I did cards last year after skipping a few years. I sent New Year’s cards.
I’ve sent Christmas cards that ended up being New Year’s cards…
Day 7: 20 Things You Don’t Have To Buy ForThe Holidays
“Just because you need something doesn’t mean it needs to be purchased. DIY-ing can be cheaper, less wasteful, and it’s a heck of a lot more fun. And the satisfaction of finishing your project? Only matched by the glee on your face when you get to say “oh that? I made that myself.” In the name of simple living, it would be fun if each of us committed to hand-making at least one thing this holiday season.”
I always make and gift cookies. Way back when, I used to hand make ornaments every year. Maybe I should restart that. Some year, I’d like it to be a totally handmade Christmas where we only give each other handmade gifts, kind of a Little House on the Prairie thing. 
Pretty much finished my crafting days when my Girl Scout troop graduated from HS. Sitting today out. 
One year I was really busy and didn’t do my usual baking for neighbors and others. I found small quick breads at my local bakery for just a few dollars (cranberry orange, lemon poppyseed, banana nut, etc).
I put a ribbon around the quick bread and attached a note:
Homemade treats are so fine,
but this is so much better than mine!
I do bake and give away baked goods to a few people - a couple of friends and co-workers. But that’s not something I want to do this early in the ball game!
I am usually not very crafty. But I am going to try and make this ornament out of my son’s wedding invitation:
https://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/the-budget-guru/diy-wedding-ornament
@abasket You don’t need to make it today. It’s more about strategizing, making a game plan.
“In the name of saving money, conserving resources, and finding a creative outlet, decide on something you’re going to make by hand this year, then get going on it! Find the recipe, buy the materials, make a list. It’s up to you!”
Strategy: I WILL bake at some point before Dec. 25.
Here’s the planning/strategy I need to do:
Determine dates/weekends for these items to happen (because it’s these things that get me stressed or behind because I don’t have a firm game plan - which is not always just up to me!)
When the tree goes up
When to bake
Plan to shop online Black Friday/Cyber Monday
When to wrap
Plan out the gift cards and purchase them
Ages ago, I’d make gifts. It was fun. I had a lot more time then!
Ordered 75 photo cards, and extra 90 or so prints, and a photo mug from Costco and just barely used up my $50 credit. Ho ho ho!
Last year, a friend and I did a cookie baking day together. It was so much fun. We made eight different kinds of cookies. It didn’t even seem like work because there were two of us…two mixers…two sets of pans, etc. it was nice because we split each batch in half.
We are already getting our cookie choices ready for this year. There will be some repeats…those twisted candy cane cookies, gingerbread men, and chocolate crinkles. Maybe Russian Tea cakes. We will see. There will be one bar or “candy” cookie.
So much fun.
And the reward at the end of the day,our husbands take us out to dinner.
I started writing my holiday cards last night. Have started collecting some small gifts for daughter’s friends and coworkers.
Day 8: Book an appointment or service you need for the holidays.
“Think about that thing you always put off or forget until late in the season, when all the good appointment times are taken or—gasp!—your favorite provider is all booked up through New Year’s Day. Today, call them up or fire up the app and make the appointment.”
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/book-holiday-appointments-now-holiday-jumpstart-263733
For me that would be my hair stylist who gets busy during the holidays.
Thanks for the reminder to book my haircut and color for the end of November to be ready for the holidays!
Carpets cleaned. Thanks for the reminder!
Needed this nudge. Going to make Escape Room and dinner reservations for when both kids and new SIL are here. Will note in my calendar to prepurchase tix for the new Mary Poppins movie, too (specific request by D1). I already made haircut appt.
I think I can pass on this one. I can’t think of anything I make appointments for before or during the holidays.
I need to make a hair appointment. I need to rent tables and tablecloths for Christmas Day Brunch, but I need a headcount first.
DAY 9: Find toys, clothes or other things from your home to donate.
“It’s a two-fold effort. We’re making room in our homes for the things our loved ones wanted us to have, but also getting much-needed things into hands that need it most.”
It goes on to give suggestions and tips.
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/holiday-decluttering-donation-guide-holiday-jumpstart-263734