Help, I'm Knee-Deep in Clutter!

Check your calendar:

• Perhaps Tuesday after work would be a good time for a couple hours of shopping.
• Thursday evening there’s a Christmas musical on TV – a perfect time to address greeting cards.
• Plan on Saturday afternoon for the last big go-round of shopping.

1ST STEP: TO DO LIST
The Bottom Line
Use a TO Do List and calendar to line up weekly priorities. Start by writing all your activities on a calendar so you can cut down on little last-minute hassles.
Calendar Daze
Let’s see how the month of December is shaping up. For instance:

• Scheduled activities might include:
  • Parties, get-togethers, school plays and musical events, religious and theater programs, caroling,an ice-skating party, and volunteer activities
  • Call early to schedule hair and nail appointments
  • Arrange for a baby-sitter on New Year’s Eve
  • By the way, you don’t have to attend every event in the surrounding countryside. Remember last year when you overdid it and almost lost your holiday spirit?
• Next look at your calendar and squeeze in special projects. For example:
  • Serious shopping
  • Preparing greeting cards
  • Working on homemade gifts
  • Wrapping presents
  • Decorating the house
  • Fixing holiday food
  • Organizing for a party at your house
  • Getting clothes and accessories ready for parties

Sunday Setup
Throughout the week remind yourself of all the activities that you’ve scheduled then you might not be horrified to hear yourself volunteering to provide a big old batch of homemade goodies:

• Get a folder with two pockets. Label it HOLIDAYS and fill it with gift ideas, shopping lists, coupons, receipts, and a TO DO list. Also write down the presents that you receive. It will be handy for sending thank-you notes.
• Every Sunday take ten minutes to figure out your must-dos for this week:
  • Check the calendar and TO DO list
  • Decide on your priorities for the week and add them to the calendar
  • Set deadline dates for decorating the house, mailing greeting cards and packages, and baking
  • Assign weekly tasks to family members and post them on the refrigerator or on your family message board

2ND STEP: GIFTS
Advanced Planning
Whether you love the excitement of the crowds and sales over the Thanksgiving weekend, or prefer to pop in and out of stores with a lot of quick trips, a touch of planning can make the whole shopping experience not only more efficient but more pleasant.

Cutbacks
Whittle down your gift list. For example:

• Cut down on gifts for aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Suggest that everyone draw one name and exchange presents at a family gathering. Everyone will love not having to search and pay for an additional dozen gifts.
• Consider joining forces with your brother and sister to get a special present for your parents.
• Talk with some of your friends about enjoying a lunch or dinner together instead of giving gifts.
• Check with coworkers about the possibility of eliminating gift exchanges and instead celebrate with a catered lunch.

Making a List and Checking It Twice
Keep track of all gift ideas in your HOLIDAY folder. For instance:

• Make your gift list for family and friends. I know I said to try to whittle down your list, but don't forget special people such as colleagues, clients, mail and newspaper carriers, beautician, barber, housecleaner, and babysitter.
• Check with family members for suggestions or specific requests.
• Make a list of book, CD, and DVD titles, clothing brands, and games. You need details – the choices in the store will be mind-boggling.
• Prepare a list of clothing and shoe sizes for family members.
• Set a basic budget for what you plan to spend. Get the kids on board to try to head off the sixteen-year-old who wants to buy a $100.00 gift for the boyfriend or girlfriend of three weeks.
• Start a new family tradition with everyone in the family chipping in to contribute to a special charity or organization or to collect and donate canned goods, clothes, and toys.
• Set aside catalogs with gift ideas. Put a sticky note on the pages you’re interested in.
• Consider getting creative with your gifts such as painting pictures, sewing tote bags or pjs for the kids, knitting scarves or afghans, framing a photograph, carving animals, or decorating ceramic bowls.
• If you’re going to make some of your gifts, prepare a list of the materials that you’ll need.
• Start gathering coupons.
• Plan on buying a few extra items such as decorative candles that you can whip out if you need a last-minute gift.

Shop 'Til You Drop
Don’t head out for a shopping spree without that list.

• Check your calendar and schedule specific shopping days.
• Organize your buying adventure:
  • Take your gift list as well as your list of clothing and shoe sizes
  • Don’t forget the four Cs: cash, checks, credit cards, and coupons
  • Avoid peak shopping hours
  • Group your buying so you travel to stores on the same side of town and avoid backtracking
  • Put your list, coupons, and discount cards in an envelope or separate wallet so you won’t have to keep digging around to find them
  • Wear comfortable shoes and light clothing – put your winter jacket in the cart along with your purchases
  • Take a small bottle of water to revive yourself
• If you like to order over the phone or online, place your orders as soon as possible to avoid finding that items are unavailable or won’t be delivered until after the holidays.
• If you find a really lovely candy dish or decorative item, buy several to give to different friends.
• Speaking of friends, go with one but split up to do your own shopping then meet for lunch.

Santa’s Workshop
OK. You’re staring at a pile of presents. Now what?

• As soon as you get home, put all the receipts in the HOLIDAY folder at your desk – you never know what might have to be returned.
• Get out your gift list and write down what you actually bought for each person.
• Drop the new presents in large plastic bags and store them in a special gift spot until you're ready to wrap them.
• Buying gifts throughout the year is a great idea unless of course you have a tendency to forget you’ve got them. Keep items in the special gift spot. Tape a note to each listing the person it’s intended for and the occasion.
• If you’re in to regifting, tape a note saying who gave it to you and when. Avoid the awful suspicion that you might have given a friend the very gift he or she gave you.

3RD STEP: GREETING CARDS
Keep in Touch
Sending greeting cards can be a hassle, and I admit that sometimes I’m tempted to just skip it. However, then I remember how much I enjoy receiving them and the next thing I know I’m standing in the card store trying to make the big decision.

Seasons Greetings
Get all your mailing supplies together, including the following items:

• Holiday greeting cards
• Postage stamps (regular or special holiday stamps)
• Return address labels
• Holiday labels
• Seasonal computer stationery for your family newsletter
• Craft items for personalized cards
• Decorative frames for photo inserts

Let’s Get Creative You can buy regular holiday cards or make your own greeting cards:
• Select a photo to create photo postcards
• Buy photo decorative frames and make copies of pictures to insert
• Make cards with craft and stamping materials

Mailing
Many people keep putting off this project and end up mailing their cards after the holidays. Let’s look at a few tips to help you prepare these holiday greetings in a timely fashion:

• Prepare mailing labels on your computer. Think of the time it will save you.
• If you buy your cards ahead of time, there’s no reason why you can't start working on them in early November when life isn’t quite so hectic.
• Divide and Conquer – Break this project into several smaller tasks.
  • 1ST day: Prepare your holiday newsletter.
  • 2ND Day: As you watch a holiday movie, go straight through your address book and address the envelopes.
  • 3RD Day: Hum to a new CD or the radio as you write the names inside the cards and sign them. Insert your family letter, add the stamp and return address, and if you like, holiday labels. Set aside cards if you plan to include a personal note.
  • 4TH Day: Write the personal notes, add them to envelopes, and mail.
Receiving
Instead of bills and junk mail it’s so nice to get actual cards from friends. There are lots of ways to enjoy them. For example:
• Fan cards out in a pretty holiday box.
• Stack them in a Santa sleigh or holiday bowl.
• Place them in a snowman tin.
• Hang them on streamers.
• Stand them up or string the cards across the fireplace mantel or a bookshelf.
• Tape colorful cards to the wall all around an archway.
• Place the envelopes in your HOLIDAY folder. Later, compare return labels with your address book, make any necessary changes, and then throw them away.
• After the holidays, pull out the cards that you’d like to respond to.
• Take out photos from the cards and add them to your photo album.
• Every year keep one of the cards that you sent. It’s fun to look through the array of cards you’ve selected over the years. Also choose a few of the favorites that you received this year. Save them in your HOLIDAY CARDS folder in your file cabinet.
• Dump the rest of the cards, or cut off the front page and offer them to art classes in elementary schools or Boys & Girls Clubs.