Because this blog often features shopping related info, images of material goods I’m enjoying in my own home, and excitement about new products, I hesitate to spend too much time talking about frugality. There are enough blogs on the net talking about money saving tips and budgeting; Lovely Living has a different focus.

But I appreciate the idea of a simpler, less hectic Christmas. (And frugality is important right now with our troubled economy). That’s part of why I begin my Christmas shopping early in the year, and finish by December 1st whenever possible.
I shop for fewer items, make more careful decisions about the ones I am going to buy, and spend less time shopping and more time with family.

You can simplify Christmas, and yet still enjoy shopping, just by cutting down on the amount of gifts you purchase. I love shopping but I don’t feel the need to buy a gift for everyone I know. I love giving gifts, but almost everyone on my list is only getting one item. I will buy just one small gift and book each for my niece and nephews who live two hours away, and one book for a friend’s child in New York.

I definitely will find two or three nice things for young cousins who live closer. I just know them better and it’s hard to pass up cute things I see that I know they will like.

No Need to Buy More Decorations

I’ve come to realize that there is very little I need to buy for my own home for Christmas. Probably nothing other than a fresh live tree. I already have more ornaments than I have space to fit on the tree. I already have more than enough wrapping paper and beautiful ribbons to wrap the few gifts I’ll purchase. I already have stockings for my household members, and I don’t need fancy mantel stocking holders. I don’t need Christmas-themed kitchen towels, placemats or tablecloths, which I have plenty of. I already have Christmas dishes, which I have to store in the garage because I don’t have room for them in the house. I have a wreath for my front door, and tons of Christmas lights for outside.

Sounds like I don’t have room (or need) in my life for any more holiday decoration supplies. At least not until I give some away, throw some away or recycle them, or trade them with a friend.

So this year the only things I should be buying for the holidays are gifts, food and beverages.

I’ll be frugal with my time and activities too. I want to emphasize time with family – even if it’s just something dorky like making popcorn and hot cocoa and settling in to watch “Rudolph.” Or playing board games all night. Rather than running around going to endless parties (though parties are extremely fun!) or driving myself (and family) crazy by throwing too many parties, I’ll budget my time carefully.

QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:

– Recycle old newspapers, catalogs and magazines. Any newspaper that’s more than a week old, throw out mercilessly. Don’t be one of those people who accumulate a huge stack of newspapers thinking they’ll get around to reading them. Buh-bye. And instead of keeping an entire catalog so you remember a gift you saw for someone, pull out that page instead, then recycle the rest of the catalog.

– If you’re going to any plays, operas, ballets, or concerts this season, do you have tickets yet?

– Check over your Christmas gift list you keep in your purse or in your cellphone. (If you don’t keep a list with you when you’re out and about, I highly recommend this technique). Cross out anything you’ve bought, add any new ideas you’ve had.

– Need to stock up on gift wrap tape or packaging tape?

– Exercise for at least twenty minutes.

TODAY’S PROJECT: Home Office Organization, part 1

Today I am going to clean and organize my home office (You might have a similar computer room, breakfast nook table or desk. Depending on your situation this will be a huge or small project, should you choose to take it on).

Because I run a home business, and especially because this is my busiest time of year, my office is a huge ongoing organization struggle.

Clean off your desk, and dust thoroughly. Clean your keyboard, mouse and monitor (I don’t use anything fancy, just Windex sprayed onto the cloth, never directly onto the monitor, and Windex on Qtips for the keyboard).

Empty desk drawers and sort what’s in them, throwing or giving away as much as possible. Organize your computer CDs and software collection. If you can get yourself to throw away the pretty-looking boxes that computer games come in, you’ll open up a lot of space and get rid of lots of clutter.

Organize your pens, paper, notepads, staples, and other office supplies. Pay attention to how many pens you already own – I bet most of us truly never need to buy another pen for the next five years. Test each pen and throw out any that don’t write. Make sure you can find tape, scissors, a calculator, a postage scale, stamps, and a stapler when you need one.

Clean your office chair and Febreze it or use leather wipes if applicable. Vacuum, mop or sweep the room depending on what type of flooring you have. Sort and clean any bookcases you have in your office. Replace items on top of your desk, but try to keep the clutter down.

We’ll continue the home office organizing project tomorrow for those of us (Raising my hand now) who have a VERY messy office.