4 Things to do in January to Get Ready for Christmas

I know, I know… you probably still feel like you need to recover from Christmas and here I am talking about it again.  Was it a hectic one for you?  If you spend a little time planning and preparing every month next Christmas won’t be so bad.  Last year I shared some of the things I do in July and November to prep for the holidays.  This year I’m going to share a few small things for you to do every month, starting with these 4 things to do to get ready for Christmas in January!

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4 Things to do to Get Ready for Christmas in January!

ONE:  SHOP

You might have spent more money than you budgeted last month.  But if you spend a little in January, you could save a lot next December.  Here are a few things you should buy AFTER Christmas:

• Christmas cards
• wrapping paper, ribbon, tags – Look for papers without holiday patterns to use for birthdays or anniversaries.
• craft supplies – Look for things that are red or green WITHOUT a holiday pattern.  You can use these for Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day crafts.
• candy – Again, look for red or green candies.  
• gift sets – Those gift sets with small tubes of lotion, perfumes, and/or soaps make great hostess gifts any time of the year.  If they’re in a holiday box, take them out and repackage them into an expensive looking spa basket like this one.
• toys – Buy toys at a deep discount and set up a “toy store” in an extra closet.  Any time your kids are invited to a party they can “shop” your closet.  This will save you money plus you won’t have to run out for a last minute gift.

  Ashley shared a few of her great finds from an after Christmas sale:

TWO:  DONATE

Go through all your Christmas decorations, especially the ones you didn’t use this year.  Are you ever going to use them again?  Save the sentimental or hard-to-find decor but if you haven’t used it in a few years, get rid of it!  

THREE:  PACK

Carefully pack and make a list of what you put in each box.  (And maybe even WHERE each box is stored!)  I use Rubbermaid boxes like this for my ornaments.  I have a couple the same size without the dividers to store my nativity scenes, lights, and other decor.

• Rhoda shared how she stores her ornaments and all her other Christmas decor. 
• How to store an artificial Christmas tree. 
• How to store Christmas wreaths. 
• Laura has created some AWESOME Christmas decor inventory sheets.  Download them over on her blog.

FOUR:  CHRISTMAS CARDS

Take them down from display, put them in an album, and update your addresses and Christmas card list for next year.  I’ve had friends that would put all the cards they received in a basket on their kitchen table.  Then every morning they would pull one out and pray for that family and write them a note.

I haven’t been that organized yet but I have been making Christmas card albums out of old Scrabble game boards!

If you enjoyed reading about Christmas in January, you might also like these:

• 5 Things I do in July to Prepare for Christmas
• 5 Things to do to Prepare for Christmas in August
• 5 Things to do for Christmas in September
• 5 Things to do to Get Ready for Christmas in October
• 5 Things to do to Get Ready for Christmas in November
• How I Organize My Entire Christmas
• 5 Major Mistakes You Make When Organizing Christmas Decorations
• How to Organize Christmas Decorations

Leave a comment and let me know if you do anything to get ready for Christmas in January.

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim