Christmas (for me) begins with the first day of the advent calendar and the fun begins.
You will have:
- A calendar
- Planner page with added menu
- Ideas sheet
- Stationary supply
Today I look at my gift giving.You need a planner sheet to help so it is not overwhelming. I have a master I have developed with seven columns titled:
Name - person I am giving to
Gift - what I plan to give
Budget - how much I want to spend
Notes - things like size, colours, type/brand, etc
Cost - how much I actually spent
Difference - if it was more of less
Wrapped - when I have wrapped it.
At the bottom I add up the totals for what I budgeted for, the cost, and what the difference was as a plus or minus. I like to keep this for next year as a guide.
If you are following this plan with me go back to your ideas sheet and find all the comments you made about gift giving. Write on a separate sheet what the good things were.
Are these things achievable?
You will need to think about the ideas and requests of other family members and what they are going to be doing for Christmas. Now no-one can force you to do or not do things but when it comes to gift giving, if family members want to follow a plan then you need to respect their idea and not expect anything different from them. You can choose to follow what they are doing, but if you're like me and you still want to give something to people then do so, just don't expect the same in return. If members give expensive presents and you don't, you don't have to explain yourself, you just need to let whoever know, that for this year your will be giving.....
John 17:2-3 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
I too want to show love and it doesn't have to be expensive, I leave that for birthdays. Christmas is Jesus Birthday and so I give in love, even if it is a box of chocolates, I mean who goes out and buys themselves a box of chocolates?
Look at your 'ideas for Christmas list' and look at the things you crossed out to do with gifts. This year you are not going to do them and/or not let them bother you any more. You can not expect others to do what you want, or them you, just the same as you can not allow what others do or don't do disappoint you. How you react is for you to deal with not others. Its not what they say, do or don't that is the problem, its how you react that gives you grief. Give respect and you should get it in return. Over all remember the reason for the season and don't let it overwhelm you.
This year you are going to make a stand for what you want to do for Christmas and if others don't like it they have got the whole idea of Christmas wrong. Its not about the money or what you can get from others, its about love, yes love, because the Christ in Christmas is the Love from God, otherwise its just some commercialized holiday that business' have hopped on the bandwagon to make money.
Now start writing the names of people on your list and what you want to give, or what you know they want. Find out sizes, colours, the brand or type of item they like or you want to get. Set yourself a budget for how much you are going to spend on each person. This is almost better than the buying as you get to decide what you are giving without actually spending anything yet?
OK in reality you will, but doing this you add up the budget and see exactly how much you are going to spend and you can adjust it now before you start spending.
Are you making any of your gifts? You will need to work out what you need, how much they will cost and where you will get them from.When you have finished the list write a separate list for the shopping. Write the gift, where you think you will get it from and how much you have budgeted. If you are going to buy it online you need to get onto it in the next day or so to allow 21 days for delivery. Write on your calendar on the date, what you ordered and where.
The other thing I do is my Christmas cake if I haven't already. (sometimes I do this in October and freeze it.) Baking it early means that the flavour increases over time. You just have to make sure it is wrapped well. I wrap it in grease proof then newspaper and keep it in a tin - if not freezing - in a dark cool cupboard. If you are not making a fruit Christmas cake make something else for the festive season either to eat now or to freeze. Think of events you may need to attend and if you need to have a plate. Or maybe you want to give something homemade for a gift that can be made now. Look as this as a reward for doing the gift list - not a chore and make sure you put on some Christmas music.
So your Christmas planning has
- A calendar
- Planner page with added menu
- Ideas sheet
- Stationary needs
- Gift list
- Gift shopping list
Your tasks
- Make a gift giving list
- Gift shopping list
- Order online shopping
- Bake Christmas cake or something else.
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