Planning Ahead to Save on Holiday Baking & Activities

Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner? Well, maybe you don’t consider it right around the corner quite yet, but around here we start planning NOW for December. We plan ahead for two reasons.

Time

First, if we don’t start thinking now about what we’d like to do for Christmas, we wouldn’t be organized enough to do everything we want to do. Schedules and the general busy chaos of each day mean that we push things like future planning to the back burner. When we do finally realize that the events have snuck up on us, we’re scrambling to get everything squeezed into the time that’s left.

Here’s the perfect example… Last year I wanted to do a Jesse Tree with Emma. If you’ve ever done a Jesse Tree, you know that the first ornament is placed on the tree on December 1. That means that mama can’t wait until December to plan! I tried that last year and ended up scrambling to get each day’s ornament ready for Emma to color. It was not as fun as it could have been.

This year, I’d like to avoid that last-minute crunch to squeeze in all the fun… It just drains the fun right out. Instead, I’m trying to plan ahead and figure out NOW what we’re going to be doing this Christmas. I can take my time gathering ideas and supplies, and I’ll be able to actually enjoy the activities!

Money

The second reason we like to plan ahead is that it lessens the financial crunch that we could feel if we waited until December to plan everything.  You know that we LOVE to bake, especially at Christmastime. I know that if I wait to buy all the supplies we need to make our Christmas goodies, I’ll have a hefty grocery bill in December!

This is the time of year when I like to start thinking of ways to cut the cost of our holiday baking… or at least spread out the cost. Starting now, I’ll grab an extra bag of something each time I head to the grocery store. I may pick up some extra flour this week, sugar the following week, oil the week after that. You get the idea. I especially like this strategy for things that don’t go on sale very often.

I also start sorting through recipes and deciding what to make so that I can watch for coupons and sales on some of the specialty items that I’ll need. Yesterday I picked up a pack of Craisins that were on sale because I knew I’d be making Myra’s Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix again. Last year I paid *gasp* full price for Craisins so I could make it. (Yes, it was SO good that I was willing to pay full price!)  This year my Craisins are stocked, and I’m ready. Next I’ll be on the hunt for a good sale on Chex cereal to go with those Craisins. I’m also going to watch the after-Halloween candy sales for Rolos so I can make Amy’s Pretzel Turtles again.

I’m realizing that NOW is the time for me to get into this mindset. NOW is the time to be buying a little here and a little there so that I’m prepared. NOW is the time to plan for the activities we want to do so that we’re not feeling the crunch and not enjoying the season.

Oh and did I mention that it’s my goal to have all of our Christmas shopping done by the end of October? Hey… it’s possible!

So what are you doing now to plan ahead for a less expensive and more peaceful Christmas season?

Be sure to check out Frugal Friday and Works for Me Wednesday for more great ideas.