Busy families, here’s your January Holiday Planner to keep you organized and ahead of the game. Get ready for upcoming celebrations and start planning your annual holiday budget.
🎄 Christmas
Store Christmas decorations
-Look at the bottom of your tubs and boxes. Were some things not put out? Why? Toss broken or no longer wanted decorations.
-Note on a card the items you are removing from each room. Helps with next year’s decorating
-Clean all Christmas decorations. Wash linens. Remove all batteries.
-When packing decorations, pack like items together, e.g., outdoors, tree decorations, wreaths, etc.
-Label Christmas storage boxes, e.g., XMAS1, XMAS2, etc. On a Rolodex, an index card, or a computer form, write the box’s name, where it is stored, and what is in the box.
-Save a length of your live tree for next year’s Yule log, or use it to make an Easter cross
🎉 All Celebrations
Make cards for February birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Anniversaries, etc.
Update Birthday Calendar
If giving a shower, Birthday party, etc., in March, begin planning now.
Now is the time to start planning Super Bowl and St. Patrick’s Day parties.
❤️ Valentine’s Day
Organize Valentine’s Day plans.
If you are planning to eat out, make reservations now.
Purchase gifts and cards.
Order specialty meats if eating at home
Plan your clothing: shoes, hosiery, suit, dress, etc.
Check with schools and clubs for any treats you are expected to provide
If planning a party, see the Party Planner
📝 January Holiday Planner: Make An Annual Holiday Budget
- List Holidays you celebrate, e.g., Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Estimate cost including gifts, cards, postage, entertaining, baking, clothes, decorations, party items, fireworks, costumes, and food.
- Jot down the estimated cost beside each Holiday.
- Include the estimated cost in your home budget
Other Gifts
- Make a list of other gifts you will need during the year: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Graduations, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.
- Set a budget for these gifts.
- Include an estimate of the gift budget on your home budget.
Other Entertaining
- Other parties or entertaining you are planning to host this year, e.g., Birthday parties, Baby showers, Retirement parties, Annual Summer cook-out, etc.
- Estimate cost for invitations, postage, decorations including centerpieces, food, and party items- game supplies, prizes, favors, programs, etc.
- Include the estimated cost in your home budget.
🎁 Start Developing Gift Ideas
- List all names and dates of people you will be giving gifts to throughout the year. (refer to the lists you created above).
- Decide on an estimate of how much you will spend on each gift (add estimates together and compare to above-budgeted estimates).
- Leave some room in your budget for unexpected gifts.
- Under each name, write gift ideas. Include sizes, favorite colors, and favorite things.
- On the master gift shopping list, write ideas and watch for sales.
- Note which gifts may be homemade
👀 See Also:
❓ Questions People Ask
How Early Should I Start Planning For Holidays?
It’s never too early to start planning. January is a great time to begin organizing and budgeting for the year ahead.
What If I Can’t Stick To My Holiday Budget?
It’s okay if your budget changes. Review and adjust it as needed throughout the year.
How Can I Make Holiday Planning Less Stressful?
Break tasks into smaller steps, use checklists, and start early. This approach makes the process more manageable and enjoyable.
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