Do These 4 Things Right Now to Get a Jump on the Holidays

The winter holidays—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa—are the Super Bowl of celebrating, but don't go into this festive season without a solid game plan. Take the month of October, the calm before the holiday fun storm, to get organized. This doesn't mean putting the tree up before you've even bought the Halloween candy (unless you're into that), but instead putting in some research and planning time that will pay off over the next few months.

Think of holiday prep like cooking a big meal. Sure, there are lots of things you won't be able to do until right before, but if you're organized, there are plenty of tasks you can check off your to-do list well ahead of time. Getting these to-dos crossed off early will help you feel more organized and in control during the run-up to the big moment.

Here are four things you could and should be doing right now to get a jump on the holidays.

1. Make a Gifting Game Plan

First, set your overall gifting budget so you know what you have to work with and don't go overboard. Then make a list or spreadsheet that includes each person you plan on gifting and how much you can spend on them. Brainstorm and research a couple of gift ideas for each person so you are not starting from zero when it’s time to shop. (Super organized gift-givers keep their ears and eyes open all year long for gift ideas and write them down. The notes app on your phone works great for this.) Include images and/or links for online shopping.

When it's time to shop, consider installing a browser extension such as Honey or Capital One Shopping, which will send you notifications when a specific item you are interested in goes on sale. As you buy gifts, record what you’ve bought, for whom, and how much it cost. (You might also note where you hid the gift so you can find it easily when it's time to wrap.) This spreadsheet will be your at-a-glance view into how close you are to finishing your shopping and how well you've stuck to your budget. Guard it closely!

2. Inventory Your Holiday Decor

Even if you're a holiday purist who won't put up so much as a wreath until after Thanksgiving (we see you!), you have a little decor homework to do right now. Take a good look at your stash of holiday decorations. Do you have enough light strands, and more importantly, do they work? Did a bunch of ornaments break, and you need to replace them? Last year, did you wish you had a couple more wreaths for the front of the house?

Make a list of what you need, including details like what length of light strands, and keep it with you so you can pick things up when you see them without over- or underbuying or just buying the wrong thing. When it’s time to put up the tree, it’ll be more enjoyable if you have everything you need at your fingertips and don’t have to interrupt the fun with a last-minute trip to the store.

The same goes for your wrapping supplies. Take a look at your holiday gift wrap, gift bags, bows, and ribbons. You don’t have to buy supplies right now, but at least you’ll know what you need and you can pick it up as you’re out shopping for gifts. While you’re at it, grab some extra tape, which never goes to waste. If you already have everything you need, you can wrap as you shop rather than being overwhelmed with a lot of packages to wrap closer to the holiday, when you’ll probably be even busier.

3. Assess Your Hosting Gear

This one will help you get ready for both Thanksgiving and all the winter holidays, so it's doubly important. Is your house ready to host a crowd, from an infrastructure point of view? Do you have enough extra dining chairs, or can you borrow them? Do you have a tablecloth that’s big enough to cover your dining table at its largest? How about plates, glasses, and utensils? If you’re not in the market to purchase these items, make plans now to borrow them later. (P.S. There is zero shame in using pretty paper plates for a holiday gathering. Check out the beautiful designs at Pavilion Paper. They’re only about $1 each!)

4. Get Started on Handmade Gifts

If you plan to make any non-food-related gifts, now’s the time to begin. Get specific about what you plan to make, how many, and what supplies you'll need. Treat this like any other project and manage it. Give yourself goals, deadlines, and milestones so you can work on your homemade gifts a little bit at a time and still know you’ll have them done well before crunch time. A great goal would be to have your handmade non-food gifts done and ready to wrap by December 1.