Although the previous year’s celebrations seem to have only just ended, it can sometimes be a good idea to begin planning the next as promptly as possible.
While many families may prefer to try and ignore this as long as they can, this could result in far more work being required in a shorter space of time. When Thanksgiving and Christmas occur so close to one another, you might benefit from having a bit of forethought included in your preparations.
Both of these seasonal events can get rather costly. You might need to consider gifts, food, decorations, or even travel expenses. Rather than allowing yourself to really feel the pinch towards the end of the year, you may want to see if an ISA from Wealthify could be of use to you. Not only can this be a great way to get into a routine of saving money, especially if a set amount is taken from your account each week or month, but you may also be able to benefit from the interest that accrues.
This could allow you to then have a pot of savings put aside purely for use in the holiday season. It is far less likely for you to miss a few dollars each week than it would be for you to suddenly need to pay out hundreds in the weeks leading up to those holiday celebrations.
Planning months ahead of time can also give you a bit more creative control regarding who is invited to the event. Some families may prefer just to have their household present, which can greatly simplify things. However, some people might prefer to invite their more distant relations, which could see a number of people flocking to your front door.
Deciding on the guestlist ahead of time can enable others to RSVP with a more definitive answer, especially if they need to account for booking time off of work or to travel. In turn, this can help you to figure out how much food to buy, as well as what meals to cook.
Giving and receiving gifts might also be quite a large part of your holiday season. As with other aspects, purchasing presents can take up quite a bit of time and money. While you may want to buy some items closer to the event itself, such as gift cards with a finite use time, others could be bought months in advance.
You may want to make use of in-store and online sales or even consider timeless gift ideas which can be well-received. Starting your gift-buying in the spring may also reduce the likelihood of you needing to compete with other shoppers on limited stock availability.
Although planning for the holidays may not be something you enjoy, it can be easier to do little bits sporadically throughout the year. This may mean that, once the season arrives, you do not feel too bogged down by all the required tasks. From this, you may find that this year’s celebrations are more enjoyable than those you have experienced in the past.
