The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right?  But instead of being the most wonderful time of year it can become the most stressful time of year.  Between parties, shopping,  community, children's and church programs, cooking, traveling and dealing with in-laws and out-laws it's down right exhausting!  Even though it's only February, I want to help you be less stressed when Christmas rolls around again.  For that to happen we have to talk about it now. 


For our family, saving money weekly has alleviated so much stress at Christmas.  My husband's job offers a Christmas Club.  Each pay day a set amount of money, that we determine, is put into the Christmas Club account.  We never see the money so we don't miss it.  The bank even gives us a little extra money just for using the service.  It was $10 this past Christmas, which isn't a lot, but every little bit helps.  And it sure beats the absolutely pitiful interest rates for savings accounts right now. 


Even if your employer doesn't offer this option you can set up your own Christmas account.  Check with your bank to see if they have a Christmas Club.  If you can't find one then start your own.  It could be in a savings account, an envelope, a piggy bank or under your mattress.  Whatever works for you is fine.  The key is consistency.  We have 44 weeks left in the year.  If you commit $25 each week for Christmas you will have $1,100 by the end of the year!  Would that be helpful?  Knowing that you have the money when you need it will alleviate the stress of wondering where the money will come from and overburdening your credit cards, which can lead to a whole other added stress. 


Another thing I find helpful is purchasing gifts throughout the year.  If I see an item I know someone on my list will love or encounter a great bargain, I pick it up now.  It's less painful to the wallet to spread out purchases.  If someone on my gift list mentions something they want I make a note of it.  I like to make a note on my smart phone under that person's name.  One word of caution: remember where you put the items!  I have a certain place I always put gift items that I purchase in advance.  Otherwise, you could stress yourself trying to remember where you stashed those gifts. 


Although these are only two aspects of managing holiday stress, I have found them very effective.  I don't stress over the money we spend at Christmas.  And I never am wandering the stores on Christmas Eve because I have planned ahead.  A little planning now will make for a happier December!  Merry Christmas!

Crazy Straw Drama

Life is complicated and stressful.  Coming home should not make you feel stressed out.  But I believe that is exactly what many people feel when they come home.   Living in your home should not be complicated.  How many times have you been running around like a chicken with it's head cut-off searching for your keys or an important phone number or what have you?  My goal in writing this blog is to help you simplify some areas in your life because goodness knows there are enough complicated things in it already. 

So let's start out with a first step in organizing the chaos that can surround our days.  Think of a few things that would make it easier to live in your current surroundings.  These should be things that you can control .  They could be small things or larger things.  Here's an example of something very small that changed my life.  All the crazy straws in our kitchen cabinet were driving me CRAZY!  They were in a plastic cup standing upright.  They barely fit into the cabinet and were constantly getting in the way and getting knocked over.  I wrestled with those things for ages it seems.  Finally one day I had enough.  I decided it was time to remedy this situation.  Around the same, time the junk drawer in the kitchen was overflowing with too much junk.  I cleaned out this drawer and moved things to different locations that made more sense.  Really, who needs 4 rolls of scotch tape, 3 rolls of packing tape and 2 rolls of masking tape in the kitchen anyway?   I discovered a perfect spot in my newly cleaned drawer, for a small rimmed cookie sheet.  Voila!  A perfect place to corral those crazy straws!  So now I have a junk drawer that's not so junky and a designated place for the straws.  I happily give the boys a crazy straw with their orange juice each morning.  It's amazing how one small thing can change everything.  

Whether or not you have a crazy straw drama in your home is beside the point.  But most likely  there are some things that are constantly on your nerves.  Think outside the box.  Figure out a plan of action that will remedy these things.  Things don't always have to occupy the space they always have.  For a long time our DVDs were on an upstairs bookshelf because that bookshelf was their home in our previous house.  The DVD player was downstairs.  How much sense does that make?  I cleaned out a dresser in our living room and made room for them. Problem solved.  (As a side note, dressers work in any room in your house.  They contain excellent storage and have a nice table-like surface.)  Sometimes we get so used to things being a certain way we don't even think about it. And rethink the purpose of everyday objects in the home.  That cookie sheet won't ever bake a batch of cookies and the dresser is holding DVDs not sweaters.  Look around your home with new eyes and decide what small things you can do that will make your life easier and less complicated.