When you’re the planner, the buyer, the wrapper, and the joy-bringer, July is right on time.

I’m not sure about you, but the holidays can be overwhelming. I didn’t realize how much went into the holidays until I became a parent. I used to struggle with getting all the holiday things done. Then one year, I read The Organised Mum Method: Transform your home in 30 minutes a day by Gemma Bray, and she mentioned how she starts Christmas planning in September. At the time, I thought, “Wow, that’s crazy, but I’ve got to try it!”

It took me a few years to get into a groove to customize a plan for my family. It’s easy just to let things slide. But getting a little done each week is a sanity saver! Not to say that I’m ever perfect – I’m not! Planning early allows me to enjoy the holidays with a little less stress.

I’ll walk you through my planning brainstorm, and maybe this will help you find a way to plan early to keep the chaos out of the Christmas season.

Budget

I always start with my budget. I have a sinking fund in YNAB. Each month, for the entire year, I set aside a small amount of money for Christmas. At the end of the year, I typically review whether I was over or under budget and adjust my sinking fund in January. I’m finding that the older my kids get, the more expensive the items they want!

Sticking to the budget has been extremely difficult for me, as it’s so easy to spend during the holidays! A trip here, an activity there, an extra gift over there. It can really add up. My sinking fund for Christmas covers any trips, activities, gifts for my kids, gifts for others, postage – all the things. So, I must be mindful of what we choose to do and where we choose to allocate the funds.

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Christmas Gifts

I admit, some years I’ve gone overboard on gifts. However, I found that the more gifts my kids receive, the less enjoyable it is for them – and me! I never thought this would be the case, but it was for us. It takes forever to open gifts, and it’s overwhelming for them.

After that, I decided to stick to a simple gift plan. You may have heard of this: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. I tried it for one year and have kept to it ever since. I found it keeps the gifts streamlined and provides a lot of guidance without going overboard! It also helps me be more thoughtful about what gifts to purchase for my kids.

For my Kids

Since I started using a paper planner again (since 2020), each year, I create a simple table in my planner to keep track of the gifts. If you’re a digital planner, this always works in digital tools.

	Kid 1	Kid 2	Kid 3
Want
Need
Wear
Read
Kid 1 (sibling gifts)	N/A
Kid 2 (sibling gifts)		N/A
Kid 3 (sibling gifts)			N/A
Santa Gift

 

In addition to the four gift categories, we also do sibling gifts. I work with each of my kids to pick a special gift for their siblings. We order together and then wrap it together. The kids also have a holiday gift shop at school that is extremely affordable, and my older kids use their allowance to shop there for friends/teachers, or any extras they want to get.

Yes… each kid does get a Santa gift. I still have young kids who “believe.”

For Family and Friends

I also make a list of all the people we’ll be buying gifts for:

• Family
• Friends
• Friends’ kids
• Kids’ friends (usually purchased through the school gift shop)
• School teachers (per kid)
• Paraprofessionals
• Bus drivers

To keep my kids’ lists easily accessible and trackable, I use Amazon for a wish list. Each kid has their own list, and they add to it throughout the year. We use this for birthdays and Christmas. I created a “deadline” of sorts for the kids to add items for Christmas, so that I have enough time to purchase their gifts early. I like using the Amazon list because it can be easily shared with friends/family, if they ask.

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Debrief on Prior Year

Before creating the Christmas Countdown plan, I like to look at my planner/notes from the previous year.

• What worked
• What didn’t work
• What would I like to do differently this year?

From 2024, the only significant change I want to make going forward is the house cleanup. I always think I’m going to have time, but then school starts, and the calendar becomes chaotic. This is not on my countdown plan, but I’m implementing it right now in July—organizing, purging, and deep cleaning the kids’ rooms.

I’m hoping this will help with a fresh start for the school year, as well as an early start on getting things organized for the holidays.

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Christmas Countdown

I must say, with school-aged kids, things are hectic when school resumes in August, and it doesn’t calm down until the New Year. Though, does it ever really “calm down?” With such a hectic time, Christmas planning can get lost in the chaos of back-to-school and fall schedules.

I liked that the Organized Mum started in September. Starting early means you can do a little at a time and maybe – just maybe – December won’t be crazy.

For 2025, I plan to start the first week of September, which is Week 36 of the year.

I try to break it down into three main categories:

1. Prep: September – November
2. Execute: December
3. Close-Out: After Christmas and before New Year’s

These are my major categories that I like to consider when building out my Christmas countdown:

• Events: Kids’ activities and events (concerts, school events, etc.) and family events like seeing Christmas lights.
• Gifts: Gifts for the kids and friends/family
• Decorations: purchasing (as needed), putting them up, and taking them down.
• Meal plans: this includes Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
• House: Things to get ready around the house and cleaning.
• Christmas cards: including taking family photos. We haven’t taken family photos in a few years. Haven’t decided if we’ll take any this year.
• Travel: Any potential travel during the holidays.

Here is my simple Christmas Countdown table that I use:

	Week	Target
Prep	1.       Week 36	Events: Family events (Pictures with Santa, Christmas Lights, school events, etc.) Events: Kids’ school activities and concerts Gifts: Finalize gift list “to buy for”, including teachers Gifts: Discuss gift lists with the kids Cards: Decide on family photoshoot and book (if needed) Travel: Will there be any travel in November or December?
	2.       Week 37	House: Clear out toys Cards: Decide on Christmas Cards Gifts: Work on gift lists
	3.       Week 38	House: Clear out toys, cont. House: Freezer clear out Cards: Buy stamps
	4.       Week 39	Gifts: Buy Advent Calendars House: Clothes (season swap – what winter clothes are needed?) – Kid 1 Gifts: Order family pajamas Meal Plan: Thanksgiving plans – draft Gifts: Work on gift list Cards: Create Christmas Card list – verify addresses (if needed)
	5.       Week 40	Decorations: Check Christmas decorations and lights – are they still working? Need anything new? House: Clothes (season swap – what winter clothes are needed?) – Kid 2 Events: Book all appointments Travel: Book any travel in November and December Events: Are there any new traditions to add? Gifts: Buy wrapping paper Gifts: Finalize gift list
	6.       Week 41	House: Clothes (season swap – what winter clothes are needed?) – Kid 3 Meal Plan: Finalize Thanksgiving plans Meal Plan: Add defrost dates to the calendar Gifts: Begin ordering gifts or schedule on the calendar for when to order for delivery
	7.       Week 42	House: Clothes (season swap – what winter clothes are needed?) – me Cards: label envelopes Gifts: Wishlist for kids due 10/15
	8.       Week 43	Gifts: Finalize gift list for kids Gifts: Begin ordering gifts
	9.       Week 44	Gifts: Start wrapping presents Gifts: Sibling gifts Meal Plan: Christmas meal plan Meal Plan: Add defrost dates to the calendar Halloween Week
	10.  Week 45	Cards: Design and order cards   Event: Write letters to Santa House: Check light bulbs, batteries, and test smoke alarms Gifts: Christmas stocking plans Gifts: Finish wrapping gifts
	11.  Week 46	Event: Create activity/supply list, and order what is needed
	12.  Week 47	Cards: get ready to mail Events: Schedule all family events Events: Finalize Christmas Eve and Day plans
	13.  Week 48	Thanksgiving Week Decorations: Put up Christmas decorations Cards: Drop off at the post office
Execute	14.  Week 49	Events: Finalize winter break plans
	15.  Week 50	Misc.: Buy any last-minute supplies
	16.  Week 51	Misc.: Any last-minute items
	17.  Week 52	Events: Bake Cookies, Gingerbread Houses, Christmas Movie night Christmas!
Close-Out	18.  Week 1	Decorations: Take down Christmas House: Clean-up, Inventory, and New Years
	19.  Week 2	Lessons learned

 

Just a note on the clothes season swap. Last year, my kids grew before the snow hit. So, even though we tried on snow pants, by the time they needed to use them, they all had grown a few inches! This year, they will all need new snow pants, snowshoes, and snow gloves. I’m hoping to purchase early and include it in their “something to wear” gift category. I am also going to size up and hopefully get 2 seasons out of the pants.

After I have my countdown list, I add it to my calendar. I use a paper journal, but you can also use a digital task manager or digital calendar. Whatever works for you.

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Wrapping It Up Without the Wrapping Paper

Planning for Christmas in July doesn’t mean I’m hauling out the tree or wrapping presents. It just means I’m giving myself space, mentally and financially, so December doesn’t overwhelm me. As a single parent, I’ve learned that doing a little every week helps make the holidays more enjoyable.

Now I’m curious—

• When do you usually start thinking about the holidays?
• What part of the season stresses you out the most?
• Are there any traditions or time-saving hacks that help you make it through?

Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear how you tackle holiday prep in your home. Let’s learn from each other and make this year a little lighter.