Holiday Checklist – Holiday Tips to Make Your Season Stress-free

Getting organized for the holidays requires pre-planning, but the little extra work goes a long way.

You're likely to find great deals, spread out financial burden and save yourself some stress if you start the planning process early. And, the best news - with less stress, you may have more fun!

So, let's get started. This holiday checklist is your ticket to a stress-free holiday season.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the eggnog!

OCTOBER

1. Use your most recent pay stub to determine your holiday budget. Financial planners recommend spending no more than 1-5% of your after tax income on holiday spending.

• Break the budget down into specific categories - like gifts, wrapping, parties, holiday clothes, babysitting, food and more. Then you'll know how much you can spend in each category.
• Use a sample budget for guidance. There's a good one at About.com.
• Determine who and what you're shopping for before buying gifts and allocate your dollars by person.

2. Create a "Holiday 2009" notebook. Make it the one place where you keep holiday lists - whether it's shopping, dinner party guests, or something else.

• Be certain to jot down sale dates, coupon codes and shopping tips.

3. Buy your travel tickets now or set up travel fare watchers.

• Kayak.com is a great resource for comparing prices and setting up fare watchers. We also heard you can save money by booking flights on Tuesday or Wednesday nights when airlines cut flight prices.

4. If you need one, book your hotel room through Hotwire.com. Hot Rates are deeply discounted special rates (up to 55% off) designed to help hotels fill unsold rooms. You won't know your exact hotel until you've paid, though. Hotels offer such low rates by keeping their identities unpublicized during the reservation process.

5. Hang a central calendar at home and label it with all of the events and activities for the upcoming season. Do it in pencil so everyone in the family can update the calendar as needed.

6. Start shopping (and wrap as you go)!

• Set aside time each week to shop and wrap gifts. Pick a down time at the mall to shop, like evenings or late afternoon if you can take a late lunch. You'll be on your way to shopping relief.

7. Mark an old shoebox or Tupperware container as "Holiday Receipts." This will make locating receipts for returns and exchanges a lot easier after the holidays. It will also allow you to better track your spending.

Bonus Tip: If you want to send out holiday cards this season, consider a cheaper alternative - ecards or postcards. Postcards offer cheaper printing as well as cheaper postage.

NOVEMBER

1. Prepare menus for any parties you're hosting and be smart about your budget.

• To stay within your budget, consider hosting a wine tasting - assign everyone a wine or dessert - or have an appetizers-only party. Try hosting a tree-trimming party that will help outfit your home for the holidays.
• Pick up holiday beverages by the case. Select wines and champagnes that last the entire holiday season, go well with any meal, and would make a great gift for a hostess or neighbor.

2. Take inventory of your decorations, wrapping, and holiday dinnerware. Buy wrapping, ribbons, and bows in bulk from Sam's Club or Costco, or consider shopping at the local Dollar Store. You could even make your own wrappings with newspaper and raffia.

3. Go through the outfits you plan to wear to different events. If you are in desperate need of some new holiday clothes, consider wearing the trusty favorites and adding some new bling with fun accessories.

4. Keep shopping (and wrap as you go)!

Bonus Tip: In early November, schedule haircuts, babysitters, manicures, and other appointments that you need for December. If you need a caterer or party platters, order them in early November too.

DECEMBER

1. Are you finishing your shopping? If not, then get going! The longer you wait the more impulse buying you will do. Avoid the impulses, avoid the extra spending and shop early.

2. Try and avoid shipping costs too. Always bring a present in person when possible. If you must ship gifts, then send them in flat rate boxes from USPS. You pay one fee to ship the entire package with no extra fees for distance or extra weight. As long as it fits in the box, you pay the flat rate.

3. Have a few last minute gifts to buy but no money left? Cook or bake treats and side dishes and wrap them up in cute containers. People always like home-made gifts.

4. Too many friends and too little budget? Invite your friends to a cookie swap, gift wrapping party, or clothing swap. That way, you'll all still spend time together and spread holiday cheer.

Bonus Tip: Join the crazies - it's never too early to get ready for next year! Visit the 50-75% off aisles after the holidays and stock up on cards, wrappings, ornaments and more. Also, post-holiday sales are a great place to get gifts for friends or family members that have winter birthdays.

The real fun begins now that you have a handy holiday checklist to guide you through the next three months. Happy holidays!

To see all of our great holiday gift guides in action, visit our holiday gift guide page.