3 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays

Even though Halloween may still be fresh on your mind, we all know how quickly the holiday season can creep up. Before you know it, it will be time for parties, baking, concerts and gift-giving! Here are a few ideas that can help make your holiday season run a little more smoothly.

Plan ahead. There’s nothing more stressful than being left at the last minute needing a gift for a party you’re going to, a friend you’re planning to see, or even your kids’ teachers. Stock up on some small, easy housewarming gifts like tins of chocolate, candles and bottles of wine. A lot of these things can be found pretty cheaply at dollar stores and will keep you from spending more than you need to on your nice gesture.

Start making lists. Start taking note of things that your kids and other people on your shopping list are asking for this holiday season. That way, when you see items in the store that you know you’ll need, you’ll be able to grab them and not risk stores running out of stock and making you track them down at different locations. Getting organized like this will also make any online shopping you’re doing on Black Friday easier!

Stock up on baking supplies. It’s hard to go through a holiday season without doing some baking (and why would you want to skip it anyway?!) so dig up your favorite recipes now and make sure you have everything you need on hand — think about pie crusts, brown sugar, pumpkin, Karo syrup, etc. This will save you from running out to a convenience store last minute and spending twice the price you usually do on something cheap like sugar!
 
Remember, thinking ahead just a little bit now can make the holidays a bit more stressful and leave more time for you to enjoy your family and friends!

LincolnParkAnnie is a freelance writer focused on how to live large on a little living. She writes financial savings tips for the cash advance company, QuickQuid.co.uk, and enjoys finding new ways to have fun on the cheap in her native Chicago.