I cringe whenever I hear someone say, “This year make your gifts to save money.” It does not always save money.

I was working in a fabric store and I remember a woman spending $30.00 to make her husband a robe. At that time she could have bought one just as nice and it would have cost her less in money and time. (She didn’t even know how to sew).

When people make the assumption it will cost less to make a gift rather than buying one, it just may not be true. Here are a few organizing ideas on how to decide if making or buying is the best decision for you:

1. Do some price comparisons first if saving money is important to you.
2. Budget for the projects, don’t just think because they are homemade they don’t cost money.
3. Plan several months ahead to buy the materials you will need to make a project.
4. Give yourself enough time to make the item so you aren’t spending Christmas Eve finishing the project. I know many women who work into the wee hours of Christmas morning finishing projects and then they don’t enjoy the day.

I make beautiful quilts and knitted items for my family but I don’t do it as a way to save money, because frankly it doesn’t. But there are other reasons to make a handmade gift other than just to save money.

Have you found money saving ideas when you make your Christmas gifts?

My third daughter was due to be born on December first. As you know December and the weeks before Christmas are busy any year let alone having a baby at that time.

I have always loved Christmas and I didn’t want to give up the joy and happiness of this season of the year by being overwhelmed with the birth of my baby. I made a plan and I stuck to it. The following organizing tips are what I did then and still do to this day:

1. I set a goal to have all of my Christmas gifts bought or made, wrapped and delivered before December 1st. And I did too, then she didn’t come until December eighth so I had bonus time.
2. I made a detailed list of everyone I would give gifts to and what I wanted to buy them. This way when I saw a sale early in the year I was able buy what I wanted at a reasonable price.
3. I planned time with my other two children by making goodies and paper crafts with them that we later delivered to families surprising them with goodies every night for 12 days before Christmas.

It has been over 30 years since that Christmas but it has been one of the most memorable. Because of the planning and preparation that I thoughtfully put into it in advance; * there was time to get gifts for everyone, *enjoy the decorations and music of the season without being rushed, and *spending time with my family and *being able to help another family at this
busy time.

What organizing tips do you use to plan ahead for the holidays that have made them easier and more organized?

We are into our fourth day of our Holiday marathon on how to make the holidays less stressful with organizing tips and organizing ideas to use now and all year long. The reason I called this a marathon is because it is several weeks to the holiday and to participate in a marathon (the running kind) the runners pace themselves. To stay away from the stress zone during the holidays we to must pace ourselves and do a little at a time.

You know how Santa makes a list and checks it twice? That is exactly what we need to do. Make a master list of what you want and need to do before and during the holidays. Here are some organizing tips to get you started making out your list:

1. Decide on a budget and stick to it. I know that is easier said than done, but come as close as you can.

2. Write down your gift list. Do this on the computer and you will have a template for the next year. Make different categories; one for family, one for friends, neighbors, and for others at work or clubs where you exchange gifts.

3. If you mail gifts you know how expensive it has become. But did you know you can mail in a priority mail flat rate box for $9.80? The beauty of this is it doesn’t matter how much it weighs. (This is in the U.S.)

4. Designate an envelope for all receipts and put them in it before you leave the counter when you purchase an item. Even if you just know it won’t be returned—do this. It will make your life easier if you or the recipient has a return to make. One of the best organizing tips I can give you is: set up a filing system (I love Freedom Filers system) and in the system label a hanging folder for receipts. When you get home, put the receipts in this folder and return the envelope to your purse.

What organizing ideas are you using to reduce stress?

Last week at my rug hooking group we were talking about Christmas cards. I had said my organizing idea for Monday was about cards.

One woman said she likes to write a little family history even though she knows no one likes getting them. I take exception to that. I hear that too, but absolutely everyone I know loves being caught up to date with their friends. And we all agreed we love to get cards.

Here are some organizing tips for sending out Christmas cards:
1. Have all of your addresses in one place, either in an address book or on the computer. Take off any name you haven’t heard from in two years.
2. Make a list of people you want to send cards to. Keep this list on the computer or print it off. You then have a template and only have to make a few corrections next year instead of starting from scratch.
3. If you didn’t buy Christmas cards last year when they went on sale no worries, many stores run pre-Christmas sales before Thanksgiving on cards.
4. Write your Christmas letter, or jot a note in your cards and schedule a time to do it before December.
5. Have a target date when you will send out your cards. Mark this in your planner or on your calendar.
6. Delegate the addressing of the envelopes to a family member. This could be a job you pay a child who is capable of doing this and wants to earn money for Christmas spending.
7. Buy your Christmas stamps early, definitely before Thanksgiving to avoid the rush at the post office. I buy my stamps on line at usps.com It costs $1.00 for postage no matter how much I order and I have them in 2 to 3 days delivered to my door.

Christmas cards are fun to receive, so to continue to receive them, make sure you put your return address on all of the envelopes. Do you have any organizing ideas about Christmas cards you can share with us? We would love to hear it.

Do you ever calendar two things at once because you just can’t remember everything? It is so easy to do. My organizing idea for the day that can make your pre-holidays so much easier, better and less stressful is to write down every appointment, meeting, party, or out of the usual obligation—write them all in one place.

No sticky notes please. They get lost, they are too small and you can’t see a month or two at a glance. I recommend using a planner you carry with you so you will know what your obligations are no matter where you are. Use a paper planner or an electronic hand held one. Tracking your appointments can also be done on the computer if you are computer savvy. But then again, they have to be written down before you get home to your computer.

If you use a wall calendar at home you can then transfer the information to that calendar so the entire family knows what is going on.

Just using this simple organizing idea will make your holidays and entire year much less stressful. You don’t have to remember everything in your head and you won’t miss anything unless you chose to.

Do you use a planner now? What kind? And what is your favorite thing about using it?

Last night I was shopping, and with the time change even 7:00 p.m. feels like 9:00 p.m. to me—especially after a busy day of meetings and work. The store was having super deals and I was really enjoying myself. The employees were hanging up Christmas decorations which was fun to watch. I personally love the holiday season. I think one reason is because I plan for it and organize everything before that has to be done.

I am going to have a marathon for several days if not weeks giving organizing tips and organizing ideas to help make your holidays less stressful. I would love to hear from you all on how you cut down on holiday stress.

My daughter who lives in Washington D.C. called a minute ago and said she had booked her plane ticket to come home for Christmas. So my mind immediately went to where she would stay for the 10 days she will be home. I added that to my list of things to do — get ready for company. (I will talk more about this in the following days).

My first organizing idea is:

•Make a list of everything you can think of that you have to do and break it down into two sections–before Thanksgiving—before Christmas. This one simple task of making a master list will cut out a lot of stress.
•Cross off any thing that makes you crazy—if it is something that HAS to be done—delegate it.
•Include on your list some me time just for yourself.

I am excited about this holiday marathon! I will be giving organizing ideas to use not only during the holidays but organizing ideas that will help you to be organized all year long.

We would LOVE to hear from you—give us your ideas on how you cut down on stress before and during the holidays. What’s on your list today?

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
The moon Laughs and Whispers,
‘Tis Near Halloween.

Did you know a full moon rarely shows up on Halloween? There have only been four times over the past century they have occurred on Halloween. The next full moon on October 31 will be in 2020. My first thought was, how old will I be? That is just 12 years away.

Safe and Happy Halloween to you and your friends and family. Another little tid bit: Americans purchase an estimated 20 million pounds of candy corn for Halloween each year.

This month is Halloween and I always thought that somehow this was just an American tradition. I didn’t realize it originated in Britain.
Trick-or treating started in the Middle Ages and All Souls’ Day, when poor people in Britain would beg for soul cakes, a sweet-bread treat, and pray for dead relatives in return.
Clearing clutter used to be a part of Halloween in the small town I was reared in because boys (we always blamed it on the boys) would smash pumpkins from people’s yards if they didn’t get the kind of candy they wanted.

When the little kiddies bring home their candy and dump it out on a sheet or table cloth on the floor to sort through it, this a good time for clearing clutter. The clutter is the candy they don’t like but keep it around because they got it and think they might want it someday. Throw it away, or take it to a shelter or food bank. Some dentists in our area buy the candy (by weight) and then they send it to third world countries. Check with your dentist to see if he/she has a program to do this.

Clearing clutter is spreading around the globe as trick or treating has spread from the U.S. to Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. Chocolate makes up about three-quarters of a trick-or-treater’s loot, according to the National Confectioners Association. Chocolate would be my favorite if I went trick or treating today—how about you? What is your favorite treat?

I am always humbled when I get recognition as a professional organizer. This last week I was featured in a two page spread in the Buzz Inner Circle newsletter that comes out of Salt Lake City.

As a professional organizer I am always giving organizing tips to help people brighten their lives so they can live a more organized life which brings peace and a sense of accomplishment to them, their friends and family.

Here is an organizing tip: start now to line up your Halloween movies. Here are 13 of the scariest ever fright films according to the Internet Movie Database:

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre—1974
Halloween –1978
Psycho – 1960
Night of the Living Dead –1968
The Exorcist –1973
The Shining –1980
Dawn of the Dead –2004
The Thing –1982
Suspiria –1977
Jaws –1975
A Nightmare on Elm Street –1984
The Evil Dead –1981
Alien –1979

Out of this list I have only seen Alien. As you can tell I’m not into scary movies. The scariest movies I have ever seen were The Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Fly. I wouldn’t close my eyes for months to wash my face after seeing The Fly. I love being a professional organizer, that is my thing—seeing scary movies is not my thing.

What are your favorite scary movies, or do you shy away from them too?

Today is my Birthday. I love birthdays, I love that I am alive; I love being a professional organizer; that I can help women with organizing tips and organizing ideas through my web site and in their homes. Let’s face it, I also love getting phone calls, cards, well wishes and gifts.

Today I am going to share with you a birthday story of mine. When I was turning 9 years old I asked my mom if I could have a birthday party. She told me no, not that year. But being the little organizer and go getter that I was, that was not going to deter me.

Without my mother’s knowledge I went ahead and planned a birthday party for me. I made little construction paper invitations and I kept reminding my friends to be sure to come to my party. When my mom arrived home after teaching school all day there were 12 little girls playing games in the living room. I still remember her surprise. I hadn’t planned any treats (I was probably more interested in the gifts at 9 years old). My mom had made me a cake and had ice cream so it all worked out just fine.

Besides this being a fun and memorable birthday for both my mom and me; that is my first memory of me organizing something bigger than my little treasures in my room.

Happy, Happy Birthday—to everyone who is reading this with an October 16th birthday.