The Ultimate Christmas Checklist
Christmas the Easy Way

Author's Note:

Normally I don't run the same info more than once, but several people have asked that I run my "Christmas the Easy Way" list again. If you follow this timeline I guarantee that you will be done with practically all of your Christmas preparation by Thanksgiving, and spend Christmas focusing on the REAL meaning of the season!
 

August

1. Evaluate your Christmas list.
   Take a good look at the list. Are there people on the list you just exchange token gifts with? Or perhaps large families that are growing big enough to be a financial drain? Why not suggest you just exchange one family gift, draw names, or spend the money on a phone call to each other instead of gifts? Chances are they will be just as eager for the simpler arrangement as you are. Another possibility is to discuss cutting back on the amount spent on presents. Remember...simple is better, less is more. I'm not saying eliminate gift giving, just pare down, eliminate the clutter.
    
2. Make Your Christmas list with the people's names, ages, and the max you want to spend.
   (Don't forget to consider mailing costs. Books/tapes can be mailed at much cheaper Special 4th Class Book Rates.) Ask for gift ideas, hobbies/interests. Peruse catalogs and write down possible gifts. Also mark whether the gifts would need to be mail ordered or bought at a local store. DON'T ORDER ANYTHING YET...JUST MAKE THE LIST. Also include on your list any birthday or other gifts that you would need to get for anyone for the last half of November through January. This will also cut your work load later.
    
3. Family Christmas photo
   Have your family's Christmas picture done. Find a place that has the computer set up, where you can see, immediately, the picture taken and either approve or disapprove. This will eliminate re-shoots. Most Wal-Marts and Kmarts now have this system, and run a LOT of wonderfully inexpensive package specials. (The extra photos are where they make the money). Their package prices tend to run as low as $3.95 in August, but by December could be up to $12.95. Try to find a studio that will make an appointment, or plan to arrive about 10 minutes before opening on a weekday. Once you get the photos back, if you would like more wallets to send out with Christmas cards and your photos are not copyrighted, then send them off to Walter Drake catalog (1-800-525-9291). They charge only $3.95 for 18, or $15.95 for 100. Do this ASAP. Walter Drake gets swamped with photos and last year we sent it in in October & didn't get it back until March, due to a post office loss.

 

September

Order gifts!
Remember, you are ordering any gift you will need from late November through January. Then head to the store to buy the things you can't order by catalog. The more you use catalogs, the easier it will be. For people who love to shop, catalog shopping will probably save you money because you will be less likely to impulse buy. Don't forget to order Christmas cards, labels or inserts, if desired (see note on Christmas letters below). Check out Christian Book Distributors' great web site at www.ChristianBook.com.
 

October

1. Order Christmas stamps from the post office when they get them in this month.
   Don't forget to order your stamps by mail too & avoid post office lines; just ask your mailman for the Stamps-By Mail forms or get one from your local post office.
    
2. "Christmas in a Shoebox" program
   You load a shoebox (get a large one from a shoe store, they usually have empties in the back) with all kinds of goodies, toys, candy, toiletries, etc. Take the box to a designated drop off in your town, and it will be delivered to a child in another country in great need. This is a wonderful program and makes the holidays a lot more personal. Contact your local Christian book store or radio station for more info. If that doesn't work, contact the great organizer of this project, Samaritan's Purse at 1-800-353-5949 or www.Samaritan.org. This is what Christmas is all about. Help your children get even more out of it, by spending some of their own money on it. Better yet, get brochures and distribute them to everyone you know.

NOVEMBER

1. Start your Christmas cards and letters on the 1st!
   Up until 2 years ago, I used to do a handwritten note in each card. But then our list got up to 200 (we're a military family and move a lot), and I decided to "never say 'never' " again and do a Christmas letter, but try to add short personal notes at the bottom of each. The nice thing about them is that you can give all the people on your list so much more info on what has been going on with your family, because there are so many we only hear from at Christmas. I personally always prefer a Christmas form letter than a card with only a signature from people I only hear from once a year. Another way to save money is to put an inspirational Bible verse or other header on your letter, and eliminate the cost of the cards completely. Just mail the letters out.

• Compose your Christmas cards and letters.
• Have letters copied. (For just a little more, you could get the pages in color AND have them folded for you...BIG time saver.)
• Address envelopes.
• Put stamps on envelopes.
• Put return labels on. (Definitely invest in this time saver: Walter Drake carries return labels for as little as 1000 for $3. The stamps don't hold up well, & tend to have gaps in the printing.)
• Stuff the Envelopes with letters, calendars, etc. But don't seal them yet, in case you get mail from someone and want to add a note at a later date.
• Enclose photos, if you have them.

 

***All of the above can be done a little at a time, while you are watching TV, talking on the phone, or waiting for an appointment.

2. Wrap presents and box them up the first week in November.
   If you are short on mailing boxes, check out the local grocery store right after they stock.
    
3. Mail all boxes no later than the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
   This will help you avoid that slight before-Thanksgiving rush. Remember to try to go directly to UPS (usually cheaper than post office) or to a post office. Mailing services usually will charge you double for the convenience.
    
4. Seal and mail all cards going overseas by regular mail 4 days before December 1st.
    
5. Seal and mail all cards going to APO's or the other side of the country from you 3 Days before December 1st.
    
6. Put up your Christmas decorations.
    
7. Plan to make or buy little gifts to exchange when someone brings over a plate of cookies or you need a little hostess gift.
   (More gift ideas in our back issues.)
    
8. Seal and mail remaining cards on November 30th.
   I don't send cards locally unless I receive one each year. Instead, why not call with Christmas wishes during the month, and hand them a photo the next time you see them?

DECEMBER  

Enjoy the season.
The only thing that might keep you busy is goodie-making, unless you have a large freezer to make them ahead of time also. Loaves of quick bread wrapped in colored cellophane can be just as pretty and less time consuming. But if your freezer is a small one, decide how many kinds of cookies you want to make and divide them up among the 10 days before Christmas Eve, which would usually be the last exchange date.

 

FINAL WORDS 
This may look like an overwhelming list, and your November will certainly be busy, but you have plenty of time to start now, spread things out and really have a nice, fairly calm, meaningful Christmas.

 

POST IT...on your fridge.
 

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