Seasonal Planning

Planning is the best way to get amazing results for great seasonal holidays

Most of us love the seasonal holidays – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Some of us prefer some seasonal holidays to others.
Overall, it is a great way to spend time with your family and loved ones or have a great get-together with your friends. If you have children, these seasonal holidays can be inspiring and memorable for them. Children love every minute and have lots of fun.
These holidays are when you make great memories and can be an opportunity for some great pictures of the family and the children. We want to ensure we get the most out of each seasonal holiday.

The best way to do this is to do seasonal planning. Planning can make you feel organized and prepared for these extraordinary times and help you get the most from the seasonal holiday. If you plan, you will have the time to spend with your friends and family and not get stressed. Ensure we are prepared, do not rush around, and can make a perfect seasonal time. Let us check out the seasonal planning for the holidays.

Christmas

Starting with Christmas is the most crucial holiday of them all. Christmas planning starts in January. You may think, “We have just had Christmas; the last thing I want is to think and plan is Christmas now.” Planning this in January will give you peace of mind later on in the year when you start having to do the groundwork.

The most important thing you must do with this January plan is budget for Christmas. By starting now, you will find that when it comes to spending money, you have this ready to pay. When you plan for your monthly bill, you ensure you have your budget for all your bills throughout the year. You have to find that extra money when it comes to Christmas spending. It’s like finding that extra money to go on holiday. Most people save to go on holiday, and this should be the same with Christmas.

First thing first, sit down and think about what you think Christmas will cost you and write down each section:

Christmas Gifts – Your children, partner, family and friends.

Food – This would be the food for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Christmas decorations – If you buy a tree or any decorations for a house or garden,

Christmas holiday Activities – These could be family Christmas experiences like Winter Wonderland, enlightenment, Santa visiting, or anything relating to Christmas.

Elf on the Shelf Props – If you are a family that does Elf on the Shelf, then you need to plan the antics in the home, and sometimes you will need props to bring these to life.

Once you have decided your budget for all these key areas, you need to add this to a lump sum and divide it over 11 months. Doing this will give you all the money to make your Christmas magical instead of leading to stress about how you are paying it off Christmas the year after. Then, you can leave the Christmas planning to later in the year, about October. There is much more to plan for Christmas, so check out my Christmas blog for all the fine planning.

Valentines Day

Some people celebrate this holiday, and some do not. It’s a memorable day of the year to share some love with the ones you love. When having children, I want them to understand love and its importance. Showing them how to express their feelings is okay. In our house, we create a Valentine’s love tree, make decorations, and send thoughtful messages to our loved ones. We have a special dinner, making this day the day of loving your family. I will show my children that expressing their feelings and showing love is okay when they find a particular person in their lives.

Planning this area:

A tree – This is not your Christmas tree! Having a white bitch tree. These come in various sizes; some have lights on, which can be purchased online, at craft shops, home shops, and even garden centers.

Decorations— these can be brought online or from a shop, or make some with the kids.

Gift—This does not need to be expensive; it can just be a flower, chocolate bar, or even a little heart gemstone called pocket hugs, found online. These are great to give to the kids.

Dinner – Make a special dinner where the family can sit together and share this memorable day.

I put up a tree a few days before and then plan a time to make some decorations and prepare a special dinner. Doing this a week before, and I incorporate this into my day-to-day plan.

Easter

Firstly, this is such a great holiday. Second, The days are lighter; the sun starts to shine, birds are beginning to sing, plus getting outside and enjoying the fresh air. Papering this holiday starts in February and continues until the start of March. After Christmas, the Easter Eggs start hitting the shops, giving you that gentle reminder that Easter is on the horizon.

One of the biggest things about Easter is the chocolate eggs we all love to purchase for a loved one or the family’s kids. But if you are particular about your Easter Eggs, you have to be early these days. As they get snapped up, and then you can be caught out. Especially if you go a week or so before Easter and find they have little selection on the shelves.

Ensuring you get the eggs you want

Talking or taking the kids to the shop to choose their eggs gives you an idea of what they want. February, the shops are full of them.

Once you have the egg collection from the children, hold off until you have done your homework. Ensuring you get the best deals on your eggs. Firstly, the prices can vary from shop to shop, and secondly, you want to know when the deals come out. Supermarkets will start the deals early to move their Easter Eggs from their shop shelves, so do your homework before purchasing.

Easter Box/Baskets

Another idea that is starting to become fashionable is Easter boxes. Alternatives to the kids are getting so much chocolate and finding you have a stack of chocolate to get through until the summer holidays. Easter boxes can be full of different personal items from:

Arts and craft activities – Paint bird boxes and bunnies, make an easter bonnet, and coloring books and pens.
Wellie boots
Kids gardening accessory and seeds to plant
Teddies like lamb, chick, or rabbit
Egg bath bombs
Easter headbands
Little chocolate but not stacks of eggs.

If you do not want the children to have stacks of chocolate, then this is a great alternative.

Planning the rest of Easter, you may want to prepare the following:

Decorations – Over the last few years, we have been decorating our homes with seasonal decorations, from door wreaths to Easter trees.
Food – are you having a big family dinner for Easter? What sort of food will you be serving, a traditional roast or Easter party food?
Kid’s activities – Over Easter, including the easter holidays.
Easter egg hunts – These could be eggs dotted about the house or garden or clues in eggs for older children.

Being prepared will save time when planning this memorable holiday. Fast approaching allows you time to put all your preparation in hand, ensuring you get the best for the money you may spend during this time. Planning and preparation will give you time to spend with the family without rushing around and feeling stressed and panicked. Instead, be ready for that memorable holiday and make great memories.

Halloween

Halloween typically starts in September. Prepare for this holiday with the kids. First, you want the kids to decide what they would like to dress up as for Halloween. Getting this done early, the kids get the costumes they want, as you want to satisfy them by not getting them because you left it too late.

Deciding if you are going to have a Halloween party or if you are going to take the kids out trick or treating. While you may choose to do both, other things you may need to consider are:

Decorations for the home and the garden can be purchased online, in shops, or again; get the kids to make some and pop them up.
Food – do you have exceptional food for this occasion? Will you make themed food?
Kids’ activities – for parties and the Halloween holidays could include crafts, games, and movies.
Pumpkins – Shop brought or Pumpkin picking.

Ensuring all areas are covered, you can start planning your ideas and purchasing your costumes, decorations, and activities/crafts. There are some great sites and shops to buy these supplies on a budget, and if you are early, you will get some great stuff to make your Halloween a great holiday.

Planning your seasonal holidays

Early season planning early season planning for each holiday helps you stay ahead of the game. Make a list of what you need and what to purchase. By planning this into your monthly and day-to-day plan, will make you super organized and ready for this tremendous seasonal holiday. Allowing you time and freedom to spend your holiday with friends and family, knowing you have gotten the best from your plan—Happy Seasonal Planning.