For many people, the four weeks before the winter holidays are among the busiest of the year. Indeed, there's a lot to get done before New Year's. This week-by-week chart includes many of the to-dos that will come up, followed by some helpful timesaving tips. Finish the tasks in a timely fashion, checking off one or more every day, and the week before Christmas won't be a mad dash to the finish line.
WEEK 1
— Write gift lists and organize addresses, preferably on a computer or a PDA to ensure neatness and efficiency.
— Purchase stamps, cards and wrapping supplies.
— Plan a gift swap with friends to limit your total number of purchases.
— Sign, address and send holiday cards.
— Spend a few hours shopping on weekdays or after work, when stores are calmer than they are on weekends.
— Ship gifts early to guarantee on-time delivery.
— Carry your address book or PDA when you shop, since some stores will ship directly.
— Finalize travel plans. When the time comes, check in and print boarding passes at home.
WEEK 2
— Plan holiday menus. Order a turkey, ham or other specialty items.
— Shop online. It will save you the time and effort of wrapping and shipping gifts.
— Unpack decorations and inspect them for damaged ornaments and burned-out bulbs.
— Take an inventory of baking staples and replace those that are running low.
— Set up a wrapping station in a low-traffic area of the house, and wrap gifts as you buy them.
— Hand out gifts and gratuities to service people.
— Buy bulk gifts, such as a case of wine, and offer bottles to neighbors, acquaintances and party hosts.
WEEK 3
— Complete half of the house cleaning, starting with infrequently used areas, such as a guest room or formal dining area.
— Display exterior decorations; greenery lasts longer outdoors.
— Polish silver, and hand-wash stemware.
— Make and freeze cookie dough to bake as needed over the coming days.
— Purchase the tree and other greenery. You can even buy a tree online and have it delivered.
— Put up interior decorations.
— Trim the tree toward the end of the week, so you'll have time to enjoy it, and it will stay fresh.
WEEK 4
— Launder and iron table linens, then roll them around wrapping-paper tubes for short-term, wrinkle-free storage.
— Shop for food at an off-hour (some stores and markets expand their hours). Consider having purchases delivered.
— Clean the remaining areas of the house, this time targeting frequently used rooms.
— Finish last-minute wrapping.
— Take stock of and clean serving dishes and utensils if you're hosting a holiday meal.
— Prepare make-ahead side dishes. Cranberry sauce, for example, can be made early and refrigerated.
HELPFUL HINTS
Do the math: Draw up a budget and gift list before you shop. This will ensure even distribution (among, say, your kids) and eliminate aimless shopping trips.
Keep bows neat: Wrap gifts early but add ribbons, bows and tags later (label gifts with sticky notes so that you don't forget who gets what).
Fly lightly: When traveling for the holidays, lighten your load by purchasing gift cards rather than bulky presents. If you must bring gift-wrapped items, package them so that airport security will be able to examine their contents.
Work together: Organize a party with friends to tackle a big holiday task, such as baking cookies or wrapping presents.
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