The Christmas Countdown is on! Here’s How to Prepare!

Christmas is fast approaching! With now just 12 weeks to go, the countdown is officially ON!

Before you know it, it will be beginning to look A LOT like Christmas! But never fear, we’ve made a list and checked it twice, with all the tips and tricks you need to get your Christmas preparations underway right now, the easy way! (So you can relax come December)!

Beat the rush!

Get in now to tick some of your preparations off your list early, and beat the crowds during the ‘Christmas rush’!

If you’ve ever missed out on getting that special gift the kids really wanted, you’ll know what we mean when we say ‘the earlier the better’. Get the kids to write their Christmas wish lists early this year, and take a photo of it so you don’t forget! The most popular toys always sell out first, so don't forget to allow plenty of time!

Here’s what you'll want to tick off early this year:

• Get your orders in now for any big food items – especially if you love your seafood or want special glazed ham or turkey from the butchers!

• Get your childcare booking days pencilled in!

• Check out when the Santa photos start, and pop a reminder in your calendar!

• Want that super cute family photo in your Christmas greetings? Get your family photos booked in now – they’ll fill in fast!

• Book a table at your favourite restaurant – for a few stress-free nights with the rellies!

• Flights! Don’t leave these till last-minute!

• Book your accommodation in now – they will fill up fast!

Get as many of these items ticked off your list now, small bit by small bit, and you’ll be jollier than the man in red in next to no time, knowing your Christmas will be a breeze!

​

Piece by piece

Dig out your boxes of Christmas supplies one weekend and look through what you have, and what you may still need. Don't forget to check you don’t have any broken lights you shoved back in the box last year for ‘future you’ to worry about! Write a list of what you've got on your notes in your phone, so you’ve always got it with you.

Then whenever you’ve got a bit of extra time to kill when you’re shopping, or if you happen to spot something great, you’ll know what you need! Start grabbing a few small things piece by piece whenever you see them, and you’ll be fully equipped for the silly season before you know it!

These are a few things that may be on your list:

• Christmas decorations – from tinsel to baubles to candles & table centerpieces!

• Long life food items – like tinned fruit, Christmas pudding, sweets, treats & drinks.

• Christmas cooking supplies

• Christmas activities for the kids

• Batteries – stock up on these like there’s no tomorrow!

• Wrapping paper, gift ribbon & sticky tape – you can never have too much! (Especially if your big surprise is a Springfree Trampoline – wink wink)!

Happy kids = relaxed parents!

Stop that “I’m bored” business before it even starts! Start keeping & collecting any jars, cardboard, boxes, cartons or other supplies that can add to the ultimate kids craft box for the Christmas Holidays. Bookmark any fun craft activities articles you find online, and cut out anything from magazines that inspires you or looks fun. Keep an eye out during your weekly grocery shopping adventures for easy craft staples like pom poms, pipe cleaners and googly eyes, and soon you’ll have the ultimate fun kit.

Bonus points: hold onto any old bed linen or tablecloths, because they make great ‘art sheets’ to keep all the mess in one easy area when the kids get crafty. Just set the kids up with their craft gear either outside on the grass or on your ‘craft sheet’ and they’ll be entertained for hours!

Double bonus points: get the kids to decorate some butchers paper or brown paper, to create super cute personalised wrapping paper!

Think BIG!

Instead of purchasing lots of little gifts for your family, consider a bigger combined gift for everyone! Joint gifts are a particularly great idea for families with more than one child, or for a present the whole family will love.

This also means you can combine what you would spend on each person and get one big kick-ass present that will be loved for years! Combined gifts get bonus points, because they create warm and fuzzy family time together!

Just imagine the excitement Christmas morning, when the kids unwrap a ‘clue’ that sends them outside to find their brand new TRAMPOLINE!

And we can’t go past the fact that one large combined gift means less thinking and planning over what to get each person individually. It also makes sure everything is even and fair!

Stockpile your gifts

How many times have you hesitated in buying ‘the perfect gift’ because it wasn’t close enough to Christmas, only to rush out to get something last-minute? Or worse, forget all your amazing ideas a few months down the track when it’s crunch time?! Birthdays, Christmas – they always seem to creep up, so don’t hesitate when you find something you know they’ll love… you’ll be able to pat yourself on the back for being so super organised!

Stockpiling gifts in a secret nook makes gift-giving stress free. You won’t even realise you’re getting Christmas (or birthdays) sorted early, until all the work is done! Keep an eye out for sales all year round – and be ready to snap up a bargain when you see one!

Start checking out online gift guides, sign up to any email lists or newsletters of products you’re interested in, so you get the updates and the sales when they come up, without actively having to go out and trawl through the internet or shopping centres for a good deal.

Get the house & backyard sorted now

Hosting the family get together at your place this year? Ever have that mad panic a few weeks before everyone arrives? Of course you have – we all have at some point! Save yourself the stress by spending some time to get any big backyard or house projects underway now.

You can also trick your family into helping you to get everything done early. If you can manage it, have a bit of a ‘working bee’ one weekend in November, with the reward for the kids being that they get to set up the Christmas tree “as soon as December starts” (with the official silly season underway)! De-clutter the house and the backyard, ready for mass decorations, Christmas lights, and kids’ home from school making a mess!

Plan smart – check out your payment options

Gifts that allow for flexible payment options make it really easy to get Christmas sorted early.

Interest Free Finance means you can lock in a price and pay off your Christmas in easy, manageable installments.

If you ever see a great offer or promotion, check out the payment options – if interest free finance is available, jump on it! You can lock in the sale price, then pay it off over time.

Gift Cards also make it easier for other family members to contribute towards big gifts – so Nan and Pop can get involved in gifting the kids the ultimate Christmas present.

Layby also lets you decide on your purchase and pay it off as you go, so the costs of Christmas don’t all come at once.

And if you can, pay off your Laybys early, so you don’t have all the bills come in at once.

So get into the Christmas spirit now, piece by peace and you’ll be laughing come December. Go forth and be merry!

Enjoy reading this article? You can learn more about Springfree Trampoline, or check out our trampoline buying guide!