Now that Thanksgiving is just a pleasant memory, it is time to get serious about the holidays. The clock is ticking and we’re only just weeks away from it all coming together. Will you be ready? It will help to take a moment and plot out your holiday strategy. Here’s how to ready for the holidays:

Make a List

Just like Santa, you need to make a list and check it twice. This list should be all the people you plan on getting gifts from immediate family to the garbage collectors (if they’re on your list!). As you make the list, you might already have the gifts in mind (hint: gift cards). It is important for the next tip:

Make a Budget

A major cause for stress during the holidays is spending too much money. Usually, that stress doesn’t show up until after January when the bills start rolling in. Setting a budget might mean getting creative with your gifts. A tin of home baked cookies is a great gift for coworkers and not expensive.

Shop Ahead

Your shopping has probably kicked into gear. The goal is to get everything done long before that last week prior to Christmas. If you’re sending out packages, then they have to be in the mail by December 19^th in order to make it to their destination by the 25^th. As you’ve no doubt discovered, online shopping is a great convenience. You could literally spend two hours shopping on line and get all you need vs. six hours at the mall. A lot less stress, too!

Bake Ahead

If everyone is counting on you for your cookies, then you’ll want to bake ahead as much as possible. This is actually something you can do in conjunction with your online shopping. As those cookies are baking, you can be shopping. Two tasks complete.

Plan Fun Events

It shouldn’t just be prep/work for the holidays. You’ve got to have fun with the family. Schedule a movie night for those holiday favorites. Plan on an outing to look at lights or take in some other great Hudson Valley holiday event. These are the moments that holiday are really for.

Clear Out the Clutter

A lot of new things will be coming into your home over the next couple of week. Not only presents under the tree but also guests for visiting. This is why you want to clear out the clutter ASAP. Junk King Hudson Valley can be a big help with that. It will only take a single junk removal session to have old sofas, futons, appliances or electronics clear out of your home. That is going to make a huge difference. The best way to get your home ready for the holidays is hiring Junk King Hudson Valley to haul away the junk.