December is a month of Overwhelm for many of us and with the build up to Christmas, this can seem daunting and stressful.
Often it feels like a “woman’s Christmas” with so much onus on present buying, card writing, entertaining and shopping. Sometimes it squeezes all the joy out of the festive Season.
My approach to this is to keep sight of the essence of what Christmas is about, which is to spend time with people we love and share memories of the year that is passing.
Point One: Ditch the cards and consider sending E cards instead. This is saves on recycling, stamps and time. Katie’s Cards is worth looking into.
Point Two: The energy it takes to find innovative presents, wrap and deliver can be exhausting. A huge percentage of gifts are unwanted and end up as clutter. Let your loved ones know now that you would prefer a Memory day instead of a gift and in return consider asking friends and family if they would prefer a meal voucher, magazine subscription, cinema ticket, favourite store voucher. This can be easily bought on-line and sent with a personalised message. No need to leave the house to face the crowds. Try Amazon gift cards complete with personalised message and Red Letter days for memorable experiences.
Point Three: It is unnecessary to over buy and overstock on Christmas food. Start your meal planner now and consider recipe time savers and ways to make cut backs on your time. Down load the Aldi App on your phone for great festive ideas.
