Especially for newly single parents, surviving the holidays can be rough. Your emotions are running close to the surface, and you're tight schedule is busier than ever. In short, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure about each decision you face. To help you get through it, here are some tips to help you go beyond just "surviving" the holidays, to finding new ways to make them enjoyable for your whole family.
Who defines the traditions you choose to follow? Ask yourself what would really make your holidays enjoyable, and simply let go of the things that have little or no meaning for you. That alone can make this time of year more meaningful and pleasant.
There's nothing worse than feeling like you have no option but to overspend and shop on credit just because gift-giving is the thing to do during the holidays. Instead of getting caught up in the nonsense, carefully consider how much money you have available to spend on holiday shopping, and intentionally plan your gift-giving goals to fit within that budget.
Actually writing down your gift list is an important step. Our
free printable holiday planning worksheet will help you make a thorough list of all the gifts you plan to give. In addition, there are spaces for writing down where you stash each item and whether it needs to be wrapped or mailed.
Since you probably have a good idea of what you'd like the kids to receive for Christmas, why not set up an online wish list to make shopping easier on your whole family? This way, you can steer anyone who might want to buy your kids a gift this season toward something truly useful and perhaps even save yourself an extra expense or two down the road.
When your mother asks you what you want for Christmas this year, give her a list of items you don't normally buy for yourself. This is a great time to let others splurge just a bit on
you.
You can save quite a bit of money by making thoughtful gifts which hold more meaning than anything you can buy at the store. In addition to saving a few dollars, you'll be building great memories with your kids and teaching them that thoughtful gifts don't have to cost a lot of money.
Plan to mail your gifts by mid-December if you want to be sure they'll arrive before Christmas Eve. Also, consider decorating the box with stickers and including some balloons and confetti inside so that it's extra fun to open!
If baking is something you love to do at the holidays, then check out these great recipes. Start early and freeze a batch or two or your favorite cookies. That way, you'll always have something on hand for those last-minute invitations.
You probably want the morning of your holiday to be just as special as the rest of the day. Try these delicious make-ahead breakfasts.
How do you make the holiday meal special when it's just you and the kids? Consider what would make the event memorable for each of you. Would it be fun to serve appetizers? How about playing some games with the kids between dinner and dessert? Do what you enjoy and appreciate these special moments together.
