The holidays are a lot of fun...as long as the shopping, cooking, decorating, and gifting isn't getting too unmanageable. Well, we never like to see our fellow Marylanders stress out. Here are a few fun hacks you can try this holiday season!
1. Be like Santa -- make a list and check it twice
It'll curb your impulse buying and spending, and it'll ensure that you've really sat down and thought about what you'll be buying for whom. You can also use it to track your budget for gifts.
2. Skip the dishes -- seriously
Nobody likes doing the dishes around the holidays. Nobody! Instead of forcing yourself or someone else to do them, buy some high quality single use plastic plates and treat yourself to the easiest cleanup ever. More time to watch movies or sports!
3. Go the Secret Santa route instead of buying for everyone
Stressed about shopping for your whole friend group, office, or family? Get everyone on board with a secret Santa where each person focuses on a great gift for just one member of the group.
4.Do the holidays potluck style
Instead of asking one person to do all of the cooking (and all of the ingredient shopping), let everyone bring a dish to share. Folks who don't have much skill in the kitchen can buy beverages or bring premade dishes from the farmer's market.
5. Store your wrapping paper safely
Just grab a garment bag and store your tubes inside! This is less bulky than a big box, but will still offer protection from dust, pets, and sunlight.
6. Store items in your online cart
After a day or two, the retailer may send you a coupon to encourage you to go back and buy the items you've collected. It's a good way to save a few extra bucks on gifts you already planned to buy.
7. Snag a reusable tree you can use year after year
Some people prefer to the smell and look of a real tree, but an artificial one can pay for itself as it's used year after year. You can get great deals on them as you get closer to Christmas day -- might not be a bad idea to find next year's tree now!
8. Consider giving your time instead of your money as a gift
For many people, having company while they tackle a big clean or make a long drive can be worth a lot more than a gift from the store. Do you have friends with small kids? Offer to babysit. Know someone coming from out of town to celebrate? Let them skip the Uber and drive them to the airport.
9. Keep everyone's gifts organized with unique paper
Instead of sticking name tags on a bunch of different packages, you can keep things streamlined by giving each member of the family or friend group their own wrapping paper design. It'll make passing them out a cinch!
10. Decorate with natural items
One of the best things about the holidays is the fact that you can use things that are found right outside your door to decorate! You can gather pine cones to put in a glass jar, apples and winter gourds for the table, and pine boughs for the mantle.
