Why I start planning for Christmas in July!
If you know me at all then you will know that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year! It has always been this way but particularly since I came to live in England. The snow (or at least cold), the lights, the goodwill and cheer by most to most at this time of the year are some of my reasons for loving the season. In my mind, it’s ALWAYS almost Christmas! So we better get going! So why do I start planning so early and what exactly do I do? Well here goes:
Planning
I never ever write a list but it’s always in my head! And I don’t go looking for specific gifts either, I just know I want to get one or two things for my nearest and dearest. The kids always write a list near to Christmas (as if they don’t know I’ve already done my shopping) and to satisfy that, I buy one thing from their list.
Tradition
Well, I host Christmas at my home every other year. The next year it’s hosted by my twin sister. And when I say I host Christmas, I don’t just mean Christmas dinner. Oh no! Christmas holiday for us is from the day in December when schools close to the day in January before schools reopen! Yes, we take it that seriously. So if my sister is hosting Christmas, my family packs our stuff and we drive over and we are there for the few weeks. If I am hosting, she packs up her car with her family and drives over to me. Mind you, this driving is no more than six minutes but it’s a part of our Christmas tradition.
Shopping for gifts
We love to give the kids a lot of gifts! Now before you stone me, let me explain. It’s all a lot of little things that add up and seem a lot! We always make sure to include at least one book, one electronic item, clothes and or shoes, personal care items etc. These items are bought at different times throughout the year, usually on or around payday, but always in a sale, whether in the shops or online. Sometimes we include giving a gift card that allows them some choice in what they get.
Food shopping
You might be wondering what kind of food shopping we can do in July. Well, being Jamaicans, it’s traditional to have sorrel drink at Christmas. But fresh sorrel is only available around Christmas time and quite expensive too. We outsmart this by buying a pack or two of dried sorrel each time throughout the year that we do our regular grocery shopping if we see them in the shops. We also order the sorrel drink online months in adance. We also buy things like dried peas, and dried fruits like raisins, prunes, mixed fruits etc to make our traditional Christmas cake. This is then soaked in a bath of something that keeps our cakes lasting for months: (red label wine) until we are ready to do the baking. In fact, throughout the year we do shopping for anything that we will need around Christmas time (anything that is, except meats, fresh fruits and vegetables) in fact, some meat we purchase long in advance, season properly and freeze. On Christmas day our meals are awesome, I can’t even begin to explain.
Decorations
Each year we do up three trees, one in the empty house, and two in the ‘house of the year’. This takes a lot of decorations and we do try to make them look different each time. All we do is re use and recycle the decorations and add a few new ones each time. The new things are usually home- made using ideas we get from Pinterest. We foolishly used to put real candy canes on the trees and the little ones would eat them off long before the big day came. So a few years ago I made fake ones using…wait for it… Red and white beads and a bit of bendy wire or pipe cleaners. I made it in secret when the kids weren’t looking so imagine their shock when they tried their usual trick and found that they weren’t edible! I should have set up a hidden camera, lol.
Friends
I don’t only prepare gifts for my family. Every year I make a conscious effort to prepare a gift for each of my close work colleagues and also for children whose lives I want to impact (can’t do all but I do look out for, and help some). Last year for my work colleagues I used the time to make some crochet items from as early as September and October! Some were quite pleasantly surprised as they didn’t even know I could crochet! Each item was different and made with the recipient in mind. Now that’s a good way to spread the festive cheer!
Craft and card making
This is a simple wreath I made using just baubles and a wire hanger.
Being frugal (as well as trying always to be creative) and doing my bit to save the planet, every year after the Christmas festivities are over, I put away the dozens of cards we’ve all received. Then, one day, it’s craft day! Using card, paper, glue, glitter, ribbon, fancy scissors etc, we make gift tags and Christmas cards using bits of card cut off from the old ones. Clever, isn’t it? We would’ve spent much more buying cards and not had half as much fun!
My reasoning
So why do I start preparing for Christmas in July? Because it’s smart to do so! Simple! It’s way too hectic and expensive to do all this near to the big day. Here’s a top tip too! I wrap each gift in plain or non-Christmas wrapping paper and put them away in a closet with the name of the recipient on (written on masking tape). So if the kids search and find them, they’ll know that yes they’ve got gifts but they have no idea what’s in the boxes. Talking about boxes, I keep neat ones that held various items purchased or given throughout the year on the back porch in a larger plastic storage box with a lid. Yeah, I know I’m clever, lol.
So when the big day is near and I start wrapping, I just need to put on the Christmas paper which I buy in the sales late December or early January! Sometimes even I don’t remember what’s in all the boxes so when it’s opened finally, I’m almost as surprised as the recipient, and my screams of cheer are even louder!
Hooray for me and for Christmas. Do you have Christmas family traditions? When do you start the preparations? Would you even have it any other way? I go weak in the knees for Christmas. Do you? Ho Ho Ho and Jingle Bells and all that.
xoxo
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I don’t start prepping this early, but your ideas are great. It has got me thinking. I’m hosting Christmas with my family and really should start buying things now for meals then. I also love to go to thrift stores and buy vintage ornaments for my tree. I’ve finally talked my husband into decorating the second tree. My children help my parents put up their Christmas tree every year as well.
Hi Smantha! It’s routine that our tree goes up by midnight on December 1!
It’s just a tradition for us. About prepping things as early as possible, did you know that even gravy can be made and frozen? Try it before the big day and see.
I’ll be the first to say to you, have a merry Christmas and all the best for 2017, lol. I’ll post some pics later on.
Thanks for the love.
xoxo
I like to purchase my Christmas presents throughout the year so it doesn’t feel like I’m spending a fortune in September! x
http://trulyclaire.blogspot.co.uk/
Claire-Marie recently posted…How To Prevent Boredom During The Summer Holidays
Smart girl, Claire-Marie! Thanks for dropping by. Will definitely check out how to prevent boredom over the summer.
xoxo
Yes I am all about planning ahead to save the most money! Great deals right now. I also plan for thanksgiving gifts as well. With all the home good sales you can find nice hostess gifts, friends humidity at a great deal.
You one smart woman! You have also taught me something today too! I didn’t know that they give gifts at Thanksgiving time too! I’m in England so we don’t quite do Thanksgiving. But we do give thanks, ha ha. So it may catch on that we start exchanging gifts then too.
Have an awesome day and thanks for stopping by.
xoxo
Your a girl after my own heart! Glad to know I’m not the only one!
Well well. Isnt it the most wonderful time of the year! Thanks for your part in sharing the love.
xoxo
I LOVE Christmas! This post made me wish I had a twin sister 🙂
Thanks for the reminder – I’m going to start prepping too.
Great post:)
Thanks Emma. Great to see you here. Do pop by to say hi again soon.
You totally got me hyped up to start planning right away :). I love xmas and as soon as the summer ends, I start thinking about it, but postponing the planning. Not this year thou :). I also never heard about sorrel before, so if the road takes me to London, I’ll be knocking on your door to try it 😀 😉
Come on over Marina! Just give us some notice so we can reserve the space for your sleeping bag!, lol
great tips and suggestions. July is a bit early for me, but around now in October would be a great time to start instead of waiting for the last minute rush which I usually do. Thanks for these, it has giving me something to think about and makes for better planning.
Merry Christmas when it comes Sheri. Whatever you do, don’t be caught out with the last minute hustle and bustle.
Love
xoxo
I just came acroas this post on pinterest and i love it! We do alot of crafting for our Christmas so I absolutely start prepping in July too. And with lots of birthdays in November december & january too, its well worth buying gifts throughout the year in the sales!
Thanks for this post. Everyone else thinks I’m nuts haha
You’re not nuts at all! I’m almost ready for Christmas and we are only in the first week of July!
you are on top of things, that’s for sure!
This is so smart! I’ve been thinking I should buy gifts early and I always see ads begin to pop up in July. I was pretty excited when I did most of my shopping in October last year!
Well, maybe you will start by August this year! The fact is that things are cheaper if you go for them long before the big day. Try it and see. Thanks for stopping by.
I love this post because I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I would love to start in July or August; it makes perfect sense. I neverget to send cards or pics because I rush at the last minute. I want to be more mindful in giving this year!
Yes this is me too!!! I love starting Christmas early! Although with kids I don’t usually get to really get into the planning till september! But I live in Aus so I don’t have Thanksgiving to worry about organising! Some great ideas to help me here too, thanks!
Awesome story. I can definitely relate because I have such a large family so shopping early is a must. Just like you I never have a plan when it comes to shopping but never wait till the last minute either. Good job!!!
Great post! I just love holidays and early planning is always a good idea!
Such a great idea! I always say I’m going to plan next year and never do, despite being a planner type generally! I should probably put some of these steps into action though, lovely post!
I love Christmas. I buy presents throughout the year so that way it isn’t so overwhelming during the holidays. I am able to relax a bit more and enjoy.
Lol I learned to shop year round for Christmas from my mom she honestly starts on the 26th
That’s awesome! I had never thought of any of this before! Great helpful tips! Thanks for sharing!
I purchase presents throughout the year for Christmas. My mum does the exact same thing 🙂 Certainly, makes it easier in December.
I do all my gift shopping on Boxing Day! It’s all the same stuff they bring out the following year but at 70% off! Then I only have decorations and food to think about nearer the time! Saves money and people even get more as I have money to spare!
Such a smart idea eh? I don’t know why so many people don’t just do that and save themselves the time and money too! Well done you!
I wanna plan for Christmas but I’m scared I will buy everything is sight before Christmas
I’m sure you wont! It’s crucial to have a list of what you want to purchase, and also to keep your budget in mind.
Great tips and suggestions! I’m not an early Christmas prepper, but I will start pretty soon. You have some great ideas here and I’m sure to give some of them a try. Thank you!
I do the same thing! A couple of years ago, I saved $20 weekly from my piano teaching income for Christmas shopping and activities. It was awesome!
lol the six minute drive cracked me up! my sister and i are HOURS away so i thought that was where you were going with that. ?
i’m interested in this sorrel drink, i’ll have to ask my husband why he hasn’t introduced me to this tradition!
Way to go! Towards December, everything is expensive, and therre’s people everywhere. I also hunt for the bargains as early as January. Everything tends to go on sale in preparation for the Valentine and Easter seasons.
You’re right on the money to shop well before the day! Well done you and thanks for stopping by.
that’s such a smart idea to start planning in july! also – i love how your family spends that much time together rather than just the holiday, that sounds like the absolute dream and i am sure you will all cherish the memories for years to come 🙂 can’t wait to read the recap of this year’s activities x
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I’ve never heard of Sorrel before. I’ll need to give it a try sometime.