Preparing for the holidays, birthdays or big family events can be so much fun. There is so much to do and get organised you can be forgiven for wanting to make a start early and get planning for when the time comes. Especially for those who like to celebrate and go the extra mile. It can be so much fun for everyone. Especially if you like to really go the extra mile and indulge in parties, and get-togethers regardless of the occasion.
But celebrating any event can be an exhausting and expensive time. It is always best to make sure you are ready and prepared well ahead of time to be able to make the most of it and really enjoy the day or season when it arrives. So how can you make sure that you are in the best position possible to be able to make each birthday, holiday or special occasion go without a hitch? Check out these easy tips for surviving the celebrations, regardless of the time of year, or the reason!
Be Prepared.
As with anything in life, being prepared is the best way to make sure you are ready. Even those who pride themselves on being last minute, fly by the seat of their pants types will admit, this can be a little bit stressful at times. So, whilst you don’t need a minute by minute itinerary, having a plan in place could be hugely beneficial.
- Use a Calendar – Know where you are in the year and how long you have to plan and get ready by. A calendar, in any format, is a great way of doing this. Know in advance what you have coming up this month or next. It will help you be aware of the dates and how long you have to get yourself ready.
- To-do lists/Diary – This can be for anything, but having one is definitely a great idea. Make a list of what you need to do/buy/organize/spend etc that you can track and tick off as you complete. This can help you stay in control and keep track of what needs doing. It is handy for those throwing parties so you know exactly what you need to buy and arrange at any given time.
- Budget – A great rule of thumb for splashing on gifts or other extravagances associated with any celebrations is this. If you can’t afford it from your regular monthly income over the year, you will struggle when you have to make the big purchases. Take Christmas for example. Leaving the gift buying until your last couple of wages packets will mean you could struggle if your finances are tight each month. So look at saving a small amount each month to take off some of the pressure when the time comes to buy what you need regardless of the time of year.
Do Your Research.
Using the tips above from making sure you are prepared, make sure you do your research and can get organized early. This will ease the pressure, especially over the Christmas period when life can tend to get crazy. Know who you are buying for, what they like and how much you are planning on spending on each person.
Sticking to your budget will help you stay in control financially. Do your research, you may even be able to scout out some bargains ahead of time. For example, if you have a gamer in the family and you want to buy them something they will love and use, search for the best VR games for PC so you can choose the perfect gift for the person you are buying for. Have a backup list just in case you can’t get the gift you are thinking of. Or if someone else pips you to the post.
Utilize sales periods to your advantage.
Know which stores or online sites reduce seasonal stock and when they do this. Look at purchasing a year ahead to help you keep costs down. This way you can be ready for the next year before you have wrapped this year up! Check out dates and times of big sales and blowouts, where retailers offer huge discounts. This can something as big as Black Friday or Cyber Monday or simply retailer-specific.
This is a great way to plan ahead to make sure you can take advantage of the best prices. And have things ready to go for upcoming events without breaking your budget.
By simply putting a plan into action you can ease the stress of yourself and take the worry out of being able to get what you need when you need it. Whilst also being able to stay on track as far as your budget is concerned.
Leave a Reply