit card for all the holiday purchases, so you could entrust them with that as well.

One last tip, I have a closet where I gather any gift possibilities I find throughout the year. With multiple young women to shop for, I always know that a soft blanket and a delicious candle make a perfect gift. That closet is now overflowing with mostly gifts for just one guy who will toddle his way to my Christmas tree this year just like he has toddled his way into my heart. Do budgets apply to grandchildren? I guess we’ll find out this year!

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Chris L
Born in Wisconsin, Chris moved South with her family, first to Richmond, Virginia, and then to Birmingham when she was 12. She loves being a girl raised in the South, and her only remaining Midwestern traits are a love for the Packers and a fondness for bratwurst. In 2010, Chris reconnected with Christopher, a former Birmingham-Southern College classmate, after a random meeting in the cereal aisle at Publix. They married in 2011, not realizing that they were bringing together a perfect storm of teenage angst with their three children. Today, Chris is the center support that keeps the seesaw of her family balanced, leading a blended family of three young adults and enjoying an empty nest. Before the pandemic, most days were busy managing client relationships for a corporate event production company, but after six months of unemployment, she has become the parish administrator aka “the church lady” for her church. When she's not working, she loves reading a rich historical novel, volunteering with her sorority, and planning their next wine-tasting excursions.

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