“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.”  ~Andy Rooney

Time Saving Tips for Christmas Day

Make a breakfast casserole the night before and just pop it in the oven on Christmas morning

Set the table the night before

Use disposable baking pans and trays for meal prep

Put out a veggie and/or fruit tray for snacking throughout the day

Charge the camera batteries and set up the tripod the night before

Have a large garbage bag staged beside the tree the night before to hold discarded wrappings

Use a gift bag to hold all the bows and ribbons you plan to recycle as things are unwrapped

Have an empty clothes basket for each child to put their gifts into after they get unwrapped

Andy Rooney will be missed this Christmas, but he is right – Don’t clean up too quickly, savor your holiday with your loved ones and soak up the memories.

Today, I’ve decided to do something a little different.  I’ve invited a guest blogger to post on my site.  I think the blog is perfect for this time of year.  Let me know what you think.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Happy Holidays and happy shopping!  Warmly, Natalie

Do you wait until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping?  Well, with only a few days to go, you need to get moving!

Although this is a fun time of year, it can be stressful especially in today’s economic climate.   A lot of us can feel the shortage of cash these days and most of us need to be aware of what we are spending.  Do you have a Christmas budget?  If not, here are a few tips that can help you control your spending during this festive time of year:

• Leave your debit and credit cards home.  This gives you an instant visual indication of how much you’re spending.
• Shop at outlet malls. Shopping at outlets of your favorite stores and designers can save a bundle.
• Have a game plan.  Set a budget, even a good deal isn’t a deal if you can’t afford it.
• Hang onto your receipts.  Many stores give price adjustments within 14 days.
• Shop with a list.  You can zip through the stores faster and are more apt to avoid impulse buying.

I hope I have given you some good tips and even if you don’t use all of them, just a few will be better than not using any tip at all.

1. Be Safe –Regardless of how you travel, make sure someone else has your itinerary and telephone numbers so they can reach you in an event of an emergency.

By car- make sure your car is road worthy.  Simple things like checking the fluids, tire pressure, and wiper blades can prevent bothersome road side stops. Fill up the tank before you go and refill it when the tank reads less than half full.

By plane/train/bus – keep your valuables on your person rather than in a carry-on or purse.  Always have a change of clothing and a toothbrush in your carry-on for unexpected layovers and delays.

2. Pack Light 

• Dress in layers and pack clothing that will mix and match.  Use packing cubes inside your luggage to keep things neat and accessible.  Only bring one extra pair of shoes.  Be sure to leave room in your luggage to bring things home with you.  

3. Ship Ahead

If you have gifts and things for people you will visit while traveling, ship them out the week before you arrive. It’s less hassle for you at the airport and less to carry. The Post Office’s flat rate boxes are a very economical way to go.

A while ago, I did a post called Stop Buying Useless Gifts.  The essence of the post was that we need to be more conscientious of the kinds of gifts we are buying.  Let’s not add to one another’s clutter. Now that we are in the largest gift giving season in America, it’s important to consider the gifts we are buying.  This post is a result of a recent almost-useless-gift-exchange.

Recently I was hosting a ladies luncheon and the attendees suggested we do an ornament gift exchange since it was Christmas this month.  In my head, I immediately thought “Oh, great more clutter!” (I also wanted to roll my eyes but fought the urge.)

Rather than an ornament gift exchange, I thought about another gift idea.  I suggested that we each purchase a toy and bring it wrapped to the luncheon.  The ladies agreed and after the luncheon, we gathered around the table with all the wrapped toys. We proceeded to play the infamous “stealing game”; each person takes a turn, chooses a gift to unwrap or can steal one that has been opened by another person.  As each toy was unwrapped, we “oohed and aahed” and talked about our childhood memories of our favorite toys.  Once the “game” was over, they all said good-bye and left the toys….with me.

Not to worry, it was all part of the plan.  I then took the unwrapped toys to a local non-profit that serves homeless families.  They were overjoyed and said they prefer the toys be unwrapped so that they can see them and determine which child should get what. And so, the luncheon was a success; everyone had fun, got to unwrap something and somewhere in our city a little child will be blessed with a new toy on Christmas morning.

Put a little thought into your gift exchanges this year, and let me know what you decide to do. I’d love to hear your gift ideas!

I don’t shop for gifts during certain times of the year – I shop all year!  Now, don’t freak out – I am not hoarding gifts. I just have a stash of gifts… in a gift closet.  Now, now – it’s not a whole closet, just a shelf in the hall coat closet with 3 fabric boxes.  When I make or buy something for others,  it goes in the gift closet until it’s time to give a gift.  As far as shopping for gifts goes, I purchase items if:

1. It reminds me of someone

2. I think someone needs the item

3. It’s on sale

4. It’s a really good price (though not on sale)

I come home from shopping, add it to my inventory list and into the box, on the hall closet shelf, it goes!

Many clients have gifts they’ve purchased tucked in multiple places throughout their home.  When we find them during an organizing session, they will say things like:

“Oh, I was looking for that… last month when my sister was here.”

“I knew I bought a watch for Bob but couldn’t find it when his birthday came around – guess I’ll save it for Christmas now.”

“I totally forgot I had purchased these. I went out an bought another pair for my mother last week!”

I’ve taken some photos of my gift inventory to show you how to keep track of the gifts you have purchased so you can shop your own gift collection before running to the store. READ MORE

This blog post may not help the economy but it will help reduce clutter!

We buy and receive gifts for many occasions – birthdays, Christmas, weddings, baby showers, and even sometimes “just because”.  The gifts may be given with love, be very thoughtful or just the perfect item.  Don’t get me wrong; I love to give and receive gifts… certain gifts.  Think about the last gift you gave.

• What was it?
•  Did the person need it?
• Was it something that could be used up?
•  Or was it something you thought they collected?
• Something that sits on a shelf or was the gift a bunch of little “cutesy” things?

There are lots of useless gifts given.  READ MORE

Okay, so it doesn’t have to be a “closet”, it can be a drawer, shelf, or box.  In other words, do you have a stock of gifts that you have purchased in advance (or are going to re-gift)?  Having some gifts on hand is great for those last minute invites or the times when you forgot someone’s birthday.  Shopping for gifts this way can also save you money.  My sister-in-law, for example,  shops for Christmas all year long, and puts everything into the gift closet with a tag for the intended recipient.  She only shops sales and has plenty of time to wait for the perfect gift to be the perfect price.

Many of my friends have gifts that they have purchased in advance or plan to re-gift but the gifts never seem to leave.  Why?  Because they don’t remember what they have.  They purchase a gift, put it away in their gift closet and then add more and more and pretty soon, forget that they purchased the perfect gift for someone and it lays gathering dust in the back of the gift closet!

The solution: (you knew I had one)

As you purchase gifts, log them on a gift list.  This can be done on a handwritten page or on a spreadsheet in your computer.  Here’s an example:

Add things to the gift list as you add them to the gift closet.  If you purchase an item that does not have an intended recipient (yet) then just note what gender or age range it is for.  As you give these gifts be sure to cross them off the gift list.  Update your list annually after Christmas so you can start fresh.  If you begin to have things in the gift closet that never get given away, then consider using these items for hostess gifts or white elephant/secret santa gift exchanges.

And remember, shop in the gift closet before you leave home to shop!