1. Begin assembling cards and presents early.

A heartfelt way to show your loved ones appreciation is through handmade cards, especially by taking the time to draw or write something personal to the receiver! You’ll be making something more meaningful and less pricey than store bought gifts. It takes a little more effort, but handmade cards are a fabulous way to show someone you care. 

On another note, a way to avoid overwhelming yourself and rushing to purchase presents is to start looking early. Spread out buying presents, with a budget for each month so you do not find yourself burning a hole through your wallet in the last few weeks of December. A piece of advice: use Black Friday wisely (November 29, ladies and gentlemen) to get good deals on gifts in advance! 

2. Create an advent calendar.

Speaking of ideas for gifts, consider creating your own advent calendar. Whether for yourself or a loved one, an advent calendar is the perfect excuse to start the process of opening presents as soon as December 1st. You can tailor your calendar to any recipient, depending on the gifts you use, and the decoration of the board to hang gifts from. 

My mom decorated one when I was younger, cutting a Christmas tree shape into a red-painted wooden board, then drawing dates with a gold pen and attaching gold hooks to each day. Each year, she wraps small things for me and my sister to open on the days leading up to Christmas Eve. Skip the viral and costly advent calendars, and do it yourself!