10 Holiday Tips and Tricks

Here are a couple tried and true holiday tips and tricks that have worked for me over the years and I thought I would share them with all of you. 

1.  First of all and the most helpful tip is create a list of everyone you plan to buy. Next, assign a dollar amount that you would be willing to spend on their present.  Then, as you go about your holiday shopping, write down what you bought them and how much you spent.

2.  Always have at least one extra gift ready for that unexpected person who shows up bearing a gift. That unexpected neighbor who drops by, relative who comes to town, or friend you haven't seen in a while.

3.  To keep Christmas lights from being tangled during storage try wrapping them around a piece of cardboard. We used an old cardboard box or you can use a part of an empty cereal box.

4.  Label the light sets with the location you use them. Ex. outside tree, outside windows, inside tree It's as easy as folding a blank mailing label in half around the wire. Another option is using the bread clips and just write on the back in marker.

5.  When storing small fragile ornaments try an empty egg carton. It will provide cushioning and it doesn't cost anything over what you already paid for the eggs.

6.  Store wrapping paper upright in a closet tucked to the side or the back and held in place with a bungee cord. Another option is to slide a loose rubber band or hair tie to keep the paper from unraveling - not tight or it will crinkle the paper.

7.  Run out of wrapping paper?  You can always use the comics.

8.  Can't tell what present belongs to who?  Try wrapping each family's gifts in the same paper. 

9.  I wrap the presents and sort them into 3 piles (Mom's, Hubby's family and Our family) based on where they will be opened.


10.   Use velcro to hang lights or garland from railings or banisters. We tried zip ties and they need to be cut off.  Let me just say that involved a hospital visit last New Years Day and multiple stitches. Not fun. Stick to velcro - that's all I'm saying. LOL!

Have an holiday tips or tricks you want to share?