Chel’s Holiday Plan … the Gifts!
In the final phase of my Christmas Plan, I work on the gifts. Each year, I do this a bit differently, but, I believe that’s the beauty of my plan… with a little tweaking each year, it’s fully functional.
Every year, the first thing I need is a list. I want a list where I can write down every single person - teachers included - for whom I’ll need gifts. Here’s how I do it…
1) Make a list of everyone. Just everyone possible. Better to start big and cross people off than forget someone.
2) Decide who will get hand-made gifts and who won’t. Consider each recipient’s wishes. I want gifts to be about the recipient not about the giver (the rare occasion when I don’t want things to be all about me!).
3) As I complete or purchase each gift, I put a check mark by that name, until I’ve completed all of the gifts.
4) If I’m making gifts, I do all of the gift making the same way I would do the card making, set aside an amount of time and work during that time and then stop. Even if I’m not finished. If I need several blocks of time, fine. But I limit myself, so I don’t get too overwhelmed by it all.
5) Make a list of everything needed for wrapping and such (paper, tape, bows, bags, cards, anything) and do all of that shopping at once. Take an hour and do just that stuff. And then, it’s all done and available when I want it.
6) Do the wrapping in sessions, too, so it’s less overwhelming.
With the list, I make a second list of all gifts that need to be mailed (we’ve got lots of family in other states - even more now that we’re in Florida). I plan to purchase or make those gifts first, so they can be wrapped and in the mail by mid-December, in plenty of time for a Christmas arrival.
My folks will be here for Thanksgiving, so I’ll have my gifts for my nephew ready for them to take back with them, cutting down on shipping costs.
I’m doing a couple of new things this year… one friend and I agreed to exchange only handmade gifts (she’s an amazing artist, so I came out ahead on this one!). Also, two college friends and I exchange gifts every year, and I suggested this year that we shop our homes. It’s economical and ecological. Who knew?!
We’re going to find jewelry or books or spa treatments or candles or whatever around our houses that are wonderful items but that we don’t use/like/need/care for anymore. And we’re swapping. It’s a fun way to save a little money. And these girls have great taste, so, again, I did good.
If you use my Holiday Plan and like it, please let me know. 
Griff and Eliza, ‘05.
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Cool idea on the gift swap. One of my girlfriends and I “take each other to dinner” one night rather than buy Christmas gifts. The gift of the time to spend together and catch up far exceeds anything we could actually buy for each other.
If any of my girlfriends lived close enough, I’d love the dinner date idea!
You forgot “Chel’s Holiday Plan - the Concession!”
No matter how hard and well you plan, someone (who generally means well) is going to do their darndest to screw things up.
Be sure to put them lower on the card/gift list for next year.
Well, sure, there’s that, but I was trying not to focus on the negative.
Cool plan:)!
I HATE wrapping!
I used to hate it, too, but now I enjoy it. I’m not really sure what changed.
Great plans you’ve come up with. I am no where near that organized!
I LOVE organization.