How to Get Organised for Christmas...

I'm going through a phase of being very organised. I've got myself accepted into college for an access to university to course, so I'll be going to university, if I pass, next September! Hopefully Edinburgh uni, but I don't quite know yet. I'll be doing an English degree, or hopefully English with Creative Writing (except Edinburgh don't offer that.)

Anyway... Christmas!

Yes, I know it's only September but unless you'd like to be one of those stressed out people with crazy hair and bags full of last-minute presents nobody wants, here's how to get properly organised for Christmas:





It's vital to plan now! I'm determined to make presents for people this year. I wrote a poem for my grandad's 80th birthday in August and the whole family seemed to love it, so it goes to show that a bit of thought goes down better than an expensive necklace.

Write a list of who you need to buy for. Family, friends, work colleagues, teachers, lecturers, anyone you feel is worthy of a present from you.

I hope no one I know is reading this, because I'm about to reveal what I have planned so far.

I have about 20 really close friends I want to buy for and unfortunately I'm on minimum wage and as much as I'd like to buy them all holidays and lots of lovely booze, my pay cheque won't allow it. So I'm going to buy a few bags of Guatemalan Worry People. For those of you who don't know what they are, they are tiny handmade dolls and the story goes that if you're having trouble getting to sleep because of worries, you tell the worry dolls your problems and they worry for you while you sleep, meaning you get a good night's sleep and feel better for it. I used to love them when I was younger and I'd like my friends to have a reminder to keep their chins up as some of them moved away for university and I don't see them as much as I'd like. The plan is to put one Worry Person in everyone's cards, hopefully one that looks like them, and explain the back story.

Then for my young teen cousin I'm getting a cinema hamper, with popcorn, DVDs, sweets, pop etc. For my nana a relaxation hamper with scented candles, a book, nice tea, maybe a cute cushion or something.

That's as far as I've gotten for now but I'm planning what I need to buy now because some presents I want to make take weeks to do, like a cranberry and orange vodka that takes a couple of weeks.

Here's some useful links to handmade presents:

http://www.momswhothink.com/christmas/homemade-christmas-gifts.html

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=300&search=christmas%20gifts

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/articles/homemade-food-gifts

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/12/07/the-amazing-frugal-christmas-savings-spectacular/

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/12/11/five-fantastic-frugal-tips-for-christmas/

Jess