I know what you’re thinking. It’s the same thing we all think when we see Target employees rolling out Christmas trees and Rudolph trinkets a mere three weeks after Labor Day: “Isn’t it a bit early for Christmas?” Despite the sudden pressures accompanying those eager department store displays, my answer is no. As a mother of six, as a business owner (whose busiest time is October through December), and as someone who loves to make the holidays special, I have learned that it is never too early to start planning for them. Below, I am sharing ten easy things you can do now to get ahead of the hustle and bustle.

1. Make lists

When it comes to multi-faceted planning, lists are a must. They don’t have to be extravagant or extensive, just get the details down so you have somewhere to start and something to refer back to. Prepare yourself mentally by listing out exactly what you need and what you need to get done, then reward yourself by crossing items off one by one. Your holiday prep lists might include...

A list of gift ideas for family and friends, or a list of gifts that you would love to receive (there’s no shame in helping out a well-intentioned, clueless spouse).
A list of events you will be hosting and/or attending. This will ensure that you get the right dates on the calendar (see #4) and give you a leg up on the party planning.
Travel plans and their requisite packing checklists. Better yet, if you know you will be spending the holidays away, start making those travel plans now. Flights and room rates are generally cheaper when booked in advance.
A Christmas card mailing list. Begin collating names and addresses if you plan to send one out.

These are the little things that make a big difference four months out. So, start on your lists and check them twice.

2. Plan menus

If there is one thing we love at Cinnamomma and in my family, it’s putting on a party. There are few things as gratifying as getting together with wonderful people and connecting over a beautiful spread. This is precisely why we love catering events. No matter the occasion—business or personal—the menu is always the first priority. Whether we’re serving dinner, charcuterie, dessert, or all three, it’s crucial to establish a menu before buying and preparing the food. This allows you to approach the event with purpose, thought, and better coordination.

If you’ve taken on the entire Thanksgiving meal, a Christmas eve ham, Christmas morning brunch, your Hanukkah brisket, or New Years’ Eve hors d'oeuvres, we salute you and we are here for you! Now is the perfect time to iron out the particulars. Are you sticking with time-honored traditions or hoping to deviate and try something new? Start researching recipes and stocking up on the non-perishable ingredients that you know you’ll need. We’ve spent one too many late nights at the grocery store hunting down the last stick of butter. Give your recipes a trial run; you have all the time in the world to test them out and get them right. This will also give you a better idea of how to delegate food assignments or simplify. As it gets closer to the holidays, remember, many dishes can be prepared and frozen ahead of time, like our dinner rolls, sweetbreads, cinnamon rolls, or even the stuffing that we sell seasonally. Plan your menu accordingly. At the very least, you’ll eliminate that chaotic week-of scrambling.

3. Start budgeting

The phrase itself might be triggering for some people, depending on how financially strained you feel once the holidays hit. Good news: Christmas doesn’t have to break the bank or keep you up at night. You can have a successful, memorable holiday season, minus the stress, with just some forethought and proactivity. There are many budgeting methods out there, so sit down for a few minutes and decide which of them best suits you. Calculate how much you can afford or would like to spend (on each person, decor, family pictures, meals, activities, etc.) and plan for those expenses. This may necessitate setting aside some money each paycheck, trying the envelope technique, or creating a spreadsheet.

If 2020 is any indication, that end-of-year bonus is never guaranteed. You just never know when you’ll have to pinch your pennies. I heard it said once that “the longer you wait, the more you will spend,” and I have certainly found this to be true. A few dollars now could save you a big headache later. Once you’ve coined a budget, be on the lookout for deals. If you can, pick up items throughout the year for gifts. For example, I always include hygiene products in my kids’ stockings, such as toothpaste, deodorant, razors, socks, chapstick, perfume, and makeup. As part of our budgeting for the holidays, every so often I snag a few extras when I’m at the store. Christmas pajamas are also a great purchase to make ahead of time. Be realistic with your budget, and most importantly, never forget the real reason for the season.

4. Mark your calendar

As a working mother of six, I would not have survived the various academic, sports, music, dance, playdate, and birthday party schedules, had it not been for my calendar. I’m sure many of you feel the same. With calendar sharing and real-time updates, technology has made it that much easier to stay on track. The “most wonderful time of the year” will be even more wonderful if you start adding deadlines and dates to your calendar now. Add important events and other things you have slated for the next several months. Mark the day you’d like to be finished shopping for gifts and the day you want to start cooking for big meals. Take it one day at a time and (I cannot stress this enough) do not leave it all to the last minute! You will thank yourself later when you have the month of December to spend celebrating with loved ones.

5. Purchase decorations and wrapping supplies

I’m a sucker for a cute roll of holiday wrapping paper, I can’t tell you how many Santa figurines I’ve accumulated over the years, and don’t even get me started on Christmas kitchen towels. It might surprise you to know, however, that my stockpile of holiday decorations and wrapping supplies has mostly been purchased between the months of January and September. With last year’s merchandise on clearance, summer might actually be the best time to indulge. If you like to wait for newly released wrapping paper, use this month to get the less exciting essentials covered. My husband is the designated gift-wrapper in our home, and his work station is usually equipped with a jumbo bag of multi-colored bows, a four-pack of scotch tape, and a nice pair of scissors, all bought months beforehand. These are available year-round on Amazon and at most major department stores.

6. Figure out neighbor gifts

Neighbor gifts can be sentimental, sincere, and sweet without being over the top or over budget. Home-made crafts and treats will require greater preparation, so try to settle on what you want to make soon, then schedule a specific date/time to complete it. Store-bought gifts could be finished and ready before Fall. If you wish to give the gift of something homemade and delicious, but don’t wish to bake it yourself, leave it to us.

7. Find a spot to stash gifts and supplies

This one might be tricky if you have children as snoopy as mine, but if you can find a storage space for your holiday findings, do it. It could be a box in the garage, a corner in your closet, a cabinet in your laundry room. Wherever it is, you will feel significantly more organized with a system in place; an allotted spot for keeping holiday-specifics, that is out of the way but easy to remember. If you’ve been looking for a sign that you need to clean out your closet, this is it.

8. Plan Christmas cards

We’ve all felt the terror of opening up the first Christmas card of the season and realizing you haven’t scheduled a photographer or started designing your e-card yet. There is no use being scrapped for time when you can order paper, pick out a card template, and have family pictures taken now. Put a photo day on your calendar. When’s a better time to have a family photo taken if not on vacation with your entire family?

9. Get organized

This is typically at the top of my list for Christmas prep in July. Basically, I take inventory of everything I have and everything I need. As mentioned, I keep two bins full of Christmas plates, napkins, decorations, wrapping paper, boxes, bags, and bows in my garage. Towards the end of every summer and before the school year gets too hectic, I go through these bins, select what I want to use, what I no longer need, and get them straightened up. Go through your own ‘bins’ and see what needs organizing. Take inventory of your decorations, wrappings, cards, dishes, and flatware from last year. Throw away what is broken or outdated. Can you use up what is left? Can you mix and match leftover place settings or decorations to save a dime? Think about possible themes or aesthetics you’d like to follow for this year’s parties, decorations, and gift-wrapping. Again, if you’re buying things throughout the year, you will already have most everything you need.

10. Start a Pinterest board

Get a Pinterest board going for all things holidays OR go through and edit your existing board. Delete what no longer inspires you and discover what does. There is no shortage of creativity, fun ideas, appetizing recipes, or stunning ornamentation on there. We can even get you started, as we’ve already assembled our own holiday Pinterest board. Check it out here!

Final Thoughts

Amidst the frenzy of festivities, the goal should be to put your mind at ease. Taking the time to plan intentionally now will give your brain the time to think clearly and make well-informed decisions. You don’t need to buy all your presents this month, nor should you make it harder than it needs to be. Simply have the mindset that what you can do now, you will. Employ these tactics to overcome the overwhelm and start making arrangements for the ‘flurries’ to come.

We will be sharing more Christmas ideas, recipes, and tips in posts to come, so be sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest, and stay up to date on our blog!

Christmas In July: 10 Easy Ways to Prepare for the Holidays Now