Christmas Eve is six months from today!  So let's start our Christmas countdown.

Remember: the purpose of the Christmas countdown is to help you prepare.  If you follow the countdown, when Christmas Eve rolls around, you'll be relaxed and ready to celebrate.

Here are the things you should begin working on over the next few months:

• Update your Christmas card list.  (If you don't have one, make one.)  Summer is a big time for moves and marriages, so it's helpful to keep the addresses current.
• If you plan to make gifts, now is a very good time to start. You can do a little at a time and still finish.
• Use a rainy summer day to sort through your Christmas recipe file.  Discard the ones that were not good.  Highlight the ones you love. Select some new ones to try this year.
• If you are vacationing this summer, be on the lookout for charming and unusual gifts for those you love.  I've bought some of my favorite gifts at little boutiques I've visited on my travels.
• Have a conversation with family about where you will celebrate each holiday.  As soon as that is decided, make any travel arrangements needed.  You may be surprised to learn that Thanksgiving flights are already filling up.
• Make a budget for the holidays.  I tend to look at Halloween through New Year's.  It should include all aspects of your celebration:  gifts, travel, food, entertainment, decorations, cards and postage, etc.  If you have not already started saving to cover these costs, start now.  You should never go into debt to celebrate the holidays.  Having a budget and saving throughout the year will allow you to keep control of your spending while prioritizing the things that mean the most to you.