This post features gifted product from King of Christmas. All opinions are my own.
Merry Christmas!!!
No I haven’t gone insane… and yes I know it’s July. BUT the very first tip I have for saving money this holiday season?
Getting a head start!
Whether you’re shopping the sales to save money, organizing your Christmas collection to make your life easier or getting a head start on your gift list there’s a tip on this list for everyone. Because no one wants a stressful holiday season!
Let’s jump into it!
1. Make a Gift List… and Start Shopping Now
I don’t know about y’all but finding the perfect gift for everyone on my list is always the hardest part of the season. What do you buy for the man who has everything (and enough money to grab anything he doesn’t already have for himself?!).
What about the best friend who will love anything you give her (at least on the outside). Or the Mom who really deserves the world (and no present will ever be good enough for!?).
Well I can’t promise endless ideas that everyone will love BUT I’ve learned (the hard way) that time does not make the gift ideas come easier. So next time you’re out with that hard to shop for person and they say “oh that’s cool! I would love that!” take a note.
And pick it up months in advance!
That way you’re ready to go when the holiday season comes around.
And if that doesn’t work you can always check out my list of favorite gift ideas HERE.
Or my favorite gifts for the DIYer in your life HERE.
2. Shop Out of Season Sales!
Looking to add BIG pieces to your holiday decor? Make sure to shop all the holiday deals! Items like quality Christmas Trees cost big bucks around the holiday season but the more out of season you are the better the deals!
But don’t just think after Christmas sales (which are great… don’t get me wrong!) but your typical after Christmas sale is just that. Selling the items that didn’t sell during the holiday season. Which means you’re limited to the left-over’s.
On the other hand some brands do Christmas sales out-of-season… Christmas in July is actually huge! And you can get great deals on items that wouldn’t normally make it to the after Christmas sale. For example, Mom’s been looking for a new tree to display all of her gold ornaments for a while.
But spending a bunch of money on a tree wasn’t her first choice.
Especially since she wanted it to go together easily, lights that connect automatically (not with a bunch of wires) and most importantly pretty, realistic branches. So she was thrilled to snap up this 8′ Tribeca Spruce Blue Artificial Christmas Tree with a bunch of pretty lights!
It even has a remote!
Putting it together was quick and easy and it looks so pretty with the ornaments she’s collected over the years. I can’t wait for next December to show it off!
3. Christmas Cards
Y’all. I think Christmas Cards are my least favorite Christmas chore. Besides cleaning up… I definitely hate cleaning up.
But I’m getting off track.
Whether you’re taking a family photo or hand-making your own cards getting a head start on the entire Christmas Card situation can only be beneficial. So make your list (and check it twice) then start on your cards.
Keeping a rolling list of recipients is the best solution but if you’re making these bad boys starting early is the best way to get them done.
Check out these cute washi card ideas HERE.
4. Organize your Christmas Closet
This one may be a bit obvious but it’s sooo very important. In between the time when you put your Christmas decorations away for the season and the next year when you go to pull them out (probably in a rush because life) you have quite a few months of no Christmas.
Which means plenty of time to pull out allll the Christmas things and organize them without the pressure!
Of course, this step is completely unnecessary but ever since I gave my Christmas closet a complete overhaul I’ve had a much better time putting up my decorations in the fall. Things are just easier to find!
If I need the ornaments for the tree in my Master Bedroom I know exactly where they are… and if I need to wrap a last minute gift all of the gift wrap is in the same place.
Every. single. time.
It’s literally the best.
Check out my 6 BEST tips for organizing your Christmas Closet HERE.
5. Start Time Consuming Christmas Projects NOW!
While some projects are quick and easy there are certainly projects that take *ahem* quite a bit of time. Last year I upgraded the small apartment size Christmas tree in my master bedroom to a larger tree.
It’s a beautiful 7.5′ Rushmore Flocked Artificial Christmas Tree with snowy branches, a remote to control the lights and realistic needles. Best of all it goes together quick and easy… without all the tangling wires.
BUT because this tree was 2.5 feet taller than my previous tree I had a lot of space to fill up. And I didn’t want to run out to buy all new ornaments. Instead I wanted a pretty felt garland that would glitter and take up space… but be able to tuck into the tree as I added new ornaments over the years.
And let me tell you… it’s a beautiful garland.
BUT IT TOOK A SOLID WEEK OF WORK TO FINISH… and that’s with help from my Mom. My Cricut did all of the cutting pretty quickly but y’all the hand sewing and beading? Worth it.
Totally worth it.
But it would have been much (much!) better if I had spread this project out over several weeks (or months!).
Check out the video tutorial for this sweet felt garland HERE.
6. Grab Gift Wrap (or make your own)
One last thing? Fun gift wrap! I love grabbing an inexpensive roll of clearance wrapping paper… nothing wrong with that.
No shame in that game.
HOWEVER, cute wrapping with bows and embellishments doesn’t have to be expensive. And if you start early enough you can gather a plethora of supplies that don’t have to break the bank.
In fact, one of my favorite tricks is to start with completely neutral wrapping paper and add fun bits and bobs to make it pop. Things like fake flowers, feathers, greenery… and even cute little resin light bulbs!
Check out my favorite ways to embellish your gift wrap HERE.
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