Christmas Preparations Checklist for a Stress-Free Season
My Christmas preparations start with a list and a budget. There are gifts to buy, meals to plan and presents to wrap, and I would rather spread those jobs out than leave them all for Christmas Eve.
Gifts are usually the biggest job, so start there. My holiday gift buying guides have ideas for just about everyone on the list.
I put the wrapping paper books first, followed by a simple timeline for decorating, shopping, food and parties. Pick the jobs that fit your celebrations and share the work where you can.
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Wrapping Paper Books That Make Gift Wrapping Easier
The patterns are beautiful enough to wrap presents, but I love that they would work for papercrafts, too. I love papercrafts, so that makes the idea even more fun for me.
If your preferred shop is out, you can also find Beautiful Blooms at Target, Rainbow Everything at Target, PANTONE at Target and John Derian Book II at Northshire Bookstore.
Christmas Preparations Timeline
- Early November: make the gift list, set a budget and start shopping while sales are on.
- Mid-November: plan the decorations. Check what you already have before buying anything new.
- About a month before a party: pick the date and the type of gathering.
- At least three weeks before a party: send the invitations.
- A few weeks before Christmas: plan the holiday menu and write the grocery list. Buy nonperishables early.
- Early December: write and mail the Christmas cards so they arrive before the holiday mail rush. If you want to make your own, these easy DIY Christmas cards only take a few minutes.
- The week before: wrap gifts and make any dishes that can be frozen or refrigerated ahead.
Decorating for Christmas
Pick a theme first. Classic red and green, winter white and silver, or rustic with natural elements all work, and a theme keeps you from buying random decorations.
- Start with the tree. Choose one that fits your space, then add lights, ornaments and a topper that match the theme.
- Add lights around the house. Mantels and windows are the easy spots.
- Reuse what you have. Last year’s decorations save money and cut down on waste.
- Get everyone involved. Decorating the tree together is one of the easiest family traditions there is.
Christmas Gift Shopping and Wrapping
Write down everyone you shop for, including teachers, coaches and neighbors, so nobody gets missed. Then give each person a budget so January doesn’t bring a surprise credit card bill.
Shopping early gives you better selection and time to catch sales, and online shopping keeps you out of crowded stores. These guides help when you are stuck:
Personalized gifts that match someone’s hobbies always go over well. Set up a wrapping station so the presents get wrapped as they come in, not all on Christmas Eve.
Gift Wrap Station
Holiday Meal Planning
Plan the menu a few weeks out. Mix a few traditional favorites with one or two new recipes, then build the grocery list straight from the menu. A weekly menu plan keeps regular dinners on track while the holiday cooking happens.
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- Shop by list. A charcuterie shopping list is a good example. Buy the nonperishable items early to skip the last-minute runs.
- Cook ahead. Freeze or refrigerate whatever you can so the big day is mostly reheating.
- Share the work. Assign jobs like setting the table or helping with simple dishes.
Need ideas for the menu? Start here:
If you would rather skip weeknight dinner planning in December, my Shortcut Supper Club sends five simple southern suppers, one dessert and one grocery list to your inbox every Saturday.
Planning Christmas Parties
Decide what kind of gathering you want first, whether that is a family dinner or a bigger holiday party. Start about a month ahead so you can work around everyone’s schedules.
Christmas Party Invitations
Send invitations at least three weeks before the party. Digital invitations make collecting replies easy, but paper ones are still fun to get in the mail. Choose a style that works for your gathering:
- Snowflake or winter-themed invitations
- Simple fill-in invitations
- Homemade cards with the party details inside
Christmas Party Games
Plan a few activities that work for all ages, plus a holiday playlist. Party games keep kids and adults playing together:
- A small selection of Christmas party games
- Christmas charades
- Christmas bingo
- A Christmas word scramble
- Holiday trivia
Keep the party simple, write out a schedule and have a backup plan for bad weather or extra guests.
Holiday Traditions
Traditions are what everyone remembers. Start small and let the whole family help pick them, so they actually stick from year to year.
- Bake together. Cake mix Christmas monster cookies are easy enough for kids.
- Watch the classic holiday movies.
- Volunteer in your community.
- Cook a special meal together.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about getting ready for Christmas.
If I were to win this giveaway, I’d prefer to have the organizer. I say this because it’s small enough to place on a desktop or table, so I can have easy access to important things I need during the course of the day. For example, when I need to write down a quick message I won’t have to run around the house looking for a pen. There are smaller things that we need in everyday life that will fit neatly inside this organizer. Thanks for giving me this chance! : )
I like the treeform tabletop decoration. I have a little Christmas tree collection.
A little tree collection… that is super cool! I have the Village stuff, but we have trees in pretty much every room. I don’t have one for my office but it is on my plan for this year to get one that coordinates – I want it to be behind me in my videos. 🙂
I really love the gift guide. I especially love the Thomas Kinkade arrangement by Teleflora. It is just beautiful !
You got to see it “in person” isn’t it totally gorgeous!?