I know you don’t want to hear this, but Christmas Eve is nine months from today! We don’t know what this holiday season will be like, though we all certainly hope that we’ll be back to our more usual holiday celebrations with gathering of family and friends. It’s likely that we will still be dealing with some effects of the pandemic. Some families will have empty places at their tables. Others may need to limit or eliminate their holiday spending because of economic losses. Travel may be limited. But, even with the unknowns, since I want you to be relaxed and ready when Christmas Eve rolls around, I’ll keep posting the Christmas Countdown to keep you on track.

• Think about picking up small unique gifts from small businesses. Many have web presences and are happy to ship. And they can use the business.
• Consider picking up gifts at season ending sales on winter merchandise. For example, I got my fireplace set at 75% off because it was late March. You can also get good deals on winter clothes and sporting goods.
• If you like to make gifts, now is a great time to start thinking about what you’ll make. Some things take a long time or are easier to make seasonally. For example, if you want to give folks homemade strawberry jam, you probably shouldn’t plan on starting in October! At the same time, being at home most of the time may leave more time for crafting.
• Begin chatting with your loved ones about where you plan to spend the holidays (assuming that travel is possible).
• Begin saving for your holiday expenses. Saving a little each week is far easier than trying to save large amounts beginning in the fall. Take a look at past budgets. Were they realistic? How much do you need to save each week to have the money put away by October 1^st? Is that a realistic savings goal? If not, start cutting now. It’s easier to make good choices when you have time available. (Also, keep in mind that buying things off season can let you get more bang for your buck! For example, you may be able to pick up new or like new Christmas decorations at a yard sale or thrift store for a fraction of the price.)