Christmas Preparations

10 Ways To Get Ready For Christmas Early

In my opinion it’s never to early for Christmas, but then again, I run a site dedicated to the holiday all year round!

For most people though, Christmas isn’t even thought about until at least November rolls around.

You definitely don’t have to start celebrating Christmas early and putting up your tree and decorations, but there are some ways that you can get ready for Christmas early.

By preparing months (or at least several weeks) before the holiday you can drastically cut back on the stress of the holidays and actually make some time to relax and enjoy this time of the year. Maybe this is the year you start preparing early and actually get to enjoy spending time with family and friends without all the stress.

10 Tips For Getting Ready For Christmas Early This Year

Make A List Of Everyone You Need To Get Christmas Gifts For

Forget about the stress of having to do last minute Christmas shopping for someone you forgot by making a list of everyone you need to get a gift for this year. Take some time now to really think about who you actually need to buy Christmas gifts for and what type of gift you may like to buy or make for them.

Some of the main people on your list may include kids, grandkids, spouse or significant other, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces and nephews, close friends, and aunts and uncles. Of course there may be other people in your life that you may want to consider (these tend to be the ones that are mostly forgotten until last minutes) including teachers, mail delivery person, neighbors, your boss, coworkers, and your children’s friends.

Prepare Your Christmas Budget

Once you have made your Christmas gift list, you should start setting up a budget for your Christmas spending. Of course the gifts will probably be the main expenses for the holiday but consider other items like decorations, a Christmas tree, wrapping paper and accessories, baking goods, Christmas cards, Christmas party expenses and any donations you may make.

It’s good to set up a budget early for Christmas because you then know how much money you have to still save and you have that concrete number so you don’t end up spending more money than you planned on Christmas. Truthfully, the holiday should be no reason to go into debt.

You can even find free printable Christmas budget sheets that you can use to help keep track of your budget. Or another idea is to use Microsoft Excel to keep track in a worksheet on your computer or any other budgeting software you may already have.

Research Some DIY Crafts And Gift Ideas

Get a head start on your Christmas crafts and DIY gifts by researching some new things you want to make this year. All year long you can find ideas on sites like Pinterest ( follow me on Pinterest as I pin Christmas crafts and ideas all throughout the year).

Once you have found the projects you want to make this year start making a list of the items that you need. This way you can shop the sales and get the best deals on the items needed for all your crafts.

Craft stores tend to start putting out their Christmas items before most traditional stores so you can start your shopping as early as August or September. Plus, you can always shop online and find all sorts of craft items for the holidays.

Check Out The Clearance Aisles and Sales For Gifts (Especially For Toys)

Since you have already made your Christmas gift list you know who you need to buy gifts for and what potentially you may get them. This allows you to shop all sorts of sales before the main Christmas shopping time even starts.

For example a lot of stores that sell toys like Target, WalMart, and even Toys R Us tend to have twice a year clearance blowouts. These happen after Christmas in January and then again towards the end of July and into August.

If you are already prepared with your gift checklist you can shop the clearance events in the end of summer and get some awesome deals that can save you a ton of money.

This doesn’t just go for toys though as there are other stores that run clearance events and large sales during the end of summer as well.

Another idea is to start an Amazon Wish List and then you can keep track of the items you plan on buying to see if they randomly go on sale before the holidays. I actually have quite a long list of holiday gift items already on my Wish List and in the years past have been able to save a significant amount of money doing this.

Make A Christmas Card List

If you don’t have a master Christmas card list that you use every year, start making one now. You can simply write down the names of the people you will send the cards to or you can even use a spreadsheet or printable worksheet to add names and addresses so you are all set to go.

If you do have a master Christmas card list that you use year after year, look through the list to see if there are any changes in addresses or anyone you may want to add or take off the list this year.

Get A Christmas Planner To Keep Yourself Organized All Holiday Long

If you don’t already have a Christmas planner I recommend you get one now. It seriously is the best way that I keep organized and keep stress away during the holidays.

For me I use a three ring binder (with a pretty cover) and use the printables that I find online as my Christmas planner. Some of the printables that I have in my planner binder include a Christmas gift checklist, budget worksheets, Christmas card list, Christmas party needs and ideas, any recipes that I want to try, and a to-do list area.

If you are looking for Christmas planner printables I recommend this complete 72 page set from Peoples Life On Paper.

I also will keep certain sales flyers in the binder as well as any event flyers or holiday event guides that I come across for my area that look interesting for my family.

Along with my planner I also use a regular day-to-day planner so I can easily keep track of the parties, events, and other important dates that come up for my family in the month of December.

Prepare For Your Family Christmas Pictures

Depending on how early it is you can at least start planning out your family Christmas pictures. You can check out some photographers that you may want to check prices with as well as start coming up with ideas with what everyone will wear.

If possible you can schedule your photos as soon as possible so that you know you will have them back in plenty of time for Christmas cards and possible Christmas gifts.

Start Coming Up With Ideas For Any Christmas Parties

Lots of stress comes from having a Christmas party or your family’s holiday gathering. You can make it a bit less stressful on you and start planning your party as soon as possible.

If you are stuck on ides for your parties check out my Christmas party theme ideas to help you come up with something unique and special this year.

These parties can be simple kid’s holiday party with a few neighborhood friends, a classroom party, a party for just adults, or a party for everyone including friends and families. Write down your ideas or keep track of them in one place and make sure that you are sticking with your budget you prepared as well.

Plan Out Your Christmas Baking

If you plan on doing any baking this holiday, you can easily plan it out ahead of time to make things a little less stressful.

Start planning what you may be baking as well as when you may want to do the baking. You can even schedule in your baking days right onto your planner or calendar so you know you will have the time.

Of course you should also prepare for the baking by making sure you have all the ingredients for the goods. You can start preparing your list of needed ingredients as early as you want. This way if you happen to see something on sale at the grocery store you can pick it up and save some money.

Make A Batch Of Christmas Cookies To Freeze

Depending on how early it is you can always save yourself some time closer to Christmas and do a few batches of Christmas cookies now and freeze them for the holidays. This can be your fun way to prepare early for Christmas and get you into the holiday spirit.

There are lots of different cookies that can be baked and then frozen such as chocolate chip, gingerbread, and sugar cookies. You can also simply make the dough for the cookies and then freeze that instead of the actual baked cookies as well. This allows you to still have your fun Christmas cookie baking during the holidays but all you have to do is bake the cookies and not prepare all the dough.

Check out his article at TheKitchn.com for more information about freezing cookies.

By starting your Christmas planning early you can be sure to lessen the stress of the holidays as well as get to relax and enjoy more of the days leading up to Christmas . You don’t have to go all out, but if you pick a few items off this list you are sure to make your holiday a lot more enjoyable for you and your family.

25 Christmas Countdown Activities To Do With Your Kids

You can make the holidays extra special for your children by celebrating Christmas for the whole month of December.

If you are short on ideas on how to celebrate, I have a great list of 25 activities that you can follow to count down the days until Christmas.

You can do all 25 of them (one a day or a few each day) or you can pick and choose a few that really interests your kids. You’ll also find activities that appeal to younger kids as well as older children as well.

~ Celebrate The 25 Days Of Christmas ~

The Ultimate List Of Christmas Countdown Activities For Families

1. Count Down The Days Until Christmas With An Advent Calendar

There are all kinds of advent calendars that would appeal to kids of all ages. You can go with something inexpensive like a chocolate advent calendar or really get them excited with a fun toy advent calendar . You can even make your own calendar with your kids and then fill it with special treats.

2. Drive Around Town To See The Christmas Lights

Most people will find that there are hidden treasures when it comes to Christmas lights right in your own city. You could also look for fairgrounds or public town displays that may cost a few dollars as well.

3. Make Homemade Christmas Ornaments With Your Kids

You’ll find all kinds of fun Christmas ornaments to make with your kids. You can get really creative and make them from scratch or you can pick up a kit or even some pre-made wooden ornaments that you paint .

4. Bake Christmas Cookies

What is better than the smell of freshly baked cookies during the holidays? Spend a day cooking up some cookies or other Christmas treats with your kids. You can even wrap some cookies up for neighbors or friends and let your kids give them as gifts.

5. Have A Christmas Movie Night

Snuggle up in your pajamas with some hot cocoa and popcorn and pick out your favorite Christmas movie to watch. Making a special night of it were everyone sits down and just watches the movies makes it extra special for kids.

6. Decorate The Christmas Tree

Let your kids join in on the fun and have the whole family decorate the tree. Turn on some Christmas music and have a fun day decorating and laughing.

7. Go Shopping For a Donation Gift

Take your children to the store (even if it is a dollar store) so they can pick out a gift they can donate to less fortunate kids or others. You’ll find quite a bit of organizations that gather toys, clothes, and other items that you can donate at Christmas time as this can be a great learning opportunity for kids of all ages.

8. Read Your Favorite Christmas Books

You can do a different Christmas book every day or pick out a few of your favorite ones to read leading up to the days before Christmas. Check out my list for the best Christmas books for toddlers to get some ideas.

9. Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Nowadays you can find all kinds of cool gingerbread house kits so you don’t even have to take the time to bake the cookies yourself. Let kids go free and see what kind of imaginative houses they come up with.

10. Gather Up Toys To Donate

Have your child go through all their toys with you and have them pick out a few to donate to local shelters or other organizations . Use it as a teaching opportunity about kindness and what the Christmas season is about.

11. Take A Picture With Santa

You can head to your local mall or look for any breakfast with Santa events in your area. I know that where we live there are plenty of opportunities outside of the mall, if you don’t want to try to compete with the crowds at the stores.

12. Go Ice Skating

Whether it is outside or inside, ice skating can be a lot of fun for the whole family.

13. Donate Food To Your Local Food Pantry

This is another great opportunity to spread some kindness and generosity around during the holidays. Most food pantries are always looking for donations, especially during the holidays.

14. Visit A Living Nativity Scene

If you are religious this can be an excellent way to really put into perspective what Christmas really is about.

15. Attend a Christmas Concert Or Play

You don’t have to spend a ton of money on a concert or play for your whole family but instead look for a children’s theater or around at your local churches for any plays or concerts that they may be putting on this holiday.

16. Make Paper Snowflakes To Decorate The House

One of the things that my kids enjoy the most when it comes to decorating is making their own decorations and paper snowflakes are perfect for the job. You can even find templates online for your older kids to follow for special, intricate snowflakes. When down string the snowflakes and hang them in your child’s room.

17. Write Letters To Santa

Not only is this fun for kids but it can be a great way for parents to find out exactly what the child wants for Christmas. Put the letters in an envelope and have your child drop them off at a mailbox for Santa. Or you can even mail the letter through USPS and your child may just receive a response back .

18. Make Christmas Gifts For Others

Have your child make gifts for other family members, friends, teachers, or even for neighbors.

19. Attend a Christmas Themed Event At The Library Or Store

Find age appropriate holiday themed events were your child can have fun with other kids and celebrate.

20. Wrap Gifts Together

Wrap up the gifts your child made or ones that you bought for other family members or friends. Make it a fun time with some Christmas music and eggnog or hot chocolate.

21. Serve A Fun Christmas Themed Breakfast

Put a smile on your kid’s face with some snowman or Santa shaped pancakes. You can even make a Christmas tree out of cinnamon rolls.

22. Do Christmas Puzzles Together

You can find all sorts of neat Christmas or winter themed puzzles for toddlers up to even adults. Pick one or two for your family and spend a night or two enjoying family time putting the puzzle together.

23. Make Some Christmas Crunch Popcorn And Have Game Night

You can customize your Christmas crunch popcorn to your kid’s liking and let them choose their favorite game for game night. You can even add in some hot chocolate into the mix as well for a fun night together with your kids.

24. Have a Christmas Party

You don’t have to plan any huge event, but you can have your child pick a few friends to invite over or simply just have a few family members over for a small gathering.

25. Celebrate Christmas Eve With A Special Christmas Eve Box

Check out all of my Christmas Eve box ideas to make this night before Christmas so very special for your child. This can be a great tradition to start with your young child and continue on as they grow older as you can easily adapt what is inside the box.

You can choose a few of the activities for your Christmas countdown celebration or try to do all of them to really make the most out of the holidays this year.

And remember it’s spending time with your kids and loved ones that is the real present this holiday.

When Is The Best Time To Buy A Fake Christmas Tree?

Although you can save money by buying an artificial Christmas tree an using it for several years, the initial lump sum of money spent on the tree can set you back quite a bit.

This is especially true if you are planning on buying a high quality, large Christmas tree that can cost you upwards of $500.

If you plan on buying a fake Christmas tree for your home this year, then I recommend that you wait until the right time so that you can save yourself some money.

The Best Time To Buy A Fake Christmas Tree – How To Save Money On A Christmas Tree

In very basic terms, the best time to buy a Christmas tree is when it is on sale and you can get it for a great price.

Some people prefer to put up their tree early in November, but you may just be able to save yourself quite a chunk of change if you wait until later into the holiday shopping season to buy the tree.

When Do Christmas Trees Go On Sale?

When it comes to Christmas trees on sale you aren’t going to find that great of deals until around Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) time.

In the past years I have seen awesome sales on trees for Black Friday and Cyber Monday at places like Target, Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowes. In fact, the week after Thanksgiving I was able to pick up a new Christmas tree for 50% the original price.

*Buy Your Christmas Tree During Black Friday Or Cyber Monday Sales

My advice is to wait until at least Black Friday sales before you buy a tree. Unless something changes this year, you’ll find the best deals on artificial Christmas trees starting at this point in the holiday shopping season.

If you don’t mind waiting longer to put up your tree you can sometimes even find better deals the closer you get to Christmas day.

In years past I have seen trees go on a huge discount starting around 2 weeks before Christmas. If this is too close to the holiday for you, then definitely start checking out sales flyers right around Black Friday.

*Get The Best Deal On Fake Trees At After Christmas Sales

If you truly want the best deal on a Christmas tree, wait until after the holidays to buy one for next year. Most stores wil drastically reduce the price of the trees starting a few days before Christmas or a few days after Christmas.

Now, this may not help you this holiday, but keep this in mind for the future as you can score fake Christmas trees for up to 75% off the original price after the holidays.

If you need a tree this year, you could always go with a real Christmas tree for this one year and then check out after Christmas sales for a fake one to last you through the next 5-7 years.

3 Tips For Buying An Artificial Christmas Tree

No matter if you want to buy a unique artificial Christmas tree or a simple tabletop Christmas tree , here are 5 important tips to consider before you spend money on a tree.

Make Sure The Tree Will Fit In Your Room

It can be tempting to want to go all out and buy a large Christmas tree, but if you don’t have enough space for the tree you’ll just be left with a tree you can’t use.

If you are short on space you may want to consider one of these top pencil artificial Christmas trees . These have a slim shape that allow you to place the tree in smaller areas but still have a full size tree up to the ceiling.

Of course you also aren’t going to want some little 3 feet tree in the middle of a grand living room. If you need some help on finding the right size tree for your home, check out my post on Buying The Right Size Christmas Tree .

Consider If You Want A Pre-Lit Or Unlit Christmas Tree

You have two main choices when it comes to lights on your Christmas tree. Do you want a pre-lit artificial tree were the lights are connected right to the tree branches or do you want a tree were you string the lights yourself?

There are of course pros and cons to each type of these trees.

Some people prefer pre-lit trees because they take less time to set up and its convenient to already have the lights on your tree every year.

On the other hand some people like the unlit trees because they can change the look of their tree with different lights or add more or less lights to their liking.

If you are going to buy a pre-lit Christmas tree also consider if you want white lights or multi-color lights.

It’s a good idea to have a plan on the perfect tree before you start shopping so you can narrow down your choices easily.

Look For a Tree That Is Safe

Make sure that any type of Christmas tree you buy is labeled as fire retardant. It should have the UL Listed tag that shows that it was tested and deemed safe when it comes to fire and electric shock.

Not only should you ensure that your tree is fire retardant, but it should also have a large, sturdy base that keeps the tree stable. You shouldn’t be able to simple just knock the tree over, espcially if you have pets or children.

Look for a wide, steel base for the tree that does a good job of stabilizing the entire tree.

Buying an artificial Christmas tree can be fun especially if you shop at the right time and are able to get your perfect tree for that perfect price.

How To Store a Christmas Wreath: 2 Ideas to Try This Year

After the holidays when it’s time to take down your Christmas decorations you want to make sure that you preserve your items and keep them looking new and fresh for next year.

This includes storing your Christmas wreath so when you hang it up next year it looks just as nice as it does now.

There are several storage solutions for Christmas wreaths that you can use. Here are two different wreath storage ideas for you to try this year.

How to Store a Christmas Wreath

Although these are tips for storing your Christmas wreath you can also use them for storing any wreath from a fall wreath to a summer time wreath as well.

Wreath Storage Bag

One of the easiest options for storing a wreath during the year is using a wreath storage bag. These storage bags are made specifically to fit different sized wreaths to help keep their shape and not crush any accessories.

These storage bags for wreaths can usually be bought for under $15 and you can even find the smaller bags for 24 inch wreaths under $8.

Be aware that not all of these wreath bags are the same though. Some of the cheaper ones tend to rip easily and you may not get much use out of them.

I recommend the Elf Store Deluxe Christmas Wreath Storage Bag for a 30 inch wreath as it I like the fact that it unzips all the way around rather than some of the other bags that only unzip halfway.

It also has handles which means easier carrying but also means you can hang it up on a hook in your attic, basement, or garage to easily store it off the floor. This takes up less room and sort of keeps it out of the way without it getting misshaped.

Large Garbage Bag

If you are short on money this year, you can also try a big, black garbage bag for storing your wreath as well.

The idea is to place the wreath inside of the bag so that it is completely covered. This helps to cover it from getting dusty or even little critters or bugs getting into it.

I would recommend that you hang up the bag so that the wreath doesn’t get smashed from your other decorations. You can use simple Command hooks in your garage or storage area to hang it on the wall to keep it looking nice.

Although a big garbage does work, I prefer the actual wreath storage bags as they don’t cost that much money but they do a better job of protecting the shape of the wreath.

Where to Store Your Christmas Wreath

You have all different types of options when it comes to where to store your wreath as there are really no restrictions. It will all depend on where you live and what space you have available to you.

The one thing that you should watch out for is extreme heat or extreme cold if you have certain accessories like glass or certain ornaments on your wreath.

I would also recommend you keep all of your Christmas decorations away from any possible water exposure so they don’t get ruined. If you have a basement that tends to backup I would definitely avoid storing any decorations on the floor where they could get wet.

Just some of the places you can use to store your Christmas wreath (and your other decorations) include:

Attic
Basement
Extra bedroom
Closet
Storage space area
Garage
Barn or shed

As mentioned above the best way to store your wreath would be in the storage bag hanging up on a wall or from a shelf so the wreath keeps it shape and doesn’t get smashed by other decorations.

Be sure to check out my tips for hanging a wreath on your front door as well.

Toy Advent Calendars for Kids 2018

**I have updated this post for Christmas 2018. Find all the latest and greatest right here for toy Advent calendars for kids and adults.

Toy advent calendars are great for kids when it comes to counting the days down to Christmas. It can be a fun tradition to check out the calendar every morning and you can work in some sort of lesson or fun fact about Christmas as well.

In our house we have had a few different toy advent calendars and my kids have enjoyed every one of them. There actually are so many different advent calendars that you can choose from that feature all different types of toys for kids.

Check out some the best toy advent calendars for kids for the year 2016. There are ones for boys, girls, and ones that work for any child.

The Best LEGO Toy Advent Calendars

One of the most popular types of advent calendars for kids are LEGO toy ones. In fact, adults love them as well.

Check out the new LEGO Advent Calendars for 2018

2017 LEGO City Advent Calendar 2017 LEGO Friends Advent Calendar

There are all different kinds of LEGO calendars to choose from for your Christmas countdown from Santa’s Workshop to LEGO Friends advent calendar. Here are a few more choices for LEGO toy Christmas countdown calendars for kids.

LEGO City Town 60133 Advent Calendar LEGO Friends 41131 Advent Calendar

The new Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar for 2017 is perfectly awesome. It’s the best Advent calendar for any Star Wars fan and so much fun for a family to put together.

LEGO New Star Wars Advent Calendar 2017

Be sure to check out some of the more popular Lego Advent calendars including the new LEGO city Advent calendar for 2018 as well as the new LEGO Friends Advent Calendar for 2017.

The nice thing about these advent calendars is that you can re-use the pieces year after year to make your own Christmas sets and scenes. They don’t have any specific dates that would make them only for one year. There are new calendars that come out every year, but you can use the ones from previous years as well. This allows you to save some money as you can even use the pieces with a homemade calendar the next year.

Playmobil Advent Calendars

Another great option for a toy advent calendar for your child is the Playmobil advent calendar. Just like the LEGO ones, they have different scenes and designs for the calendars to choose from.

There are some people who like the Playmobil ones better than the LEGO ones because you also get a backdrop with the advent calendar and they are usually cheaper as well.

These calendars have a backdrop along with other parts of the scene that you build and then have 24 special little toys that you add for every day up to Christmas.

Here are a few different Playmobil advent calendars to choose from.

PLAYMOBIL Santa’s Workshop Advent Calendar PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar ‘Dress Up Party’ Playset PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar ‘Christmas on the Farm’ Playset Playmobil Advent Calendar Forest Winter Wonderland

More Toy Advent Calendars

Here are some more toy advent calendars that kids would love to have this holiday season including the new Monster High advent calendar as well as the new Thomas the Train Advent calendar.

Tsum Tsum Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar – 2017 Version

This is the all new 2017 Tsum Tsum advent calendar featuring all kinds of fun Disney characters getting ready for the holidays.

Our family had the Tsum Tsum Christmas countdown calendar last year and really enjoyed all the characters and accessories that they got to open each day. This new calendar is definitely going on our list this year for a must-have toy advent calendar.

The Tsum Tsum figures come in different sizes from small to large as well (you get 18 total figures) as other fun accessories such as a sleigh and cute headpieces. Some of the characters in this year’s advent calendar for kids include Sven from Frozen, Rapunzel, Joy from Inside Out, Stitch, and of course Mickey Mouse.

The neat thing about this set is that my daughters still play with the Tsum Tsum characters all year long and add them to their collection.

More New Kid’s Advent Calendars For 2017

I came across a few more new toy Advent calendars for Christmas 2017. It seems like now companies are putting out new and unique calendars for all the popular toys each year.

Tsum Tsum Marvel Advent Calendar

This Christmas countdown calendar features all your favorite Marvel Tsum Tsum characters including Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, Nick Fury, Captain America, Loki, and much more.

It includes 18 stackable Tsum Tsum Marvel figures of all sizes as well as 6 accessories to go with them.

This would be perfect for any little boy or girl who is obsessed with the Marvel super hereos as these Tsum Tsums can be added to the toy box and played with all year long. I know that my boys, even the older one still enjoys playing with his super hero Tsum Tsums.

Frozen Olaf’s Adventure Advent Calendar

This would be top choice for any child who loves Disney’s Frozen or is just a fan of silly Olaf. This countdown set is based off the new holiday short film called Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

This calendar is slightly different than some of the others as there are actually 25 days to open, which means you get 25 toys inside as well. That means your child even gets to open a new window on Christmas morning to complete their set.

There are several different Olaf figures included in the set as well as other accessories like a sleigh, Christmas tree, and cake.

Check out some more of the children’s Advent calendars below as well.

Fisher Price Little People Advent Calendar

If you have a younger child, this may just be the best toy advent calendar for toddlers. Little People figures are perfect for small hands and with this set you’ll find even 1 year olds can get into the celebration of counting down to Christmas.

The set comes with 24 Little People figures and accessories including Santa and Mrs. Clause and even an adorable cat and dog waiting to have some winter fun.

This kid’s advent calendar could even be a good way to introduce counting and numbers as well as celebrate the holidays.

Barbie Advent Calendars

There are actually a few different Barbie toy advent calendars. Barbie usually comes out with a new and fun calendar each Christmas season, but you can also use the past calendars because they don’t have any specific dates on the calendar. Pick which one you think your child would like best.

The Barbie Careers Advent Calendar is new for 2017 and gets a great recommendation from me.

Barbie Careers Advent Calendar for 2017

What is different this year is that the calendar actually comes with a Barbie doll on the first day that can be used for all the clothing and accessories you get from the calendar. This is a big improvement as the other calendars do not come with a doll and you have to use your own.

Here are a few more Barbie countdown to Christmas calendars that don’t come with the actual doll but can be bought for a cheaper price than the new one above.

Each of the Barbie advent calendars comes with 24 different accessories for Barbie including shoes, clothes, and jewelry. It also comes with some fun accessories for the child such as a Barbie bracelet and hair accessories.

You could even buy a new Barbie doll to go along with the calendar so your child can have a new doll to dress up with all the fun items she gets in the calendar.

Thomas and Friends Minis Advent Calendar

This is one of the best selling toy advent calendars and is perfect for any child who loves Thomas the Train or trains in general. These are the Mini Thomas figures that you can buy in sets or blind bags all set into a fun train themed calendar.

Unlike some other toy advent calendars for kids you actually get 24 of the mini train figures. The calendar works great as a fun backdrop for a winter scene on Sodor Island as your child can line up all the trains ready to celebrate the holiday together.

Crayola Christmas Countdown Calendar For Kids

Celebrate your child’s creative side with this fun art calendar set.

There is over 24 different pieces that you get with this calendar including 2 model magic ornaments you can make as well as other ornaments and even Christmas finger puppets.

There is also gift tags, a letter to Santa for your child to write and more art accessories including crayons, markers, and paint to help your child decorate all their stuff.

What I like about this kids advent calendar set is that it encourages different activities that they can do for the holiday instead of just opening up a window and finding a toy.

Mega Bloks Toy Advent Calendars

Mega Bloks has also gotten into the holiday spirit and they have released a few different countdown calendars including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Minions, and Monster High.

They each come with different building pieces so kids can build their own holiday scene with their favorite characters.

You can build a cool Turtles Christmas scene or maybe your child wants a fun Minions holiday party instead.

Hot Wheels Advent Calendar

Got a kid that loves cars? Then this Hot Wheels Christmas countdown calendar may be a huge hit in your house this year.

You get a total of 24 surprises in the calendar including 8 cool Hot Wheels cars. This is one of the more inexpensive advent calendars for kids and makes a great choice if you are on a budget as well.
If you still don’t see any toy advent calendars that interest you, there are more to choose from. Click Here for all the toy advent calendars for kids.

Toy advent calendars for kids are a great way to count down the days until Christmas and can be the perfect way to start a holiday tradition that your children can pass onto their own as they grow up.

If you have younger kids, then be sure to check out my post on Advent calendars for toddlers as well.

Make Your Christmas Decorating Easier with These Must-Have Items Under $5

Decorating your home for Christmas can be a ton of fun, but it can also be stressful as well.

Some people assume they have to spend a ton of money decorating their home each year, but actually over the years you will find that once you build up a pretty nice collection of Christmas decorations you don’t have to spend that much money each year to decorate your home.

I want to make your life a lot easier and make you enjoy decorating for Christmas both inside and outside this year.

Here are 5 must-have decorating items that will cost you less than $5 each.

1. Command Strips

In my opinion command strips are the best way to hang any type of Christmas decorations on your walls. You don’t have to worry about damaging the walls with a nail or screw to get your Christmas decor in the perfect spot.

They make the strips in all different sizes as well as different shapes as well. The above ones are a s mall size and work great for picture frame size decor items and they also have large ones that work well for things like wreaths and larger wooden decor items.

I discovered command strips two years ago and have seriously loved decorating with them. In fact I even use them all year round for my normal house decor instead of using nails.

You can find command strips packs for less than $5 and some of the bigger packs may run you approximately $6 – $7 if you need a large pack of them.

2. Light Clips

If you put up Christmas lights on your roof or off your gutters you need these light clips. They truly do make hanging lights outside so easy. The great thing about these light clips is that they can be used on shingles as well as the gutters so you don’t have to buy separate clips.

Right now you can get this pack of 100 light clips for under $5 at Amazon.com (price is subject to change at any time).

If you are still using a nail gun or anything else to hang Christmas lights off your roof, then you really need to spend the few dollars and get these clips now.

3. Christmas Tree Ornament Hangers

How many times have you been decorating your Christmas tree only to find that you don’t have a hook for an ornament? Spend the few dollars and buy this set of 100 ornament hangers so you no longer have to worry about losing hooks or not having any for your ornaments.

Instead of resorting to bending paperclips to hang an ornament or simply throwing the Christmas ornament on the tree, get a pack of these hooks to make your decorating so less stressful. A pack of 100 should last you several years for only a few dollars spent.

4. Fishing Line

You may be wondering why you would fishing line for Christmas decorations, but it may actually come in more handy than you think. I use fishing line a lot for party decorations as well as any Christmas decorations that I may have to hang from the ceiling or from a shelf or mantle.

I like fishing line because it’s rather strong but it’s also thin enough that most of the time you don’t even notice that it is hanging down.

You can actually buy this fishing line for less than $3 right now and you can use it for more than just Christmas decorations but also party decorations and even craft projects.

5. Triple Outlet Adapter

Stop worrying where you are going to plug everything in and instead get this triple outlet adapter for use inside your home. This is great for when you need an extra outlet especially around the Christmas tree.

Getting this simple outlet adapter, which will cost you less than $3, can solve several problems when you want to plug in lights or other decor items but you simply don’t have enough outlets for the Christmas stuff and your normal lights or lamps.

Save the hassle and even buy two or three of these to get you through holiday decorating.

Now that you have seen some of my favorite decorating helpers, what inexpensive items would you recommend someone to buy to take the stress out of decorating for Christmas?

5 Tips for Staying Organized This Holiday Season

The holidays can be chaotic, but you don’t need to let the chaos ruin your Christmas.

Instead, get organized, stay organized and get to enjoy all the fun stuff that comes along with the holiday season.

Here are 5 simple tips for staying organized this holiday season.

1. Make a Christmas Gift Checklist

Don”t be one of those people that have to run out to the store on Christmas Eve because you forget to get a gift for someone. Instead make a Christmas gift checklist of everyone you want to buy a gift for as well as then the actual gift you have bought them.

This way you can quickly glance at your list to see what gifts you may still need to buy and won’t have to worry about forgetting somebody. Check out my checklist of people to buy Christmas gifts for to help you put together your own checklist.

2. Write Down Every Holiday Event for Your Family

The best way to remember any type of holiday events is to write them down as soon as you are aware of them. You can use a calendar or your daily planner to write them down or if you don’t currently use a calendar or planner you can simply print out a free calendar for the month of November and December.

Place the calendar someplace where you will see it on a daily basis as well as your other family members as well. You can also jot down small notes next to the events as well, such as for your daughter’s daycare Christmas party you could write down “snack” next to it if you have to bring a snack for the party.

This also helps to see if you have any overlapping events and prevents any double booking during the holidays which also can be quite stressful as well.

3. Make Your Christmas Budget Well In Advance

If you want to avoid having to go into debt and stressing out about your credit card bills in January, you need to make a budget for Christmas as soon as possible. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to start saving for Christmas in the beginning of the year.

But if you haven’t’ started saving yet or budgeting, you can still come out debt free if you plan accordingly.

Look at how much extra money you may have for Christmas this year as well as some ways that you can save on other things to help get some money for Christmas. Then budget out everything you may need from Christmas gifts, to food, and even new clothes for parties. Do your best to stay on budget no matter how much money you have and definitely shop all the holiday sales to help stay within your budget.

4. Plan and Schedule Your Holiday Baking and Cooking

Come up with a plan of everything you plan to cook and bake for the holidays. This may include cookies for your family as well as any side dishes or desserts you may be bringing to Christmas parties. Pull out the recipes for all the items and put together you shopping list for each week so you now you will have all the ingredients on hand.

If you are planning to have your own party and do a lot of cooking or baking, then definitely make a plan and get organized as soon as possible. You can even start looking for some of the ingredients on sale to help save you money as well.

5. Get the Whole Family Involved in Decorating for Christmas

For some people decorating the house for Christmas is a daunting task. Instead of making it stressful, make it a special day for the whole family. Play some Christmas music and have some cookies or hot cocoa on hand and let your family have a great day decorating the house.

Schedule the day well in advance so the whole family knows to plan for that day and you can even invite special friends and other family members and make it even better.

Now, some people who are perfectionist may not go for this, but it may surprise you how much your family wants to spend time decorating and you may just have to ease up a bit and just enjoy the time together instead of looking at what they may be doing wrong with the decor.

Stay organized this Christmas and plan ahead so you can have the very best holiday season full of fun and joy.