Reality Check Week

Warning! Reality check ahead!

It's week two of the Christmas Countdown, and time to consider the darker side of the holiday. Though we may not be conscious of them, hidden holiday forces work to over-run our budgets and distort our decision-making.

Not to worry! Coming face to face with the reality of outside pressures will make us stronger--and we'll be empowered to bring our celebrations within the circle of our own values.

Ready? Let's get organized!

To Do This Week:

• Divide Christmas card list into five groups. Write and address one group this week.
• Make a holiday budget. Work together with your spouse to set a comfortable level of holiday spending. We make it easy with our printable holiday budget form. Add a printable master shopping list to speed errand days.
• Do your visual field a favor with a quick decor declutter. A clean sweep now makes holiday decorations all the more impressive!
• Set up a holiday housework plan. Print our chore checklist form. Post it publicly and hold family members accountable for delegated tasks.
• Make a family wardrobe check. Fill out the family wardrobe worksheet, and put any "To Buy" items on your shopping list.
• Print a master shopping list, to organize shopping excursions through the holiday season.
• Do you keep a gift closet, adding new gift items year-round? Take inventory now, before you shop for holiday gifts. Use our printable gift closet inventory form.
• Establish good health habits to cushion you and your family from holiday stresses. Focus on regular bedtimes, proper diet, mild exercise and stress reduction.
• Perform a tabletop check. Inventory serving pieces, table linens, china and flatware. Check store flyers for sales. Will you be ready to set a pretty holiday table?
• Schedule family haircut appointments.
• Check smoke, carbon monoxide detectors on Time Change Sunday. Change the batteries and test detectors to keep your family safe.

To Print This Week:

• Reality Check Week Checklist
• Holiday Budget
• Master Shopping List
• Holiday Chore Checklist
• Wardrobe Checklist
• Gift Closet Inventory

To Read This Week:

• Ten Simplicity Strategies for a Stress-Free Holiday Season
  Sneaky ways to turn down holiday stress and create a simpler celebration.
• The Selling of the Holiday Season
  Holiday budget woes? Clear your vision from the pressure of market forces.
• The Secret Life of Christmas Magazines
  They're heeerrree! Get armed against the forces of dissatisfaction.
• Whose House for the Holidays?
  Mom's house, dad's house, his house, her house? Few decisions cause as much stress for young families as where to spend the holidays.
• One Right Way to Celebrate? Wrong!
  Unrealistic expectations? Get armed with a good dose of reality therapy.

To Buy This Week:

• Begin Christmas gift shopping. Divide the master gift list into five sections. Purchase gifts for one-fifth of the List entries. Wrap gifts as they are purchased. Keep a running total of gift expenditures and enter on the holiday budget form.
• Purchase any needed holiday clothing for family members.