Holiday Hints 

Clean Out - Give More - Get Deductions
This is the perfect time to make room for the new holiday gifts.  Go through closets, basements, dressers, and garages and donate your excess items to charity organizations.  In these tight economic times there are many who will appreciate your donations.   I put my donations in clear plastic bags.  That way I can see what's being donated and not give away the trash by mistake.  I got these bags at Staples in the custodial supply section.
 
Now here's how to organize your donations to simplify your itemized charitable tax deductions (always check with your tax advisor on deductibility of your donations).

1. Group items together by "quality" and "type".  For example have a different bag for better quality menswear, good quality children's clothes, household items, etc.  Current rules state that you can only deduct items of good or better quality.
2. Make a list of what's in each bag and the value.  See the form I use for my donations.
3. Spread out giving your donations to different charities so you stay beneath the IRS donation value limits for individual donations (currently at $250 per donation) without a written acknowledgement from the agency. (Click here for the current IRS rules.)   You can always go over the limit, but you will need more documentation.  That's where your tax advisor comes in handy!
4. Keep the agency receipt and your itemized list stapled together for tax time.

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Send Out Your Cards - All Year Long

Think "Right Turns" and Bump Protection

Shop Smart and Time it Right

Start Shopping on December 26th

The Leave-it Pot Luck Pot

Don't Eat the Post-Its!!

As I prepare for holiday family meals, I like to bring out the good china, silver and crystal.  Since I don't do this very often I bring out all my serving pieces ahead of time to make sure I have enough serving dishes for my meal.  In this picture you see the Post-Its I use to "hold" the place for each entree.  After I'm sure I have everything covered, I remove the Post-Its and keep them handy to remind me to put each item on the table.  (One year I forgot the bread!).

Take Back Control of the Holidays
The key to seasonal organization is based on what you can do this year to make it easier for next year.  As you prepare your gift lists, decorate the house, decide on that special party dish, think about how you can make that job easier to do next year.  Sometimes it's as simple as making a list of items or tasks, or putting the decorations in better labeled containers when you take them down.  I'd like to share my best holiday tips below:

1. Be realistic in what you can do, spend, and endure. 
2. Make your expectations of others realistic.  Be flexible.
3. Everything you do this year, should be laying the groundwork to make the holidays easier next year.
4. Evaluate what worked well this holiday and what didn't work so well.  Write these down and put them in your next year's planner (or in your Holiday #1 Box).  Next year, adjust your focus based on this year's experience.
5. Choose to DO it, DELEGATE it, or DUMP it.
6. Stay on top of tasks by creating your "To Do List" in a separate tablet or binder (steno pads work well for this).  You can write in daily tasks and cross off when completed, or use Post-Its that can be removed when done.  Save this book for next year to jog your memory on what needs to be done.
7. If you find yourself doing repetitive tasks (like preparing the same meals, buying gifts for exchange parties, decorating the same way), make them simpler next year by creating checklists.  Next year you won't have to remember; just pull out the list and do it.
8. Decide on your top three priorities for the holiday season - Write these down and put them where you can see them.  Eliminate anything that does not serve these priorities.
9. Life is a series of choices.  Choose to be in control.   Choose to say no thank you.  Choose to pare down.
10. What would you like others to remember about you during the holiday season?  Joyful, giving, relaxed?  Or over-decorated, over-worked, over-spent?