A ₵entsible Christmas is not only about saving money. It’s about making the season count. It’s about spending less, giving more, building memories and focusing on the ONE that we celebrate.
I realized that I have not updated you on my ₵entsible Christmas Plan. It’s going. Well. Let’s just keep in my mind this is my first year for a Christmas plan. I know many of you will love my public failures. Here is the honest update:
Read Aloud Books:
The Magic Tree House: Christmas in Camelot I have decided not to read this this year. My oldest son and I are reading another book instead. It’s called Santa Paws. It’s about a dog that helps people at Christmas.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever We are over half way through the book. The oldest 2 kids love it. I can’t cross it off yet because we aren’t finished. I fail to finish often so I need to leave it on the list.
Read at least 5 other Christmas books Hmm. I don’t know where we are with that. I read to the kids individually so I’ve read over and beyond the 5 books, but I’ve not done so in a group setting. I’m determined to do so before Christmas day. Do you love my optimism?
Baking:
I plan to bake 2 types of cookies or goodies a week. I will plan the cookies for the week when grocery planning for that week. Yea! I have been keeping up with this goal. I don’t usually struggle with the baking thing. I do have to make my traditional homemade Sticky Buns for Christmas morning yet.
Advent:
Continue Jesse Tree tradition We are very much enjoying this tradition. We have not done the devotion every night, but the kids have been loving this special time together.
Kids Crafts:
Choose 2 different crafts for the kids to make The crafts are chosen and the supplies have been bought. We will be making a version of these:
Make a Gingerbread houseWoo hoo. I can cross this off my list!
Homeschool:
Choose 1 Christmas based lapbook or unit studyComplete Christmas lapbooks and unit They are chosen and we are still working through them.
Family nights:
Pile in the car to go choose a tree, order pizza and drink hot chocolate while decoratingOne of our favorite nights of the year, even if it didn’t go as planned.
Surprise the kids with a road trip looking at lightsYes! We did this and it was so much fun!
DIY Decoration:
Choose 1 project to makeMake this project I know what I want to make. Now I need to do it. I also recognized that this project could be left up all winter long, so it might get done the week after Christmas. And that is ok too. It’s my plan so I can make my own rules.
Christmas shopping:
Be completed shopping by December 15th (high goal for me. I am out on Christmas Eve often) Umm yea. I told you it was a high goal. But I’m almost done. I only have stocking stuff to buy at the dollar store!
Be finished wrapping by December 20th (nerve racking goal) Again. Um yea. I will start. Soon. I have 5 days you know (our Christmas morning is the 24th this year!)
Dollar store night for the kids to choose gifts for others We are doing this this week. We LOVE doing this.
Make teacher gifts ahem. It will get done. Soon.
Service Project:
Choose 1 way to serve others over the season. My goal is to have a service project completed by New Years. We did Christmas Shoe box and Samaritans Purse gifts in November. We plan to make baked goods for neighbors and my cousin in the military together. However, we might wait until the week after Christmas. It’s ok to give gifts after the day. At least in my book it is. I still would like to think of 1 or 2 other things to do.
So, I’m making progress. I do feel less stressed seeing it on paper because I know what I have to do and I’m not allowing myself to add onto this plan.
What about you? How are you Christmas plans going?
If you missed other posts in my ₵entsible Christmas series, feel free to check them out here:
- A ₵entsible Christmas
- A ₵entsible Christmas : Jesse Tree
- A ₵entsible Christmas : Making a Plan
- A ₵entsible Christmas :Simplifying Gifts
- A ₵entsible Christmas :5 Simple DIY Nativity Crafts
- A ₵entsible Christmas :6 Ways to Eliminate Stress
Do you want to celebrate a ₵entsible Christmas too? Subscribe to the Frugal Flamingo via email, Facebook or Twitter so we can celebrate together.
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