Outdoor Decorations
Hey Moms! It’s about time to start decorating. You can modify your daily routine schedule now that the kids are out for Thanksgiving break. Use this time you would take the kids to school to complete Christmas decorations. My husband used to love putting up the outside decorations, and the kids and I would decorate inside. It’s bitter sweet becasue decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year but since my husband has paased away it is difficult sometines.
I want to keep up the family tradition! I usually start after Thanksgiving but since Thanksgiving is later this year, I started a little eariler. I created a budget to keep me on track because everything looks beautiful and I want to buy everything I see. Some best practices to use when you go shopping is setting a budget, planning, and delegating.
Set A Budget
A budget helps you save both money and time. I like to use the notes app on my phone to jot down items I want to add to my decorations. I usually aim to add no more than 3 to 5 new items for both the inside and outside of my home.
One effective way to stay within budget is to take cash with you while shopping. It’s best to leave your credit and debit cards at home to avoid temptation. I’ve found that leaving my cards in the car doesn’t work for me, as the temptation often leads me to run out and grab them.
Another way to stick to your budget is to pre-shop the look you’re going for. Researching ahead of time helps you understand the prices of the items you’re interested in and their locations, saving you time and money. Personally, I prefer not to drive around looking for the best deal. If I can find everything I need in the same store or mall, it saves me both time and money.
Lastly, consider taking your kids with you. Yes, I said it! Taking your kids along can help you stay focused on the items you need to grab. If they are anything like my teenagers, they tend to rush you. And if you have little ones, they often grab things or remind you they’re hungry. So, involving your kids can actually help you find exactly what you need more quickly.
Once you have all your items, it’s time to plan how and when you’ll put them up.
Planning
It’s great to get the decorations, but now we need to plan how to put them up. Being single can be challenging at times. Many outdoor decorations may require a ladder or step stool. Planning is similar to organizing day-to-day events. Let’s start delegating some tasks to family and friends.
If you have a brother who is old enough to help, or if your father is available, invite them over for lunch and involve them in the tradition. My dad usually helps me a lot with outdoor decorations, and now that my son is getting older, he assists with the indoor decorations. He has taken on the role of heavy lifting while my daughter and I handle the decorating.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help! You can host a brunch or lunch and invite a few friends to assist with the indoor decorations. Also, don’t forget about the kids. If they are under four years old, you might think they’ll just get in the way, but if you delegate tasks correctly, they can still contribute, even if it’s just helping with cleanup. The cleanup song works wonders!
It’s great to get the decorations, but now we need to plan how to put them up. Being single can be challenging at times. Many outdoor decorations may require a ladder or step stool. Planning is similar to organizing day-to-day events. Let’s start delegating some tasks to family and friends.
If you have a brother who is old enough to help, or if your father is available, invite them over for lunch and involve them in the tradition. My dad usually helps me a lot with outdoor decorations, and now that my son is getting older, he assists with the indoor decorations. He has taken on the role of heavy lifting while my daughter and I handle the decorating.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help! You can host a brunch or lunch and invite a few friends to assist with the indoor decorations. Also, don’t forget about the kids. If they are under four years old, you might think they’ll just get in the way, but if you delegate tasks correctly, they can still contribute, even if it’s just helping with cleanup. The cleanup song works wonders!