December’s Helpful Hints

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Notice the name of this monthly series has changed.  “Monthly Reminders” made it sound like a list of things you had to complete each month, whereas “Helpful Hints” emphasizes the optional nature of these ideas.  Sort of like a tip you picked up from a friend, versus a month-end checklist from an employer.  😉

Since December is already busy, here are a just few ideas that will help keep your ship running smoothly this month– no need to add additional to-do’s to your extra long list!
  • Clean out old toys to make room for new ones.  Whether you do this while the kids are in bed or with your children to teach them about thoughtfulness and sharing, it’s helpful for both mind and home when you clear out the old to make room for the new.  Old toys can be put in the garage/consignment sale pile or donated.  That way, when Santa arrives there will be room for all those new additions.
 
  • Set up a wrapping station.  Avoid last minute wrapping marathons by keeping supplies within reach and wrap gifts as they are purchased.  Here’s my wrapping station, set in the corner of my dining room.  Confession: I’m not so good about this one.  I’m working on it.  There’s nothing that takes the joy out of giving like spending 4 hours wrapping at 11PM Christmas Eve!
  • Stuff those stockings… on the cheap.  I’ve cut back my couponing since Bee arrived since I just don’t have the time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t hit up CVS every other week for oodles of freebies in the form of Extra Care Bucks.  In fact, the night before Thanksgiving my sis and I raided the 24 hour CVS and got at least $90 of goodies for free.  I’ve been stalking sales and Extra Care items and now have a treasure trove of stocking stuffers for the family.  I love practical stuffers, here’s a few on my list that ended up being free or close to free thanks to sales, coupons, and the Dollar Store:
batteries
candy bars
lip balm
jumprope
flashcards
crayons
Tylenol PM.  For me. 😉
coffee/tea/hot chocolate
snack bars
toothbrushes
  • Repurpose cards into gift tags.  Ever wonder what to do with those free cards charities often send, or last year’s non-photo holiday cards?  It’s a waste to throw them away, so reuse them!  Cut around images, punch with a hole, and attach ribbon.  BOOM, pretty gift tags!  Wouldn’t this be a great craft project for the kids?  {as for holiday cards with photos, I group them by year and save them in a scrapbook to pull out and enjoy each Christmas!}

  • Stay safe.  Kelly from The Centsible Life shared a great idea for creating a Christmas Morning Preparedness Kit with batteries, scissors, and all those other things you’ll need to keep the gift opening running smoothly.  BUT, even more interesting was the bottom of the post where she posted a short video warning about button batteries.  I truly had no idea the array of common objects (often within reach of my kids) that contain these deadly-if-swallowed batteries.  Helen Devos Children’s Hospital had a helpful article summing up the dangers; if you have small kids, I urge you to read about this alarming trend so you are educated about keeping objects such as bathroom scales, musical cards and books, and keys out of reach of your little ones.
Have a wonderful month, hope these ideas help you spend more time with your family and less time running around like crazy.  In the meantime, what stocking stuffers do you like to give and/or receive?  Do you have a December Helpful Hint to share?
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