Get Organized To Make Holiday Gifts

When you make holiday gifts, it's a great way to extend your holiday budget and give unique, personalized and treasured presents. However, if you haven’t done it before, you need a plan to stay organized. You don't want your good intentions to turn into extra work during a very busy time of year.

Five Tips To Help You Get Organized To Make Holiday Gifts

1) Plan ahead and get started early. Make a list of all the people you’re making gifts for and what you’re going to make them. You'll need plenty of time to get the gifts created before the holidays. Start early so you can budget your time. Devote a specific amount of time each day or week to getting the gifts made so you complete them on time.

2) Make sure you’re doing something you enjoy! Think about it..., if you decided you’re going to cross-stitch everyone an ornament but you really don’t like cross-stitching that much, you’re not going to have any fun making or giving the gifts. You’ll also have a tough time getting the gifts made before the holidays.

On the other hand, if you’re doing something you love, you’ll put extra energy into making the gift special and unique. Additionally, you’ll also enjoy making and giving your gifts of love.

3) Budget expenses. While it may "seem" like making your gifts is less expensive than buying them, some crafting supplies can get expensive. And while you don't really figure the value of your time when making gifts, the time that it will take to make them is still a consideration, especially if you are a wife, mother, grandmother, work full time, etc.

Before you start on your journey to make holiday gifts, make a list of everything you'll need to buy and what it costs. Analyze the information to determine a price per gift dollar amount. Does the cost seem reasonable? Are you saving any money by making your gifts?

I realize that making gifts doesn’t have to be about saving money, but it helps to know how much you should expect to pay before you make a final decision to make holiday gifts.

4) Take care not to take on too much. We often think we’re capable of doing more than time allows. You know, the old super mom syndrome. Try to take an honest and realistic look at how much time you [really] have to make your gifts and how long it will take (approximately) to make them. Will you reasonably be able to manage this, or is it possible that you're trying to take on too much during a very busy season?

5) Consider the recipient. Often, we get so excited about making a gift that we forget to consider our recipient. For example, if you’ve decided you’re going to make candles for some of your friends and colleagues, you may want to make sure they’re not allergic to certain fragrances. You want to make sure your good intentions are going to be well received.

When you make holiday gifts for your friends and family it can be a wonderful thing. Your handmade gifts show you care enough to spend time and energy on the process. To make the experience a low-stress, enjoyable one for you, it's important to take the time you need to plan and prepare in advance. Do this and you'll have a much higher chance of making this gift-giving season special.