Christmas Eve is only 5 months from today! It's hard to think of Christmas when the heat index tops 100, but spreading out your planning and preparation can really come in handy.

So, here's what to keep in mind this month:

• Take another look at your budget to make sure it's accurate. Are the amounts budgeted realistic? Is your saving going as planned? Where can you  reduce expenditures? (Trimming, it's not just for Christmas trees!)
• The next month is a big time for vacations. As you travel, consider picking up unique presents from the places you visit. Don't think souvenirs, per se, but lovely gifts that reflect the recipient and the locale you are visiting. Maybe a great local spice blend for the cook on your list or a handmade purse for by a local craftsperson for the fashionista.  Make sure you keep a list of what you've bought and have a designated place to store gifts.
• If you are making gifts, schedule in a few crafting days. It's far more pleasant to embroider while seated on a lawn chair in the breezy shade than to do so at 3 a.m. the night before it HAS to be finished.
• Finally, take some time thinking about how and where you want to celebrate this year. What events, decorations, and traditions are most important to you? Is there something new you'd like to try (perhaps some things you tucked away in your idea file last year)? What are you willing to let go? Maybe there's something you do because you've always done it. Guess what, unless legally or morally obligated, you don't have to do it. (I am unaware of any civil or religious law that requires putting out all 156 pieces of your grandmother's Christmas village scene. Just saying.) Making a plan is the first step on the road to a successful and low-stress celebration.