WOMAN 2 WOMAN: Plan ahead for Christmas

Thinking about Christmas now might seem a crazy idea since it’s about 3 weeks to the day. But a little forethought can help to spread the cost and make it easier to enjoy a family Christmas on a budget. A little bit of forward planning can go a long way to taking both the stress and the expense out of the Christmas holidays. Below is how you can do; Make Gifts YourselfCards, gift wraps, tree decorations and gift tags are all things that can be made at home. Kids will have a great time designing and working on these homemade pieces and friends and relatives will appreciate the personal touch for a gift. Shopping Everyone enjoys a little indulgence at Christmas – but the supermarket shopping bill will soon mount up if everything is bought at once. Thinking ahead of Christmas helps to spread the cost. Homemade traditional treats often offer better quality than their shop bought counterparts. Non-perishable items or items with long use by dates such as alcohol, sugar, rice and salt can be bought well in advance and stashed away in a special Christmas stockpile, buying a little every week will lessen the financial impact of Christmas come December. Pick up Presents It is a great time to start looking for gifts for all the family. Forward planners can avoid the dreaded Christmas shopping outing by simply keeping loved ones in mind as they shop throughout the year. Buyers can pick up gift items in the summer sales and pop them away for later, and stocking fillers can be stored up throughout the year, although parents should be cautious of buying a child’s main present too early as wish lists often change. Christmas Party If you are thinking about hosting your relatives at home, it is time to start planning the party now. Find out what you will need the budget and start working on the guest list – cross checking on who will be available. Remember some people prefer to spend Christmas at home. Christmas away from home – Choose a destination with something for everyone You cannot please all of the people all of the time, but you can certainly aim to please everyone at some point. Whether you are staying with family or friends, a hotel or an all-inclusive resort or cruise, it is possible to schedule in times for each person to enjoy a special activity or attraction that she wants to see. Especially with young children, it is easy to overload on kid-friendly attractions, family restaurants and cartoon-themed amusement parks. Taking shifts with your partner, a travelling companion, or using a babysitting service in order to get some time to take in adult attractions can help to maintain balance. Finding the right balance between a quiet retreat and an excitement-filled adventure will depend a lot on your own family and the people in it. No matter what kind of plans you make, planning some activities in advance, taking some time out to rest and researching passport and visa requirements in advance will help to ensure a smooth family holiday experience. Holidays are times to get out and enjoy your selves, but it is all too easy to feel pressured to see and do everything possible during your short vacation time. Taking on too much can prevent you from enjoying the things you are doing. Planning ahead for the festive season can be great fun and really reduces stress that comes the end of the year. Families who plan ahead will not have Christmas tainted by massive unexpected expense, and forward thinking allows for those personal touches that all too often get pushed aside when the pressure is on. bernanamata@gmail.com