It Wont Be Long To Christmas

It won't be long now folks until Christmas is with us, and I for one am really looking forward to it. Here in Ireland, where I live, the party season is beginning to gear up a notch or two. Local councils are hanging out their lanterns and lights in order to attract the Christmas time shopper. Local stores are beginning to mount their Christmas displays - we are all getting ready for the 25th December! Feel free to visit me at my website Christmas Worldwide where you can see just about everything I have to say about Christmas

For me this is the time of year when that feeling of peace and good will to all surrounds us. It's a time for family and friends to meet up again. But for me this year will be a sad on because my own dear mother has just passed away.

Now I like to think of myself as an organized sort of person, someone who is never really taken by surprise when it comes to the big occasion, but somehow there is always a surprise in Christmas. So lets have a look at my 5 Christmas must dos.

1. The first thing I do is write down everyone I have to buy for and the amount I can afford to spent on them.
2. Start early and you'll find that Christmas bargain, leave it much later and someone else will have grabbed it.
3. Determine where you think you'll find most of the gifts and head there first.
4. As far as possible I try to go alone simply because I'm less liable to become distracted. Occasionally when it is something in particular that I'm buying I'll leave that to another day and invite a friend to help me.
5. Get all the shopping done in one hit (two at the most) - it's possible and once it's done, it's done.

Is the recession causing you a problem?
1. Let family and friends know that this year you're not buying for others, instead you're contributing to your favourite charity. Maybe they'll follow suit.
2. If you are buying for others determine a ceiling amount and stick to it. Ask family and friends if they could reciprocate and do the same.
3. Start your shopping this week if you haven't already done so. I buy the party bits late October and early November, leave it much later and prices will rocket.
4. I guess that with the recession this year there will be fewer trees around but it's amazing what one can do with tinsel, a pot plant, shrub, or tree branches. Take a drive to your nearest set of trees and pick up some pine cones, it is amazing what you can do with them.
5. Examine the Christmas card list. This year I'm knocking off many names and only sending to immediate family members and very close friends.

For me Christmas is a celebration of life - our life. It's a time where showing kindness, reaching out to others and giving to the needy and homeless seems more prevalent than at other times especially now in this year of recession. Enjoy your festive season wherever you and whatever you do - Peace on Earth and goodwill to all! Remember visit me at Christmas Worldwide, I'm looking forward to seeing you.