Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas or – in Elf terms — the first day on which you may begin taking down your Christmas decorations.  As we close the books on Christmas 2009, here are some things to do to make Christmas 2010 even easier:

• Before storing decorations, repair things that need repair and discard things that cannot be repaired.  Donate or discard items you no longer use.
• Launder and store Christmas linens.
• If you don't already have one, start a Christmas file — either paper or electronic.  This file should include your Christmas card list, a size and gift preference list for people you buy for, recipes, and budget.  If there is something else you'd find useful, feel free to add it.
• Use this year's cards to update your Christmas card address list. 
• If you're like me, there are Christmas crafts you meant to get to, but didn't.  Get an inexpensive storage crate (on sale at big box stores!) and put all the supplies and instructions in the crate.  That way, if you find yourself at home for a snow day (or on a rainy day in the summer), you'll have something to do.  And you'll be ahead of the game next year!
• Look at what you spent in 2009 and start saving for your 2010 budget.  Starting now will make it far easier to save money.  For example, if you spend $3 on coffee every day, making it every other day (beginning today, would save you $500 by next Christmas!