Brisk mornings, fall colors, pumpkin pie, and apple cider—autumn is just the best time of year, right? And our minds are leaning toward Halloween and Thanksgiving. Consider this a strong nudge to put a DIY Christmas on your list. Start planning now, and you'll benefit in so many ways come December.
Plan and Organize
I’m talking about planning and getting organized now without the overwhelming pressure and panic I know will come once I’ve waited too long and believe my only option is to rack up a pile of debt to get through the season. I despise that feeling of being under the gun, driven by guilt and remorse to mark names off a list, compelled to buy something—anything!—to get through the holiday.- Time to make it an all-cash Christmas.
- Time to establish or rekindle family traditions.
- Time to separate the chores from the celebrations.
- Time to embrace the idea of a DIY Christmas.
DIY Christmas
Christmas may be the most beautiful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most stressful and expensive. Expectations run high, and it’s tempting to whip out the credit cards to create the perfect Christmas for your family with lavish meals, new decorations, and the latest, greatest gadgets and fashions for everyone on your gift list. But you don’t have to overspend or go into debt to have a fabulous holiday.Endless Ideas
You'll find plenty of resources on sites such as Pinterest and Etsy. Search “homemade gifts” and prepare for thousands of results. My book, “The Affordable Christmas” (available on Kindle and in paperback), is filled with inspiration, specific ideas for family traditions, gifts of experience, and more.Christmas can be magical, but not when it hits us with guilt-induced stress, financial pressure, and no time to counter its attack. A long lead-in to the holiday season is the way to break down the work into small, easy-to-achieve steps. Do a few chores each week, and you'll be ready to celebrate the season more joyously—and without the stress of too much to do and too little time and money to do it.
Start planning for Christmas now. I promise that it’s the way to do less and enjoy more!