Just say no to hosting or attending anything you don’t want to. I might go to one party each year and I don’t do the white elephant there. Push the easy button.

I keep detailed (digital) notes and spreadsheets on everything from menus to card lists to gifts to supplies I need to buy for next year. I also keep a "Christmas Reference" photo album on my phone to visually remind myself of things like how I decorated the mantle or fit everything on the buffet so that I don't want to have to re-figure out every year. My husband laughs at me every time I go, "good job, last-year-me!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure this is off the wall, but I buy wrapping paper in January and most of my gifts in July. Too late for that. Probably just go with the flow. We do the same stuff usually, so we run on autopilot. I do keep extra gifts.

How does someone return a gift you purchased in July?

+1, I make sure that people can return the gifts that I get them if they so choose, so I don't buy things until we're inside of the holiday return policy window.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each year, when we all get little gifts like lotion, candles, tea, throw blankets, jams or jellies, as well as the gift bags and tissue paper they came in (refolded and smoothed out) keep them in a gift closet. In early December, I take them all out and spread them out on the unused part of the living room floor. Whenever we need gifts for secret Santa’s or white elephant etc, it is easy to look through that pile, select something, grab some bag and tissue paper for them, and off we go.

Do you note who they came from because I just got a candle as a hostess gift and I know I won't use it so I put it up with the stuff you mentioned but then I realized I needed to put a post-it on it so I remembered who gave it to me so I didn't accidentally regift it to them!

We rubber band the post-it around the item so the post-it won't fall off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each year, when we all get little gifts like lotion, candles, tea, throw blankets, jams or jellies, as well as the gift bags and tissue paper they came in (refolded and smoothed out) keep them in a gift closet. In early December, I take them all out and spread them out on the unused part of the living room floor. Whenever we need gifts for secret Santa’s or white elephant etc, it is easy to look through that pile, select something, grab some bag and tissue paper for them, and off we go.

Do you note who they came from because I just got a candle as a hostess gift and I know I won't use it so I put it up with the stuff you mentioned but then I realized I needed to put a post-it on it so I remembered who gave it to me so I didn't accidentally regift it to them!

I do this with wine that is given to me as hostess gifts (if it's not something we'll drink). Put a post-it on it of who gave it to me and gift it to somebody else at the next party!

Anonymous wrote:Each year, when we all get little gifts like lotion, candles, tea, throw blankets, jams or jellies, as well as the gift bags and tissue paper they came in (refolded and smoothed out) keep them in a gift closet. In early December, I take them all out and spread them out on the unused part of the living room floor. Whenever we need gifts for secret Santa’s or white elephant etc, it is easy to look through that pile, select something, grab some bag and tissue paper for them, and off we go.

We had a closet like this when the kids were young - extra lego sets, craft supplies, dupe barbies, etc. but now that we are all adults we don't get tatt like this. Who is giving you this garbage all year?

Anonymous wrote:Each year, when we all get little gifts like lotion, candles, tea, throw blankets, jams or jellies, as well as the gift bags and tissue paper they came in (refolded and smoothed out) keep them in a gift closet. In early December, I take them all out and spread them out on the unused part of the living room floor. Whenever we need gifts for secret Santa’s or white elephant etc, it is easy to look through that pile, select something, grab some bag and tissue paper for them, and off we go.

Do you note who they came from because I just got a candle as a hostess gift and I know I won't use it so I put it up with the stuff you mentioned but then I realized I needed to put a post-it on it so I remembered who gave it to me so I didn't accidentally regift it to them!

Anonymous wrote:This shouldn’t be an off the wall suggestion, but others are always amazed to learn I do this: take a day (or 2) off of work! Take off a Monday and do your shopping, wrap, decorate, or whatever you need. I do this every year and it is a huge help. I build it into my planned time off and don’t let anyone talk me out of it.

This is excellent advice! Having a day or two of everyone else out of the house at work and school is amazing. You can get so much done!

I forgot to make the mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving this year. That has never happened - I am a very good and organized cook. We laughed about it and the truth was that we had so much amazing food that the potatoes wouldn't have cracked anyone's top three items on the plate so they weren't actually missed. That helped me realize that sometimes you don't "need" what you think you do. I go all out at Christmas so I feel you wanting everything to be perfect, but since my ideas would be centered on lists or other things you already have covered (never attempt to make a new dish for a holiday party!), my suggestion to you is to accept imperfection more readily this year. It'll be ok. (And I say this a bit tongue in a cheek as a very Type A person!)

1) Opt out of secret santa and white elephant whenever possible. Just say no, you don't want the junk people give you, and no one wants the junk you will give. There will be times this doesn't work because of social pressure, but when you can say no, do it.

2) Don't start the elf on the shelf tradition with your kids, it is just a path to make work for the parents. Instead do traditions that are meaningful for your family...ours are Wolf Trap Sing Along and gingerbread house making.

3) Use the Amazon boxes (or similar) that arrive at your house as a way to declutter the house for the holidays. Take each Amazon box as it arrives, and just do a quick spin around the house picking up clutter to donate. Then close the box and put it in your car trunk. Then when you pass a goodwill or similar drop off all the boxes.

Anonymous wrote:Each year, when we all get little gifts like lotion, candles, tea, throw blankets, jams or jellies, as well as the gift bags and tissue paper they came in (refolded and smoothed out) keep them in a gift closet. In early December, I take them all out and spread them out on the unused part of the living room floor. Whenever we need gifts for secret Santa’s or white elephant etc, it is easy to look through that pile, select something, grab some bag and tissue paper for them, and off we go.

adding: this also makes me happy because it clears clutter out of my house, and saves me money

Each year, when we all get little gifts like lotion, candles, tea, throw blankets, jams or jellies, as well as the gift bags and tissue paper they came in (refolded and smoothed out) keep them in a gift closet. In early December, I take them all out and spread them out on the unused part of the living room floor. Whenever we need gifts for secret Santa’s or white elephant etc, it is easy to look through that pile, select something, grab some bag and tissue paper for them, and off we go.

I cook a lot more at home because it relaxes me. Do some huge early december shops, lots of meal preps (freezer stashes) and we can relax when everyone is home at the end of the month eating me out of house and home.

I find myself baking almost every day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not life-changing or anything, but I no longer wrap presents. I use reusable gift bags (or consumable ones, but I just put labels over the old gift tags and reuse until the bag looks spent.

I have a large box full of gift bags in multiple sizes. I've been saving them for about 6 years now so I've got plenty for any size gift.

I don't feel the need to reciprocate with a gift if someone gives me a surprise gift. That's nuts. Just say thank you!

NP. This is something I'm working on. I know I'll get flamed for sounding rude and ungrateful, but we have some acquaintances who always drop by at some point during the holidays with a bag of homemade goods. I always feel I have to have something to give them in return, so I stress about it (starting about now). I would much rather focus on my family and people we're close to and just accept their gift with a thank you but not feel I have to reciprocate - I'm over it!!

I always had "emergency" prosecco, chocolate gift sets and never needed them, so we ate them. I know the one year I don't do it, I'll need.

But instead, I'll probably just say "thank you". It evens out through the year, especially if it's a neighbor.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure this is off the wall, but I buy wrapping paper in January and most of my gifts in July. Too late for that. Probably just go with the flow. We do the same stuff usually, so we run on autopilot. I do keep extra gifts.

How does someone return a gift you purchased in July?