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Preparing For Your Holiday Season Now.

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: A very good reason for not putting off until tomorrow what you can do today is because by getting it out of the way, you leave room for you to enjoy it!

Preparing For Your Holiday Season Now.

When we are busy, time flies. Before we know it, it is the end of the year and we have to find time to cram in gift shopping and cooking and sending cards, etc. It's hectic and crazy and stressful and instead of enjoying the so-called "festive" season, we dread it and wish it were over. We always forget something because we are stressed and trying to do too much. We certainly don't enjoy ourselves and neither do our friends, family and work colleagues who have to put up with our lack of "good cheer".

Well, instead of being a miserable web blanket next festive season, if you start now and prepare, you will have time to sit back and enjoy the festivities with everyone else. Here are some tips to help you get started.

• Save undamaged gift wrapping paper and decorations and store them neatly for recycling and reuse next year - this will save you time AND money. If you have kept wrapping paper and it is creased, iron it and fold it carefully.
• Plan your staff bonuses now. Put aside a little each month so you aren't faced with a large outlay at the end of the year. If your office participates in "Secret Santa", limit the value of the gifts to $X which will take the pressure off those with less spending power.
• Plan your family's and friend's gifts. Start buying now and putting gifts away so you don't have to rush around on mad spending sprees later when the prices go up.
• Mark your calendar now and put aside time for everyone to relax. Organize appointments and job and contract deadlines to fall outside the festive week!
• Ask your children what they want now so you can either put the gift on an extended purchase plan or save up for it.
• Brainstorm with your staff for ideas of bonuses and gifts for themselves and also for clients. If you plan to combine your client gift giving with marketing (for example, giving mugs with your company logo on them), arrange them now - there is no need to wait.
• Do up a budget for spending and stick to it - you don't need added financial stress.
• If you are alone, or have staff who face a lonely festive season, suggest you volunteer with an organization that provides a festive meal for others, perhaps the homeless or other lonely people. Find out beforehand what opportunities exist and how do get involved. Or if you are not alone and you have a lonely staff worker, maybe you can invite them to your home or suggest it to one of the staff with whom they get along?
• Are you going to hold a party for your clients (or family?) Don't wait until the last minute - you can plan now what you are going to serve and what you need. Some things, like drinks, paper plates, etc., can be purchased ahead of time and put aside. Draw up a plan of who is going to do what and when, and if some things can be organized ahead of time, do it.

People may laugh when you tell them, yes it is only the middle of the year but I am preparing for December, but you will have the last laugh while you sit back in relaxed mode, thoroughly enjoying the parties and fun atmospheres and watch them run around like headless chickens trying to cram in everything you've already arranged!

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Article Tags: buying gifts, Christmas, festive season, gift giving, holiday planning, holiday season, office parties, party planning, thanksgiving



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