Planning

Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #9

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Food is a huge part of the holidays. There’s parties and family dinners along with all the homemade food gifts (cookies, candies, cakes). If you are the one who is in charge of the planning, cooking, and preparing for a party or family dinner then here are some tips to help it from becoming overwhelming.

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1. Keep meals simple. Not every dish served at the meal has to be a gourmet delight. If the entree is fancy then keep the sides simple and easy.

2. Make as much ahead of time as possible. You want to be able to spend more time with your guests and less time in the kitchen cooking.

3. Consider Pot Luck parties. Have a horsdoeuvre or dessert party and asks guests to bring their favorite recipe.

4. For a family dinner you can assign a portion of the meal to each person or family. Sharing takes the responsibility off of one person (usually you) from having to do it all. Instead of feeling like just guests they will also feel like contributors.

Remember that people are the most important ingredient at your party or family dinner.

If you have a tip to share please let me know in the comment section. Thanks.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #8

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Holiday decorations can be fun to put up around the house and give our home that festive feeling. Sometimes we get caught up in wanting our homes to have that perfectly decorated look we see in the magazines and on TV. That kind of decorating not only takes a lot of time to set up it also costs a lot of money. Plus it will take a lot of time to take down and pack away.

If you have the time and money and really enjoy decorating for the holiday’s then go for it. But if you feel overwhelmed because you are short on time and/or money then don’t try to compete. Change your expectations and you will enjoy your holiday’s even more.

Remember:

Less is more. Less time spent putting up decorations will give you more time to do the things your really enjoy such as baking cookies.

You are not perfect and your decorating does not need to be perfect. Decorate for yourself and don’t worry what others think about it.

Fewer decorations put up means fewer to put away afterwards. Start the new year off by feeling energized instead of overwhelmed with the task of packing up tons of decorations.

If you have any tips to share on decorating please post them in the comment section.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://organizebythemonth.com

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Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #7

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Has someone told you not to buy them any gifts? They don’t “need” anything. They tell you they have way too many things in their home already. You still want to get them a gift but now you have no idea what to buy them. It’s time to consider “clutter free” gifts that can be used up without adding to their “things”.

Here is a list of clutter free or almost clutter free gifts.

1. Gift certificates: restaurants, movie theaters, live theater season tickets, sporting events, a day of pampering at a local day spa.

2. Donation made in their honor to their favorite charity.

3. Membership to a Public TV station or their favorite subscription website.

4. Buy items for a needy family in their honor. (check local charities for info) They may want to help with picking out the items.

5. Give certificates for services you provide: Babysitting, car washing, sweeping out the basement or garage, painting a room, etc. These are good for older children to give to their parents and grandparents and they don’t cost any money.

6. Favorite food items: cookies, cakes, gourmet coffee or tea, candy, etc. Make sure that the container you give the items in won’t add to the recipient’s clutter.

7. Gifts for pampering themselves: lotions, shower gels, perfume, candles, etc. Like above, make sure there aren’t containers that will add to their clutter such as baskets or other fancy gift containers.

If you have any suggestions for clutter free gifts then please share them in the comment section.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #6

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Do you get caught up in spending too much for gifts? We have been conditioned to think that the price of a gift shows the person how much we love them. It’s time to rethink the idea of “expensive” gifts equals more love.

The easiest way to change this kind of thinking is to have a family meeting and set a limit on how much anyone should spend on one another. This idea can apply to friends or co-workers as well. This will help you plan out your budget and stay within it.

Setting limits on how much is spent per gift/person will eliminate the competition for who loves someone more. You won’t get stressed out and go broke trying to show your love.

Time is more precious than gold. Giving the gift of your time shows more love than any material gift can.

If you have any tips to share please leave them in the comment section.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #5

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If you feel overwhelmed with the amount of people you have to buy gifts for it may be time to change your gift giving traditions. Talk to your friends and family and suggest that instead of gifts this year that they donate to a charity. You can do this several different ways.

1. Donate to your favorite charity in their honor and ask that they do the same with the charity of their choice. Most charities will send a card letting them know a donation (not the amount) was made in their honor. It’s easy to do this by phone or online with a credit card. You will want to give them your own holiday card to let them know because sometimes the charities are slow in getting their cards mailed.

2. You could have a Christmas party a week or two before Christmas and have friends and family bring gifts to the party that will be donated to a charity or shelter. Make arrangements with a charity before hand and ask what kinds of items they are looking for. After the party you can drop off the gifts or arrange for the charity to pick them up.

With the first suggestion above you will save a lot of time and the hassle of shopping. The second suggestion will be a lot more time consuming but if you are shopping for families in need then you will have a purpose for the shopping. That will make it a lot more meaningful for you and your family.

Please share any tips you have to simplify the holidays in the comment section.

Thanks,

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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