Are you determined to enjoy the holidays this year without feeling overwhelmed? If yes, then we have a grand idea to help make your goal a reality – it’s a Holiday Binder if you’re tactile and like paper or a wonderful Excel spread sheet of you’re more computer inclined – but you’ll still need a place for those paper receipts.
Binder Option:
You’ll need: a three-ring binder, lined and hole punched paper, Binder Pockets like these from Staples or these from Target, Removable labels, and two – three hole punched pencil cases.
Insert the Binder Pockets into the binder with lined paper between each of them. Use a Removable label to vertically label each pocket on the lower right hand side with the following categories: Money, Gifts, Entertainment, Decorating, and The Schedule.
Insert your pencil cases: one with writing supplies, highlighters, and sticky notes at the front of the binder and the other into the Money section.
Keep the following items in each section and add as you go along.
• Money – Keep holiday receipts in one pencil case. You can tally it up later to determine your actual dollars spent’ so that you budget more accurately next year.
Tip: scroll to the bottom to download your own Holiday List to track what you plan to buy, who for and if it’s been wrapped
• Gifts – Create a Holiday Shopping List to track your gift purchases during the holidays and throughout the year. If you are mailing gifts view the Post Office web site to calculate shipping charges and time lines for sending. Click here for Canada Post
Tip: Include the gift receipt when sending or giving gifts
Tip: scroll to the bottom to download your own Holiday List in Excel to track the actual $’s
• Entertainment – Determine how much baking you need to do (gifts, cookie exchange, school) and identify what recipes you plan to make for other entertaining. Check your cupboards to see what supplies you have and what you will need – start your grocery list.
Tip: Keep copies of the recipes you plan to make in your Holiday Binder
• Decorating – Set up a decoration and wrapping station and stock it with the necessities: Ribbon, tape, scissors, gift bags, writing supplies, tissue, and gift tags.
Tip: When bringing out holiday decorations store regular household items in the decoration boxes to save space over the holidays
• The Schedule – List all the things you need to do, group like activities together and schedule them into your calendar. Be sure to check them off when done – that always feels good.
Tip: Remember to allocate time for the necessary To-Do’s such as: Dry-cleaning the linens, getting your hair done, scheduling the house cleaning just before entertaining dates, volunteer activities, grocery shopping, buying flowers, and decorating the house.
Scheduling Tip: Schedule all events on the family calendar to prevent conflicts
Digital Option: Use an excel spread sheet to track all the important details mentioned above
- Keep it on DropBox so other family members can add to or review – you can add all your photos there too and share them across the world
- Use The Recipe Box app to track all of your recipes and create grocery listsWe wish you and your loved one a safe and happy holiday season
- You’ll still need to keep recipts so consider a coupon book or a good ‘ole envelope
- Click here to download your own copy of the kAos Group Holiday Shopping List in PDF [download id=”2483″ template=”kAos Group Holiday Shopping List”]
- Click here to download your own copy of the kAos Group Holiday Shopping List in Excel format [download id=”2487″ template=”kAos Holiday Shopping List in Excel “]
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Updated Oct 2013
