1 of 3

Write now Article Tools

The holiday season is generally a stressful time for people, and the economic crisis of the past year will likely only add to and increase the amount and degree of stress that people everywhere are experiencing. It may not be possible to eliminate all of the stress, but it is possible to alleviate some of it. Proper planning, budgeting of time, money, effort and energy, it is possible to have a holiday that is free of all of the stresses that are within our control.

Here are some simple tips that are sure to help anyone survive the holiday season.

*Establish a budget for gifts -

If money is a concern, this is especially important. Decide how much you can realistically afford to spend on gifts. If necessary, purchase a gift for the entire family rather than
individual gifts. Make sure that children understand that this will be a leaner Christmas and that they can't get everything they want.

*Plan ahead -

Planning ahead is crucial. No one can realistically do all of their shopping in one afternoon or evening. There are always going to be crowds in stores, and there's a good chance that stores will run out of popular merchandise, so shop early.

Learn about sales at the places where you are most likely to shop. Take advantage of those sales whenever possible. If you can use coupons, by all means, take advantage of those as well. Take the time to look for gifts online. You may be able to purchase gifts that you intended to purchase in stores online. Many stores will allow you to order online and pick the merchandise up at the store.

*Budget your time -

It is never possible to do everything at one time, but an organized person who is good at budgeting time can get things done bit by bit. Create a schedule for yourself so that you parcel off all of the things you have to do into manageable increments. This is especially important when it comes to holiday cooking and baking.

*Be sure to schedule family time -

It is easy to allow children to get lost in the shuffle of things around holiday time. There are things that parents feel that they need to get done, but can't do with kids around. That's okay, so long as you make a point of scheduling family time and time to do things with kids. Kids thrive on structure and a scheduled time for activities is a great way to ensure that they don't feel left out.

*Don't leave the grocery shopping until the last minute -

The holiday season is virtually synonymous with cooking and baking. It means that there will be a lot of food for which you will need to shop. Make a list of everything you will need, and if necessary, copy down ingredients from your recipes. That will ensure that you know exactly what you will need for everything.

Make a point of buying non-perishable items bit by bit. Take advantage of coupons, sales and other specials. If you intend to be baking large quantities of goodies, it may be worth your while to head to a warehouse store like Sam's Club or Costco because you can buy things in bulk there.

In the end, it all boils down to budgeting time and money, chipping away at chores, responsibilities and errands a bit at a time, and making sure that you still have time for fun family time, time alone and some one on one time with each child. When financial issues are in the minds of most households across the country, it is especially important for adults not to allow their worries to spill over into frustrations that they take out on their children. Proper advance planning will allow anyone, no matter what their situation is, to have an enjoyable holiday season.

Learn more about this author, Theresa Rose.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Practical tips on how to survive the holiday shopping season?
We want to hear your view. Write now!