The most magical time of year can also be the most stressful time of year. Our family seems to always be on the move and this Mama has to have all of her ducks in a row in order to make sure everything stays organized. There are a few things that help keep me and my holiday brain in line and I’m here to share my secrets!
4 Holiday Shopping Hacks
Keep A List
The notes app on my phone has been a Christmas life line. Keeping a list on my phone helps me keep the gifts we have for each child, because I can’t be the only one that has found a present a month later, in order. It also helps me keep extended family members gifts and gift planning all spelled out. I also keep a running note of gift ideas throughout the year for family and friends.
Shopping Catalogs
Sitting down with the kiddos and our favorite store catalog (we love the amazon, target, or walmart ads) and letting them circle what they want has started to become a tradition with our older kids. I try to have this done before Black Friday so we can get a good majority of our shopping done well before Christmas. Bonus- when family members ask for Christmas ideas it is an easy reference!
Rule Of 4
Purchasing gifts gets a little hectic when you have multiple children. My hubby and I sit down, list each kiddo out and stick to the following: Something they want, something they need, something they wear, something to read. This keeps the number of gifts even, things they’ll actually utilize, and takes care of necessities. Shopping for a baby is sometimes tricky, because what do they actually want but I’ve linked a few of my faves here.
Perfect Gift Guides
The easiest hack of all is gift guides. There are gift guides all over the internet! There are beauty lover editions, for your besties, and even something as simple as stocking stuffers! I absolutely love gift guides. It takes all the work out of it and simplifies what’s trending or items that are perfect for every time of year.
The holidays don’t have to be chaotic. If everything stays organized and planned beforehand it should be smooth sailing. I absolutely love this time of year and the magic it brings for my kiddos. Being present during those moments and not caught up in chaos has been a priority for me.