Christmas Countdown Day 15: Gifts and Giving Week!

For many families, gift-giving is the most stressful part of preparing for the holiday season. It's where the rubber of our budget meets the road of our expectations. Will our gifts be enough? Will we send the right message? Can we afford them? Will we find the year's hot toy ... or should we even look for it?

There's another, brighter side to gift-giving. Reading assignments this week will help us draw closer to the true meaning of the holiday season. Remember that holiday gifts and holiday giving are only pale reflections of the true holiday gift.

Today's essay, In Praise of Simple Gifts, is intended to get us off to a good start.

Ready? It's time to take on the gift list and get ready for Christmas!

to do this week ...

Gifts and Giving Week Assignments

to do today ...

Get going on gift lists. During Get Organized week, we made a start with the Master Gift List; now it's time to flesh it out with more specialized lists to organize gift shopping.

Get those printers humming! During Gifts and Giving week, we'll spin off other lists:

A Gifts to Make list will keep us on track home-crafted gifts. No more late-night sewing sessions on Christmas Eve!

Fill holiday stockings with items from Stocking Stuffers. A get-organized tip: store stocking stuffers in department store shopping bags (with handles) hung from clothes hangers. Write the recipient's name on the front, and hang the bags deep in the clothes closet.

A Gift Ideas Planner comes to the rescue when Grandma asks for ideas for the children. Finally, use a Child's Gift List to encourage children to give as well as receive.

Begin Christmas gift shopping. Divide the Master Gift List into five sections. Purchase gifts for one-fifth of the list entries this week. Wrap gifts as they are purchased. Keep a running total of gift expenditures.

to print today ...

Gifts to MakeGift Ideas PlannerStocking Stuffers

to read today ...

Get armed against Christmas Excess:

In Praise of Simple Gifts