Fourteen weeks to go. (Challenge week 1 - Organise)

n · Fourteen weeks to go. (Challenge week 1 - Organise)

I thought I'd start a challenge thread each week to suggest one item each week to do.

This weeks' Challenge is to Organise.

Get yourself an ordinary A4 two ring hole punch type binder, and a hole punch.
This is your Christmas Manual.
Look out for some clear plastic envelopes, the kind which fit in the binder, and perhaps some dividers. All of this can be got in the supermarket for a couple of pounds, or you may have it lying around the house already. In many ways, an old tatty binder is better because it's less likely anyone else will look in it.
Also pick up a couple of large A4 envelopes, you can recycle these from your everyday mail if you like. Punch holes in the edge so they Clip into the binder. Mark one of these RECEIPTS.... and put all the receipts for everything in it. Mark another one GUARANTEES.
Whenever you find a recipe, an idea, a website or an article.... file it or put it in a plastic envelope.

Now find somewhere to HIDE it, and DO NOT write "Christmas" on the outside unless you want everyone who sees it to look inside!

Go to Organised Christmas and download any of the free forms you like, (there are hundreds) print them off and put them in the binder. Christmas card lists, gift lists, Gifts to make lists.... anything you feel will be useful.

There are other websites which have lists too so if you find any good ones, tell us all where they are.

That's it. You don't need to do anything else apart from this.... all we are doing is creating a planning system. The better the system, the easier it will be to keep track of everything.

Ready, Set, Go!!!

n

n

Here's a better site full of forms to use.

Christmas Notebook.

n

franney

Oooooh, what fun! Luckily i don't need to be that organised about Christmas but sometimes i wish i did Laughing

Glynis

Good grief Woman! Here's me trying to eke out the lasts dregs of Summer, and you're trying to organise Christmas Laughing

Why, I only went to the seaside on Thursday for the first time this year! Very Happy

Alice

I'm definitely in for this one!! I really need to get organised. Like lots of you our family is sadly shrinking at the top but increasing at a phenominal rate at the bottom! I have trouble remembering even the names let alone the ages of all my newest grand-nieces and grand-nephews - grand?- is that the word for your siblings' grandchildren?

Anyway there are a lot.

Hopefully this will keep me on track!

carolinne

what a fab idea i amneven organised about anything but now i cant wait to go and buy (yes buy) my new file and dividers etcetc ...basically any excuse to linger in the stationary dept of smiths or JL ...i will prob nick (st nick....ho ho ho ) the clear plastic wallets from work

ooooh i am all excited now

carolinne

mind you i do agree with glynis about eeeeeeeeeking out the last few summery moments

n

I agree too, which is why all I suggested was to find the tools with which to plan not to actually write anything down!

I hope to knit three pairs of man-socks before Christmas, and a sweater for Fegrig, and maybe three pairs of fingerless mitts, so I thought I needed a planning tool to make me get on with it. In theory that's one sock or mitten each week, starting now. Shocked

But what's worse is that they all need to be done simultaneously, nothing as simple as one a week because I have to knit for YS when he's at school or out, and for Fegrig when he's in London.

Don't worry, it won't get Thingmassy until nearer the time.

Nevisknitter

The files a good idea, and once set up this year, could be reused every year. I have my christmas cards already (got them in Jan sales) and am thinking of presents as one lot has to go to Australia and I usually post the day after the deadline.

carolinne

thats why i always use amazon....i just hope all my american kin like reading as much as they say they do

YarnAddict

Just hte thought of Christmas this early makes me go all rolleyes

Think I'll just pretend it's not happening nd panick in December like I normally do. widegrin

loobyj

I've kept a Christmas folder since I got married nine years ago! Round about now I get it out and top up the paper and take out anything from previous years that I don't need anymore. Then I start collecting ideas and jotting things down before progressing as time goes on.

Mine's divided into lists/things to do, presents, food, ideas, cards, decorations and then clear wallets for receipts etc.

Wouldn't be without it - shall look forward to sharing with all of you - thanks for the thread n!

lj

terri

Great!!! I'll get my christmas file ready Very Happy

I was looking at a christmas book that has been left at work by those travelling book sellers..... iykwim Confused

and getting all excited! I'm keeping fingers crossed I may not have to work christmas this year Very Happy

n

So how did you all do with the week one challenge?
Have you got your file ready, and the pages you need printed off?
Are the poly pocket envelopes ready to be filled with recipes and articles?

n
Week 2 Challenge on the way.