LPO Clutter Scavenger Hunt 8 – Gatherings and Gifts

Welcome to the Laurel Plum Online Clutter Scavenger Hunt. If you missed the explanation post, take a minute to read about the scavenger hunt.

I am sure you have noticed that the stores have already been putting out items for Halloween with hints of things for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I hate seeing it so early, but I have learned that it is a good time to take a minute to look ahead myself.

For today’s scavenger hunt, we are going to take just a few minutes to think about the holiday season ahead.

Gatherings

Today I’d like you to take a minute to pull out your your calendar.  Pencil in all of the gatherings you normally host or attend each year (think about each holiday and season).  If you will be the host, pull out a notebook or take a look at an activity manager.  Start a project page for each event.   Get a rough idea of how many weeks you have between now and the date of the gathering.  Schedule a weekly appointment with yourself on your calendar to revisit the project.  Do a little planning and a few tasks each week.

Gifts

The first thing you need to do is make a list of everyone you will need a gift for.  Include hostess gifts and those unexpected/forgotten people.

I tend to buy/make gifts for birthdays and holidays all throughout the year.  If you follow the same practice, now is the time to hunt the gifts already on hand.   Make notes on your list matching the things you have to the people who will be receiving them.

Further considerations:

Those of you that have been following Sites to See, may remember Gift Giving With Clutter Reduction In Mind from Clear the Clutter.   Take a minute to read it again, now.

If you send out Christmas cards, now is a good time to go through your address book and check those addresses.  Make a count of how many cards you will need so you don’t buy/make too many.

Check back in with the rest of us.

When we get conversations going in the comments we all learn from each other and can encourage one another. So, share your stories in the comments.

I am really interested in gift ideas that do not add clutter.  What do you suggest?  I was thinking we could spend some time here doing some holiday planning together.  Are you interested? What types of gatherings do you participate in over the season?