September Checklist To Avoid The Holiday Rush

It seems like it was just a few days ago that I posted about Christmas in July and getting a head start on that holiday shopping. (I hope you got started! 😊🎁) We are now smack dab in the middle of September and I can’t quite figure out where the summer went! It would be easy to settle in with a pumpkin spice latte and a cozy blanket and coast through fall, but as all pro-active planners know, now is the time to get organized, start making lists and put some real thought into how you want the upcoming Christmas season to be, what you would like to accomplish, how you would like to spend time with loved ones & some things that you would love to be able to make time for. Now is the perfect time to get ahead before all the holiday chaos hits. Getting organized and doing some preparations now will enable you to relax and enjoy the season later!

My September Holiday Planning Checklist 🎄

• 🎄 Start gift planning and shopping if you haven’t already done so. Make a list of all those people you would like to get a gift for, be sure to include family, friends, neighbors, teachers & any service providers you may want to get something for. Start gathering lists of gift ideas for each recipient. Browse online and in stores for inspiration. Keep your eyes open for sales, retailers are having sales earlier and more often prior to the holidays. You don’t necessarily have to wait for Black Friday to get the best deals anymore. Load up your Amazon cart and check it daily. Amazon will alert you to any price reductions on items in your cart. Shopping early and carefully is definitely budget friendly!
• 🎄 Take care of smaller details early. Things such as stocking stuffers, ornaments (I do special ones each year for my kids & grandkids) and gift cards can easily be done early and if you are like me, it’s the little things that tend to pile up in the end and cause stress.
• 🎄 If you want to do any crafting or make any handmade gifts, now is the time to shop for supplies and get started on them. Don’t leave this one until the last minute! Stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby are already fully stocked with all the holiday crafting supplies you need.
• 🎄 Take an inventory of all your gift wrapping supplies such as paper, ribbon, bows, gift tags and gift bags. Organize your supplies so you can easily see what you have and what you need to replenish. Wrap gifts as you purchase them to avoid having to do it all at once at the last minute.
• 🎄 Take an inventory of your decorations and decide what you may need to replace or items that may need to be added to achieve the aesthetic you are looking for. Maybe you want to do a whole new theme or look this year. Now is the time to shop for decorations etc. It has been my experience that things get picked over earlier and earlier each year so shop now for the best selection.
• 🎄 If you already know that you will be hosting a particular holiday, meal or party at your home, do some preliminary planning on the menu and make a list of serving items, dishes etc. that you may need to purchase. Now is a good time to stock up on non-perishable baking staples as most grocers start to have baking sales this time of year.
• 🎄 Buy and use a holiday planner. Spend some time filling it out and making sure you are giving yourself plenty of time to accomplish everything in a stress free time frame. Put your gift lists, grocery lists, decoration lists among other things in your planner. Make sure you block out dates for holidays events, such as the Nutcracker, Christmas concerts, church services, parties or Christmas bazaars that you may want to attend. Don’t forget special things such as cookie baking days and blocking out a little bit of time for yourself. Check your planner often so you don’t forget anything! I couldn’t do Christmas without mine. 😊

Starting your Christmas preparations in September may feel too early for some, but a little bit of planning, action and preparation now will mean a lot more time later to enjoy the things you really want to do during the season. Not to mention, it means a whole lot less stress as December 25 approaches. Whether it means shopping, preparing lists or crafting, it all adds up. By starting now you are setting the stage for a fun, festive, stress free holiday season…and don’t we all deserve that? I hope my checklist helps or at the very least, inspires you to start thinking about getting organized for the season! So, grab your planner, a pumpkin spice latte and get started. It will be here before we know it! Happy Planning. 🎁

Please find links below for several options for holiday planners you may want to check out. The third planner I have linked is the one I use. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. No additional cost to you. 😊

Ultimate Christmas Planner & Organizer: COLOR All-In-One Notebook for Stress-Free Holiday Planning Keep Christmas Merry, Bright, On Budget & On Track!https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DV9WNSKC?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=06d1f81bdbe7c6ae83467dd7e40c6ef9&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DV9WNSKC?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=06d1f81bdbe7c6ae83467dd7e40c6ef9&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Christmas planner: Simple Christmas organizer notebook – Holiday season planner – 76 pages – 8 x 10 inches https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KVLJ5BX?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=5a1af4bbff01dcd5c854644eb6c6db9f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KVLJ5BX?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=5a1af4bbff01dcd5c854644eb6c6db9f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Christmas Planner: Gingerbread – All-in-One Holiday Organizer Book – Includes: Christmas Gift List, Holiday Budget Planner, Shopping List, Christmas … Planner, Christmas Meal Planner, and More!https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LS4VC9Y?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=82a42a6e1b4d010ea42b8fbeafd6bb43&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LS4VC9Y?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=82a42a6e1b4d010ea42b8fbeafd6bb43&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Deluxe Christmas Planner For Families: Ultimate Organizer With Shopping Lists, Gift & Menu Planners, Greeting Card Tracker, Budgets & More!https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C87F318N?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=0eec6aaef28442c0892788a421c27800&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C87F318N?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=0eec6aaef28442c0892788a421c27800&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl