Looking for simple tips to get ready for Christmas? Here’s a simple Christmas Four Week Planning Checklist that makes it so much easier.
Yesterday I turned to my husband with wide eyes and asked him in a whisper if he knew what day tomorrow was.
November 25.
And now tomorrow is today.
YIKES with double YIKES on top.
Does the number 25 strike a cord? Ring a bell? Have any significant meaning?
Maybe you have wide eyes right now because you realized it, too. Tomorrow is EXACTLY one month until Christmas.
Are you ready? Are you set?
Ummm. Me? NOT EVEN CLOSE.
So to get us all ready—I made a super detailed checklist for myself of all the things I need to do each week before Christmas and I made this SUPER DUPER DUPER organized list for all of us to keep us all on track. I found websites and resources and movie lists and all the things to make Christmas and the holidays a little more fun.
And more importantly—to give us all more time to spend with our families.
Sigh.
That’s the most important thing to remember about getting ready for Christmas.
Family is first.
And this checklist makes it easier to accomplish that.
Are. You. Ready?
LET’S GO.
Countdown To Christmas: Four-Week Planning Checklist
Before we get started—just to show you how serious I am about this list—I created an entire Google doc with little boxes.
You can print off the list and then check the boxes.
And I know—because you are amazing you may already have done 1/2 the stuff on the list which gives you AUTOMATIC boxes to check off before you even get started.
You can see the checklist here.
Week One:
- Create a budget: Okay—I had to start with this one because I want us all to be fiscally responsible. I love the holidays—but it can be so overwhelming and so tempting to overspend. I GET IT. I just want you to know that you have a budget friend in me. If you have already done this (which so many of us have already made a budget way before 11/25) you can check this off the list.
- Send out Christmas cards: There are years I send out Christmas cards and years I don’t have time. I do LOVE getting Christmas cards and keeping up with all our friends and family and I find I have a better chance of getting cards if I send them out. If you haven’t bought your cards yet, I put together some of the cutest cards here (along with personalized photo cards and even a Hanukkah card)
- Plan out the holiday menu: This is the time to plan out what you are serving over the holidays. Make a list and DESIGNATE. Assign everyone in the family a dish to bring. Here’s a free meal planning app I found that you could all share and organize your meal together.
- Put up the tree: This may or may not be a controversial statement. I put up my trees after Halloween. Some people put them up right before Christmas. Some people wait for after Thanksgiving. I’m just adding it to the list to make sure your tree is up whenever you put it up.
- Clean and declutter: Don’t overthink this. Just set aside 30 minutes each day to clean and declutter things you normally don’t tackle. A week of this should get you set for the holidays. Here’s how I declutter my house in 10 minutes a day to get ready for the holidays.
- Plan out holiday parties: This is the time to plan out if you want to have any get-togethers. Put a date on the calendar for the party and then start a separate checklist for planning.
- Check on your gift list: List all the people you need to buy gifts for and brainstorm gift ideas for everyone on the list. Sometimes it’s easiest to do this on a Google sheet– that way you can just edit—but I love pen and paper, too. Make sure to check all the closets and spaces for stuff you may have bought all year long. So many times I buy something for someone and put it up and forget about it. Add all those gifts you already bought to the list. Then you can figure out what you still need to buy and shop this week with all the great deals.
- Wrap Gifts: Wrap gifts as you buy them to avoid a last-minute rush.
Week 2:
This is the week when the holidays are in full swing. Here are a few things to tackle this week.
- Double-check your gift list: We’ve already made the list and have a plan for all the Christmas gifts. Take a moment to assess where you are with the whole Christmas list and then purchase any remaining gifts.
- Get your guest bedroom ready for guests: Are you having guests for the holidays? Don’t wait until the last minute to get the room ready—that can be SO stressful. Here’s my best list of ideas for things for your guest room to make sure it’s ready.
- Set the table: I know this might seem a little excessive. I should have said “practice” setting the table. Before Christmas, I make sure I have everything I need for dinner. I make sure I have enough silverware and dishes for everyone.
- Plan Holiday Outfits: Choose outfits for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I just found the CUTEST dress I just ordered from Walmart that would be perfect for the holidays. It’s red and longer with puff sleeves and a bow. You can see it here.
- Confirm Holiday Plans: Three weeks out is the perfect time to confirm any holiday plans with family and friends. This is the time when I delegate what people are bringing and make sure everyone is on the same Christmas page.
- Make a dinner shopping list: Create a detailed shopping list for your Christmas dinner. My biggest time saver? I just order everything from Walmart and have it delivered to the door. Did you know Walmart has tons of recipes, too? You can just click on the recipe and then click and it adds all the ingredients right to your cart. You can see all the recipes here.
- Create DIY decorations or gifts: You know that we have a handmade gift exchange in our family. This is the week I make sure I have almost all the gifts ready so I’m not super stressed closer to Christmas.
- Listen to Christmas Music: This is the time to turn up the Christmas music. This is my favorite playlist from last year—they haven’t released the new one yet for 2024.
- Purchase hostess gifts: Have a few extra gifts on hand for last-minute gifts or hostess gifts and I just put together a list of fun hostess gift ideas that are affordable and perfect for all the parties. You can see the hostess gifts here.
Look how amazing you are doing. WE GOT THIS. Just a couple of weeks to go and a few more details to take care of.
Week 3:
- Bake Christmas Cookies: There’s nothing better than baking at Christmas time. And do I have the post for us? Here are 100 of the best Christmas cookie recipes.
- Remaining Gifts: Wrap any last-minute gifts and add personalized tags. If you are looking for any fun ideas for creative DIY wrapping? Here are 21 of my best ideas.
- Take a Christmas light tour: Looking for lights near you? I have the best place to find Christmas lights. You put your zip code in this website and it pulls up the best light displays near you.
- Make sure you have all the stocking stuffers: Did you know I put together an entire list of 21 stocking stuffers under $5? You can see the list here.
- Shop for Last-Minute Ingredients: Purchase any remaining ingredients for your Christmas Eve dinner.
- Last-minute house tasks: Check and make sure if there are any decorations or last-minute house tasks that need to be done before your parties or get-togethers.
- Create a Cozy Atmosphere: Take a minute (or tons of minutes) to enjoy the season. Light candles, turn on the fireplace, and play soft Christmas music.
You are in the HOME STRETCH. Now is the time to enjoy all the preparations.
Week 4:
- Prepare the Christmas Day (or Christmas Eve Dinner): Cook and prepare the Christmas Eve dinner.
- Set the table: Now is the TIME. Get the table ready with all the dinnerware and centerpieces.
- Get gift exchange presents ready: Make sure you have all the gifts ready and wrapped to exchange gifts with family and friends.
- Sing Christmas Carols: Have a sing-along with your favorite carols.
- Read ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas”: Every year my mother reads us all “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” It’s a classic and a great way to celebrate the holidays.
- Watch Christmas Movies: Around here it’s all Christmas movies all the time (there’s one on right now). Here’s a list of the top Christmas movies of all time.
- Reflect on the Meaning of Christmas: Take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
And just in case no one else has mentioned it yet today?
We GOT THIS.
Truly.
I hope this little checklist is helpful and makes the holidays so much easier.
And I know it’s Thanksgiving week, but I wanted to be the first to say….
…..MERRY CHRISTMAS.
PS You can print off this entire checklist here.
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