Ideas and Tips to organize your christmas spending

Ideas and tips to organize your Christmas and take the stress and hassle out and bring back the joy!
A 1997 Gallup poll found that 29 percent of Americans found the Christmas holidays more stressful than enjoyable. At the end of January there’s nothing worse that receiving a monster sized credit bill. So here are few ideas to cut the Christmas spending and enjoy the Christmas season.
Remember you come first!!
• Firstly it is important that look after yourself.
• You know the rules for taking care of yourself – get enough sleep, eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water as poor nutrition can lead to stress.
• The busier you are, though, the more important it is that you take care of yourself. You won’t be any good to anyone if you get sick.
• Try to be moderate – it may be the season to be jolly, but too much food and alcohol is harmful, and drink driving is a real danger and illegal. If you can’t (or don’t want to) step off the social merry-go-round, at least try to eat and drink in moderation.
• Get enough sleep and plan for as many early nights as you can.
• Keep up your regular exercise routine as this can give you the fitness and stamina to make it through the demands of the festive season.
• Set a self-imposed deadline by which you have shopped, decorated and wrapped your gifts. Maybe, you can target December 19 or 20. This way you can have a few days buffer to Christmas Day into the New Year.

Money Matters
The best way to avoid a Christmas credit hangover is to plan ahead so you don’t need to rely on borrowed funds.
• When you do go shopping for gifts, shop early in the Christmas season to avoid the last-minute crowds.
• Also consider shopping online as many retailers offer free shipping during the holidays.
• Setting limits and imposing boundaries is a good thing to do.
• Try talking with extended family members and perhaps picking names out of a hat, rather than buying for the whole lot can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Do you really need a gift from all of your in-laws and do they really need one from you?
• Another idea is just to buy for the children and then set a limit on the cost of gifts.
• Avoid the financial worry of unnecessary expenditures by planning holiday spending the same way you plan the rest of your finances.
• If you don’t have enough cash, by all means slash your budget to match your resources.
• If taking on a debt is unavoidable, then planning how to pay it off should be done ahead.
• Buy a few extras, such as chocolates, just in case you forget somebody or you have unexpected guests bearing gifts
• A great way to save on presents is not to forget Holiday baking and food gifts made by yourself – and a relaxing way to get involved.

Delegate
One way to relieve yourself of mundane festive duties is to outsource activities and have everyone involved
• If you are cooking lunch at home, delegate tasks. You don’t need to do everything yourself.
• You might consider keeping it simple – for instance, you could always arrange for a ‘buffet’ lunch, where everybody brings a platter.
• Buy as many non-perishable food items as you can in advance – supermarkets on Christmas Eve are generally extremely busy.
• You may need to order particular food items (such as turkeys) from your supermarket by a certain date so you should check to avoid disappointment.
• Consider doing your food shopping online. The store will deliver your groceries to your door. (Keep in mind this option is more expensive than visiting the supermarket yourself.)
• Book well in advance if you plan to have lunch at a restaurant. Some restaurants may be fully booked for months before Christmas, so don’t wait till the last minute..
• Prepare as much food ahead of time. Some can be prepared earlier and frozen up to three or two weeks.
Remember it is the season to be jolly!! Holidays are a time to be thankful for what you have, and if what you have is a family that loves to get together, then you are truly blessed!!